Preventing Medicine-Related Poisoning in Children: The Risks of Paracetamol and Safe Use

Every day, nearly 100 children in Australia are brought to emergency departments due to suspected poisoning from medicines. This alarming statistic highlights the critical need for increased awareness and preventative measures. A recent report from the University of South Australia, published by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), emphasizes that many of these medicine-related issues among children and teenagers are foreseeable and preventable with proper precautions.

The report underscores that most harm caused by medicines stems from unsafe off-label use, unexpected drug interactions, accidental ingesting of household medicines, or overdoses. Specifically, about 93 children visit hospitals daily due to medication-related problems, with approximately half of these incidents being preventable. Over a six-month period, around 120,000 children under the age of 14 experience adverse reactions to medicines, with a significant portion being very young children.

Accidental poisonings are frequent, with seven children attending emergency departments daily for medicine-related poisoning, and three being admitted to hospitals. Medications like acetaminophen (commonly known as paracetamol) and antidepressants are leading causes of these hospitalizations. Data from 2022–23 indicates that 7,332 children aged 0–19 were admitted for medicine poisoning, with younger boys under 10 and teenage girls being most affected.

The economic burden is also substantial, with the cost of medicine-related harm in children estimated at a minimum of $130 million annually. This includes emergency visits and direct healthcare costs related to poisonings.

Researcher Dr. Imaina Widagdo from UniSA stresses the vulnerability of children and teenagers to medication harm. She points out that children’s bodies are still developing, which can alter how they respond to medicines. Furthermore, many medicines are not rigorously tested for pediatric use, making dosing, safety, and efficacy less certain. This necessitates meticulous prescribing and close monitoring, especially as recent warnings on drugs like Risperidone highlight the dangers of dosing errors.

Careful storage and administration of medicines at home, in schools, and childcare centers are crucial, particularly because child-specific formulations are often unavailable. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to improve medication safety profiles.

Ultimately, education, safer prescribing practices, and parental vigilance can significantly reduce the risk of accidental poisonings. Protecting children involves everyone—health professionals, caregivers, and policymakers—working together to prevent avoidable medication-related harm in the vulnerable pediatric population.