Nasal drop poisoning in children: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Pharmacist Dinh Thi My Hanh - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about poisoning of OTC (over-the-counter) nasal drops that often occurs in young children, especially children under the age of 10. 3 years old, even 2 months old children are also poisoned and often cause serious harm. Due to the serious nature of the possible side effects if young children are exposed to these products, parents and caregivers need to be aware of these risks.

1. When does nasal drop poisoning occur in children?

Most cases of nasal drop poisoning in children are caused by Naphazoline - a nasal drop used by many families. The use of Naphazoline is to constrict blood vessels in the lining of the nose, helping to reduce swelling and congestion. In addition to Naphazoline, there are other nasal drops such as Xylometazolin, Oxymetazolin, Tetrahydrozoline, Fenoxazolin that can also cause poisoning in infants and young children, however, the rate of poisoning is lower. Typically, these nasal drops come in concentrations of 0.025% to 0.1% and are not packaged in a child-resistant bottle
When used as directed, the medication is only topical. But if swallowed, they quickly spread throughout the body. If used improperly (the child is not yet old enough to use), overdosed or for a long time, or let the child self-administer the drug, the drug can cause poisoning and lead to dangerous complications for the patient. young.

2. Symptoms of nose drop poisoning in children

After using about 30 minutes - 2 hours, if the child is poisoned with nasal drops, the child may have some of the following symptoms:
Nervousness: headache, lethargy, tremor, coma Digestive: nausea , vomiting Heart: cold hands and feet, pale body, fast or slow heart rate, blood pressure changes (high at first, low later) Respiratory: slow breathing, irregular breathing, shortness of breath, intermittent pauses in breathing With severe signs, the child may have hypothermia and fall into lethargy. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, children can have many serious complications.

Trẻ sốt cao — Trẻ lừ đừ, hôn mê sau nhỏ mũi

3. Treatment of nose drop poisoning in children

As soon as the above danger signs are recognized, parents and family members should immediately take the child to the nearest medical facility for timely treatment. Here, children with poisoning from nasal drops will be treated according to symptoms:
Monitor the child's vital signs Transfusion, oxygen, warming In severe cases, if the child stops breathing or stops breathing for a long time with monitor cyanosis, intubate to help the child breathe Closely monitor to detect and manage complications Most cases of nasal drop poisoning in children are mild, children only need supportive treatment and will recover on their own. within 12-24 hours of being treated.

Tiêu chảy ở trẻ nên truyền dịch gì — Điều trị ngộ độc thuốc nhỏ mũi ở trẻ bằng truyền dịch

4. Prevention of nose drop poisoning in children

When children have a stuffy nose, runny nose, parents and caregivers need to pay attention to the following things to prevent poisoning with nasal drops in children:
Do not buy and use nose drops for children without their own consent. prescribed and directed by a doctor, especially infants and children under 6 years of age. For young children, it is possible to help children clear their noses by wicking deep trumpets, using physiological saline 0.9% NaCl to help children clean their noses, feeding them, drinking liquid foods, and drinking lots of water. Store medicine in a safe place where small children cannot reach or see it. If a pill bottle has a safety cap, screw it back on tightly after each use. Nasal drop poisoning in children can occur due to the negligence of parents and caregivers. However, most of the symptoms are mild, detected and treated promptly, will resolve on their own in 12-24 hours.

Khoa Nhi- sơ sinh — Cha mẹ cần đưa trẻ đến cơ sở y tế ngay khi xuất hiện triệu chứng bất thường

Vinmec International General Hospital examines and treats common nasopharyngitis diseases, head and neck tumors, congenital malformations of the ear, nose and throat area with the most optimal internal-surgical methods for patients, both children and adults. Coming to Vinmec International General Hospital, patients will receive direct, dedicated and professional examination from a team of qualified and experienced medical staff.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register online HERE
References: fda.gov, pharmacytoday.org, webmd.com,mountsinai.org
SEE MORE
What to do when a 1-month-old baby has a cough, stuffy nose? Causes of nasal congestion in babies Why do babies have a stuffy nose, wheezing?

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Bài viết này được viết cho người đọc tại Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.