Paediatric adverse drug reactions can be fatal.

A recent American publication by the Food and Drug Administration looked at more than 7000 adverse drug events reported in infants and children younger than two years of age. Of the 1902 different drugs and products that were identified, only 17 were suspected in 54% of all serious and fatal adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Four drugs, palivizumab (15%), nitric oxide (11%), indomethacin (10%) and cisapride (3%) accounted for 38% of reported deaths (1). Although results pertain to the United States, they nevertheless focus attention on the important clinical and public health implications of better understanding adverse drug events in the Canadian context.