Nearly 2,000 calls were made by parents and guardians who were worried their kids may have been poisoned by over-the-counter medicine.
Helplines for the National Poisons Information Centre received nearly 1,300 calls about children being affected by ingesting of paracetamol. Stats released under the Freedom of information Act show the substances they took calls about last year. Those relating to children included 1,288 calls for paracetamol and 625 for ibuprofen, which is in Nurofen tablets.
It is understood that children accidentally ingested these medicines accidentally. Experts have warned parents to keep these common household products well out of sight of their kids, the Irish Mirror reports
Read more: Popular kids' multivitamin sold in Boots urgently recalled over safety fears
Donegal-based GP, Ciarán Ó Fearraigh, told Newstalk: “We would all think that we have things protected at home but to a small child, a green, white, and red liquid tab for the washing machine can look very like something they would enjoy as a sweet”.
There were also 98 calls about dishwasher tablets in 2022, 69 about washing up liquid, 56 about firelighters, and 142 about hand cleansers.
According to the HSE, your child might need emergency help if:
- you give too much paracetamol
- they have a serious allergic reaction
If you give your child 1 extra dose of paracetamol by mistake, wait at least 24 hours before giving them anymore. However, if your child takes 2 extra doses of paracetamol or more, call the emergency department immediately.
The HSE states that you should do this even if your child seems well because there is a risk of a delayed reaction and serious liver damage. Bring the paracetamol packaging or leaflet plus any remaining medicine with you.
A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to paracetamol is rare. Call 999 or 112 or take your child to an emergency department (ED) immediately if they show signs of a serious allergic reaction such as:
- a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
- wheezing
- tightness in their chest or throat
- trouble breathing or talking
- swelling to their mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
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