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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Adverse Events From Cough and Cold Medications in Children

Melissa K. Schaefer, Nadine Shehab, Adam L. Cohen and Daniel S. Budnitz
Pediatrics April 2008, 121 (4) 783-787; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3638
Melissa K. Schaefer
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Nadine Shehab
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Adam L. Cohen
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Daniel S. Budnitz
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Abstract

BACKGROUND. Adverse drug events in children from cough and cold medications have been identified as a public health issue with clinical and policy implications. Nationally representative morbidity data could be useful for targeting age-appropriate safety interventions.

OBJECTIVE. To describe emergency department visits for adverse drug events from cough and cold medications in children.

METHODS. Emergency department visits for adverse drug events attributed to cough and cold medications among children aged <12 years were identified from a nationally representative stratified probability sample of 63 US emergency departments from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2005.

RESULTS. Annually, an estimated 7091 patients aged <12 years were treated in emergency departments for adverse drug events from cough and cold medications, accounting for 5.7% of emergency department visits for all medications in this age group. Most visits were for children aged 2 to 5 years (64%). Unsupervised ingestions accounted for 66% of estimated emergency department visits, which was significantly higher than unsupervised ingestions of other medications (47%), and most of these ingestions involved children aged 2 to 5 years (77%). Most children did not require admission or extended observation (93%).

CONCLUSIONS. Timely national surveillance data can help target education, enforcement, and engineering strategies for reducing adverse events from cough and cold medications among children. Engineering innovations could be particularly helpful in addressing unsupervised ingestions, which is the most frequent cause of adverse events. These innovations could be applicable to other children's medications.

  • adverse events
  • drug safety
  • poisoning
  • medication errors
  • drug packaging
  • nasal decongestants
  • expectorants
  • antitussives
  • non-prescription drugs
  • Accepted December 11, 2007.
  • Copyright © 2008 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Pediatrics
Vol. 121, Issue 4
April 2008
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Adverse Events From Cough and Cold Medications in Children
Melissa K. Schaefer, Nadine Shehab, Adam L. Cohen, Daniel S. Budnitz
Pediatrics Apr 2008, 121 (4) 783-787; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-3638

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Adverse Events From Cough and Cold Medications in Children
Melissa K. Schaefer, Nadine Shehab, Adam L. Cohen, Daniel S. Budnitz
Pediatrics Apr 2008, 121 (4) 783-787; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-3638
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