It was a number of 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 medicine left behind by accident by my son’s grandma. 

Fortunately, my son did the best 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 discovered that this sort of incident has a reputation: granny’s purse syndrome. The sadly widespread incidence is being talked about on social media lately, 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 known as “granny syndrome,” “occurs when younger youngsters get into their grandparents’ (typically unsecured) treatment.” 

With the vacations upon us, and households getting collectively, we needed to speak to specialists to search out out extra about this extraordinarily harmful scenario, and the way dad and mom can each keep away from an incident involving grandparents’ medicines, in addition to what to do if the worst takes place and your baby ingests a tablet not meant for them.

How Widespread is Granny’s Purse Syndrome?

The precise variety of incidents instantly associated to a baby by accident ingesting a grandparent’s treatment isn’t identified. However, “Anecdotally, it’s fairly widespread for youngsters to get into grandparents’ medicines,” 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 youngsters quite often as a result of they received into grandparents’ medicines,” he tells Dad and mom. 

Dr. Amirshahi explains that though many dad and mom and even siblings could also be on medicines which are within the house usually, “The danger with grandparents’ medicines is that older adults typically shouldn’t have youngsters residing within the house, and so they might not retailer medicines up and out of attain or in child-resistant packaging.”

Including to this critical danger is that grandparents usually tend to be on medicines which are significantly harmful to younger youngsters, in response to Dr. Amirshahi, reminiscent of coronary heart medicines, sure diabetes medicines, and ache medicines.

“Mostly, we see youngsters entering into blood strain medicines, ache medicines, and/or oral hypoglycemic medicines—however that is definitely not restricted to only these medicines,” provides Dr. Zimmerman.

Dr. Amirshahi needs dad and mom to know that “A few of these medicines can lead to critical toxicity and even dying with the ingestion of 1 tablet.”

How To Keep away from Granny’s Purse Syndrome

Each Dr. Amirshahi and Dr. Zimmerman share ideas for find out how to correctly safe medicines on the go in an effort to maintain youngsters protected.

“After we journey, as many individuals do in the course of the holidays, we don’t retailer the medicines the identical manner we might at house,” notes Dr. Amirshahi.

For those who’re visiting grandma or grandpa, do not forget that they might not know the significance of constructing changes to their treatment routines. As an example, grandparents might mix tablets right into a single bottle, or put them in a tablet organizer that’s not safe. Some might even take their tablets out the evening earlier than and depart them on the counter for the morning.

As an alternative, these steps ought to be taken to take away as a lot danger as potential:

• Maintain all medicines up and out of attain of kids. “In case you are touring to somebody’s home with youngsters, don’t depart your treatment in your suitcase, however transfer it up and out of attain,” Dr. Amirshahi advises. “If potential, don’t retailer treatment in your purse.” She says this isn’t all the time possible if, as an 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 treatment with you, it’s higher to make use of a child-resistant case and carry the smallest quantity potential,” she advises.
• Retailer all medicines in child-resistant packaging. This prevents a younger baby from by accident ingesting treatment not meant for them. “Youngsters might imagine it’s sweet, and youthful youngsters principally 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 should you and your loved ones are visiting a grandparent.
• Remind grandparents about security measures they will take to safe medicines. Dr. Zimmerman recommends telling older guests or hosts prematurely that their medicines should be saved in child-resistant bottles, and ideally in a locked cupboard, in the course of the keep.

What To Do if a Little one Swallows a Remedy

For those who suppose your baby might have ingested a medicine, crucial factor to do is search rapid medical consideration. You possibly can attain Poison Management at 800-222-1222 or name 911.

“For those who suspect a baby received right into a member of the family’s tablets, attempt to get the identify and power and the quantity of treatment concerned, which may help inform administration,” Dr. Amirshahi urges.

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

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

• Gastrointestinal signs. As an 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 respiratory. “You possibly can administer bystander naloxone if obtainable,” says Dr. Amirshahi, including that if there isn’t a 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 aware dialog with grandparents forward of time.

“Allow them to know that you simply simply need to be further protected and tremendous cautious,” he advises.