Fears about child overdoses

HUNDREDS of children in Tayside have been rushed to hospital after overdosing on paracetamol in the last three years.

New figures show 382 children under the age of 18 – including more than 50 pre-schoolers – overdosed on the over-the-counter painkiller in 2018, 2019 and up until November 25 2020.

This includes at least one case of a baby who was under a year old treated for suspected paracetamol poisoning in 2020.

Last year 126 children overdosed on the medicine in the region, which included 24 17-year-olds and 35 16-year-olds, as well as 30 15-year-olds. At least seven under the age of eight were also treated for suspected paracetamol poisoning.

There were also 140 children who overdosed on the drug in 2019 and 116 in 2018.

Parents are now being told to make sure they read the information leaflet before giving any of the medicine to their children.

Doses for children vary according to age, but again parents are warned not to give more than four doses in 24 hours.

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: “Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous. Anyone who has taken more than the recommended dose should contact NHS 24 on 111.

“Overdose may occur after taking a large amount of paracetamol in a single dose or taking multiple doses which exceed the recommended amount. Untreated paracetamol poisoning can cause liver damage, multiple organ failure and, in some cases, death.

“After taking too much, people may feel sick, vomit or have stomach pain, but often there are no obvious symptoms to begin with so it’s important to seek advice at the earliest opportunity.”

Reacting to the statistics, North East MSP Liam Kerr urged parents to make sure they are clued up on how to give painkillers to their child.

He said: “Liver failure can affect someone for the rest of their lives. It is heart-breaking to think young people of any age will be left to deal with the consequences of something they don’t understand.

“Parents need to keep to strict timings and dosage sizes for babies and infants – that’s critical. All these cases will be completely accidental and as the result of inadvertent mistakes.

“That’s why it’s crucial to highlight what can happen.”

Clare Morrison, Scotland director at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said anyone who is unsure about the medicine they are taking should speak to a pharmacist, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “There are two types of paracetamol overdose, intentional which is when someone deliberately takes a larger than recommended dose, and non-intentional where perhaps someone has bought a number of different products which all contain paracetamol and they are not aware they were taking multiple amounts of it.

“For very young children it is more likely to be non-intentional overdose and my advice would be to get help from a pharmacist.

“If you are considering combining medicine a pharmacist can explain whether they are safe to take together.

“Pharmacists are always willing to help people take their medicine safely.”

North East MSP Liam Kerr