Newly released figures show there were almost 1,300 calls from worried parents and guardians last year over children being poisoned with paracetamol.
The National Poisons Information Centre has helplines for healthcare professionals and members of the public for the purpose of evaluating the severity of cases and giving advice on what steps should be taken.
The stats, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show the substances they took calls about last year. Those relating to children included:
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- 1,288 calls for paracetamol
- 625 calls for ibuprofen, which is in Nurofen tablets
It is understood that in many of these cases, children accidentally ingested these common household products and parents are being warned to keep them well out of sight.
Speaking to Newstalk, a Donegal-based GP, Ciarán Ó Fearraigh, said: “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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