The need for additional testing to determine the safety and effects of using medications in young children and pregnant women is apparent after a recent report.

Researchers found that medications given to children and mothers during pregnancy, labor or while breast-feeding played a role in 769 deaths and close to 6,000 side effects in children under 2 years of age between 1997 and 2000 in the U.S.

Close to 2,000 drugs, chemicals, biological products, vaccines, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and other substances were identified in the reports. However, 17 drugs were indicated in more than half of the serious side effects or deaths in children given medication directly, and four drugs were suspect in close to one-third of reported deaths.

Some of the most suspect drugs included antibiotics, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, and treatments for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common infection in children that can cause pneumonia.

Although the report does not prove that medication was the cause of the side effects or death, it indicates that the risks and benefits of using drugs needs to be more carefully examined.

Pediatrics November 2002;110:e53

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

How sad that nearly one child a day has died due to side effects from drugs.

You can be sure that if this were a food or supplement there would be an enormous uprising and demands to address this issue that would likely result in the rapid removal of the offending product from the market.

But, when the cause of death is due to a drug, the problem is universally ignored and nothing is done to limit the exposures.

Allowing parents to make informed decisions about whether to accept recommendations from doctors regarding drugs is one of the goals of this site.

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