My Household Prevented an Incident Of ‘Granny’s Purse Syndrome’

It was just a few days after a latest grandparent go to ended that my 6-year-old introduced a small tablet to his dad that he discovered on the ground close to the couch. My husband was quickly in a position to decide it was a drugs left behind unintentionally by my son’s grandma. 

Fortunately, my son did the precise factor and the worst didn’t occur—however I felt shaken up pondering he might have popped the tablet in his mouth pondering it was sweet, or just out of curiosity.

I later realized that such a incident has a reputation: granny’s purse syndrome. The sadly frequent incidence is being talked about on social media not too long ago, with TikToker and pediatric ER physician Meghan Martin (@dr.beachgem10) explaining in a video to her 1.6 million followers that granny’s purse syndrome, additionally referred to as “granny syndrome,” “occurs when younger youngsters get into their grandparents’ (usually unsecured) remedy.” 

With the vacations upon us, and households getting collectively, we wished to speak to consultants to seek out out extra about this extraordinarily harmful state of affairs, and the way mother and father can each keep away from an incident involving grandparents’ drugs, in addition to what to do if the worst takes place and your little one ingests a tablet not meant for them.

How Frequent is Granny’s Purse Syndrome?

The precise variety of incidents straight associated to a baby unintentionally ingesting a grandparent’s remedy isn’t recognized. However, “Anecdotally, it’s fairly frequent for youngsters to get into grandparents’ drugs,” says Maryann Amirshahi, MD, PharmD, MPH, PhD, FACMT, FACEP, FASAM, FCP, a Professor of Emergency Medication at Georgetown College Faculty of Medication and Co-Medical Director of the Nationwide Capital Poison Middle.

Todd Zimmerman, D.O., a pediatric emergency drugs doctor and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group in Las Vegas agrees.

“Within the pediatric ER, we see kids moderately steadily as a result of they received into grandparents’ drugs,” he tells Mother and father. 

Dr. Amirshahi explains that though many mother and father and even siblings could also be on drugs which might be within the dwelling recurrently, “The danger with grandparents’ drugs is that older adults usually do not need kids residing within the dwelling, and so they might not retailer drugs up and out of attain or in child-resistant packaging.”

Including to this critical threat is that grandparents usually tend to be on drugs which might be significantly harmful to younger kids, based on Dr. Amirshahi, corresponding to coronary heart drugs, sure diabetes drugs, and ache drugs.

“Mostly, we see youngsters stepping into blood stress drugs, ache drugs, and/or oral hypoglycemic drugs—however that is actually not restricted to simply these drugs,” provides Dr. Zimmerman.

Dr. Amirshahi needs mother and father to know that “A few of these drugs can lead to critical toxicity and even demise with the ingestion of 1 tablet.”

How To Keep away from Granny’s Purse Syndrome

Each Dr. Amirshahi and Dr. Zimmerman share suggestions for how you can correctly safe drugs on the go in an effort to maintain youngsters secure.

“Once we journey, as many individuals do throughout the holidays, we don’t retailer the drugs the identical approach we might at dwelling,” notes Dr. Amirshahi.

In the event you’re visiting grandma or grandpa, keep in mind that they could not know the significance of creating changes to their remedy routines. For example, grandparents might mix tablets right into a single bottle, or put them in a tablet organizer that isn’t safe. Some might even take their tablets out the night time earlier than and go away them on the counter for the morning.

As an alternative, these steps must be taken to take away as a lot threat as attainable:

• Preserve all drugs up and out of attain of youngsters. “In case you are touring to somebody’s home with kids, don’t go away your remedy in your suitcase, however transfer it up and out of attain,” Dr. Amirshahi advises. “If attainable, don’t retailer remedy in your purse.” She says this isn’t all the time possible if, for example, an older grownup with coronary heart issues has to hold nitroglycerin with them in case they develop chest ache. “If it’s a must to carry remedy with you, it’s higher to make use of a child-resistant case and carry the smallest quantity attainable,” she advises.
• Retailer all drugs in child-resistant packaging. This prevents a younger little one from unintentionally ingesting remedy not meant for them. “Children might imagine it’s sweet, and youthful kids mainly put nearly something of their mouth,” Dr. Zimmerman says.
• Examine the ground and surfaces. Whereas grandparents are visiting—and after—do thorough searches of the ground, tables, sofas, and chairs to make sure no unfastened tablets are, nicely, unintentionally on the unfastened. That is additionally true if you happen to and your loved ones are visiting a grandparent.
• Remind grandparents about security measures they will take to safe drugs. Dr. Zimmerman recommends telling older guests or hosts upfront that their drugs should be saved in child-resistant bottles, and ideally in a locked cupboard, throughout the keep.

What To Do if a Youngster Swallows a Medicine

In the event you suppose your little one might have ingested a drugs, an important factor to do is search quick medical consideration. You’ll be able to attain Poison Management at 800-222-1222 or name 911.

“In the event you suspect a baby received right into a member of the family’s tablets, attempt to get the identify and energy and the quantity of remedy concerned, which can assist inform administration,” Dr. Amirshahi urges.

“It’s essential that you simply acquire a listing of each remedy within the family,” agrees Dr. Zimmerman. 

In keeping with Dr. Amirshahi, though they range relying on what was ingested, hazard indicators of publicity to look out for embrace:

• Gastrointestinal signs. For example, nausea and vomiting.
• Confusion. Additionally, search for unsteadiness, lethargy, and drowsiness.
• Seizures. Flip a baby on their facet whereas awaiting an ambulance if this happens, advises Dr. Amirshahi.
• Bother respiration. “You’ll be able to administer bystander naloxone if out there,” says Dr. Amirshahi, including that if there isn’t any pulse, begin chest compressions whereas awaiting medical assist.

Clearly, avoiding a terrifying medical emergency is the purpose, so Dr. Zimmerman recommends that oldsters be proactive, and have an open and conscious dialog with grandparents forward of time.

“Allow them to know that you simply simply wish to be additional secure and tremendous cautious,” he advises.