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Adverse drug effects in children too

Adverse drug effects are as frequent in children as in adults. It is vital to detect and report them to regional pharmacovigilance centres to foster an improved understanding of drug use in children.

A German study revealed adverse drug effects in 12% of child inpatients. This study also showed that adverse drug effects were the cause of 1.8% of children's hospital admissions. Children under one year of age were the worst affected.

France's Eneis study on serious adverse effects resulting from treatment showed a similar frequency of adverse effects in children under 16 and in adults. These results confirm those of a previous French study, which found that 1.9% of hospital admissions for children under 16 were for adverse effects from drug treatments.

In the German study, the adverse effects were reported by nurses in 31% of cases, doctors in 21% of cases, the child in 6% of cases, or the child's family in 12% of cases. All these data show that children are as much at risk as adults for adverse drug reactions. Doctors, nurses, the family and the patient all play an important part in detecting adverse effects.

©Prescrire March 2006

Source: "Effets indésirables des médicaments : chez les enfants aussi" Rev Prescrire 2006 ; 26 (270) : 193.

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