Premium
Impact of the voluntary withdrawal of over‐the‐counter cough and cold medications on pediatric ingestions reported to poison centers
Author(s) -
KleinSchwartz Wendy,
Sorkin John David,
Doyon Suzanne
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.1971
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , poison control , injury prevention , anesthesia , emergency medicine
Abstract Purpose To assess the impact of a voluntary withdrawal of over‐the‐counter cough and cold medications (OTC CCMs) labeled for children under age 2 years on pediatric ingestions reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Methods Trend analysis of OTC CCMs ingestions in children under the age 6 years resulting from therapeutic errors or unintentional poisonings for 27 months before (pre‐) and 15 months after (post‐) the October 2007 voluntary withdrawal was conducted. The rates and outcome severity were examined. Results The mean annual rate of therapeutic errors involving OTC CCMs post‐withdrawal, in children less than 2‐years of age, 45.2/100 000 (95%CI 30.7–66.6) was 54% of the rate pre‐withdrawal, 83.8/100 000 (95%CI 67.6–104.0). The decrease was statistically significant p < 0.02. In this age group, there was no difference in the frequency of severe outcomes resulting from therapeutic errors post‐withdrawal. There was no significant difference in unintentional poisoning rates post‐withdrawal 82.1/100 000 (66.0–102.2) vs . pre‐withdrawal 98.3/100 000 (84.4–114.3) ( p < 0.21) in children less than 2‐years of age. There were no significant reductions in rates of therapeutic errors and unintentional poisonings in children ages 2–5 years, who were not targeted by the withdrawal. Conclusions A significant decrease in annual rates of therapeutic errors in children under 2‐years reported to Poison Centers followed the voluntary withdrawal of OTC CCMs for children under age 2‐years. Concerns that withdrawal of pediatric medications would paradoxically increase poisonings from parents giving products intended for older age groups to young children are not supported. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.