Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
08/17/2006 [Reporter Wei Liwen/Taipei Report]
Can adult cough syrup diluted with water be given to children? Children under two years old are not yet fully developed and should not use cough syrup containing codeine, as it may cause respiratory depression. However, an analysis by the National Health Insurance Administration revealed that in the past year, out of 6.79 million cases of colds in children under two, 118,000 toddlers were prescribed cough medicine containing codeine—a concerning statistic.
Gao Zibin, director of the Medical Review Division of the National Health Insurance Administration, pointed out that data from 2005 showed a total of 6.79 million cases of colds in infants and toddlers under two years old, with 6% of them prescribed codeine-based medications, affecting approximately 118,000 children.
The prescription of codeine-based medications to children under two was most severe in local clinics, accounting for 110,000 cases, while regional and district hospitals contributed only a small number. Large medical centers almost never prescribed codeine to infants and toddlers.
Shockingly, 12 medical institutions prescribed over 1,000 codeine-containing prescriptions to young children in a single year, indicating that some doctors may lack relevant pediatric knowledge—a worrying trend.
Huang Fuyuan, vice president of Mackay Memorial Hospital, explained that children under two have underdeveloped liver glucuronidation systems. Using codeine may lead to respiratory depression, and in severe cases, symptoms such as drowsiness, ataxia, and vomiting may occur.
Huang Lixin, a pediatrician at Mackay Memorial Hospital, noted that clinically, codeine-containing cough suppressants are almost never prescribed to children under two. Codeine is a central nervous system depressant; while it may suppress neurogenic coughs, it can also suppress the respiratory system—an effect more pronounced in younger children.
Li Junxian, director of pediatrics at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, emphasized that the cause of a child’s cough should be identified rather than blindly suppressing it. Children with a history of asthma or premature birth should especially avoid such medications.
In the past, codeine was indeed commonly used for cough suppression in clinical practice. However, with medical advancements, trained pediatricians no longer prescribe it to children under two. Nevertheless, some doctors may still overlook the harm codeine poses to young children.
Additionally, Huang Lixin reminded parents that pediatric medications do not contain codeine. Parents should avoid diluting adult cold medicines for children, as even reduced doses may still contain harmful ingredients.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=44192
Children's Codeine Cough Syrup Risk of Poisoning
Can adult cough syrup diluted with water be given to children? Children under two years old are not yet fully developed and should not use cough syrup containing codeine, as it may cause respiratory depression. However, an analysis by the National Health Insurance Administration revealed that in the past year, out of 6.79 million cases of colds in children under two, 118,000 toddlers were prescribed cough medicine containing codeine—a concerning statistic.
Gao Zibin, director of the Medical Review Division of the National Health Insurance Administration, pointed out that data from 2005 showed a total of 6.79 million cases of colds in infants and toddlers under two years old, with 6% of them prescribed codeine-based medications, affecting approximately 118,000 children.
The prescription of codeine-based medications to children under two was most severe in local clinics, accounting for 110,000 cases, while regional and district hospitals contributed only a small number. Large medical centers almost never prescribed codeine to infants and toddlers.
Shockingly, 12 medical institutions prescribed over 1,000 codeine-containing prescriptions to young children in a single year, indicating that some doctors may lack relevant pediatric knowledge—a worrying trend.
Huang Fuyuan, vice president of Mackay Memorial Hospital, explained that children under two have underdeveloped liver glucuronidation systems. Using codeine may lead to respiratory depression, and in severe cases, symptoms such as drowsiness, ataxia, and vomiting may occur.
Huang Lixin, a pediatrician at Mackay Memorial Hospital, noted that clinically, codeine-containing cough suppressants are almost never prescribed to children under two. Codeine is a central nervous system depressant; while it may suppress neurogenic coughs, it can also suppress the respiratory system—an effect more pronounced in younger children.
Li Junxian, director of pediatrics at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, emphasized that the cause of a child’s cough should be identified rather than blindly suppressing it. Children with a history of asthma or premature birth should especially avoid such medications.
In the past, codeine was indeed commonly used for cough suppression in clinical practice. However, with medical advancements, trained pediatricians no longer prescribe it to children under two. Nevertheless, some doctors may still overlook the harm codeine poses to young children.
Additionally, Huang Lixin reminded parents that pediatric medications do not contain codeine. Parents should avoid diluting adult cold medicines for children, as even reduced doses may still contain harmful ingredients.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=44192