Learning Lessons from Adverse Drug Reactions in Children
Drug toxicity is, unfortunately, a significant problem in children both in the hospital and in
the community. Drug toxicity in children is different to that seen in adults. At least one in 500 children
will experience an adverse drug reaction each year. For children in hospital, the risk is far greater
(one in ten). Additionally, different and sometimes unique adverse drug reactions are seen in the
paediatric age groups. Some of the major cases of drug toxicity historically have occurred in neonates.
It is important that we understand the mechanism of action of adverse drug reactions. Greater
understanding alongside rational prescribing should hopefully reduce drug toxicity in children in
the future.
Learning Lessons from Adverse Drug Reactions in Children
Helen M. Sammons and Imti Choonara *
Received: 25 November 2015; Accepted: 18 December 2015; Published: 8 January 2016
Academic Editor: Sari Acra
University of Nottingham, Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine,
Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, Derby DE22 3DT, UK
* Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-01332-724-693
Received: 25 November 2015; Accepted: 18 December 2015; Published: 8 January 2016
Academic Editor: Sari Acra
University of Nottingham, Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine,
Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, Derby DE22 3DT, UK
* Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-01332-724-693