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

It was a couple of days after a latest grandparent go to ended that my 6-year-old introduced a small capsule 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 fitting factor and the worst didn’t occur—however I felt shaken up considering he might have popped the capsule in his mouth considering it was sweet, or just out of curiosity.

I later realized that this sort of incident has a reputation: granny’s purse syndrome. The sadly frequent prevalence is being talked about on social media just 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 referred to as “granny syndrome,” “occurs when younger youngsters get into their grandparents’ (usually unsecured) medicine.” 

With the vacations upon us, and households getting collectively, we wished to speak to specialists 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’ medicines, in addition to what to do if the worst takes place and your little one ingests a capsule not meant for them.

How Frequent is Granny’s Purse Syndrome?

The precise variety of incidents instantly associated to a toddler by accident ingesting a grandparent’s medicine just isn’t identified. However, “Anecdotally, it’s fairly frequent for kids to get into grandparents’ medicines,” says Maryann Amirshahi, MD, PharmD, MPH, PhD, FACMT, FACEP, FASAM, FCP, a Professor of Emergency Drugs at Georgetown College College of Drugs and Co-Medical Director of the Nationwide Capital Poison Heart.

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 slightly ceaselessly as a result of they bought into grandparents’ medicines,” he tells Mother and father. 

Dr. Amirshahi explains that though many mother and father and even siblings could also be on medicines which can be within the dwelling repeatedly, “The chance with grandparents’ medicines is that older adults usually shouldn’t have youngsters dwelling within the dwelling, and so they might not retailer medicines up and out of attain or in child-resistant packaging.”

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

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

Dr. Amirshahi needs mother and father to know that “A few of these medicines can lead to severe toxicity and even loss of life with the ingestion of 1 capsule.”

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 throughout the holidays, we don’t retailer the medicines the identical approach we’d at dwelling,” notes Dr. Amirshahi.

Should you’re visiting grandma or grandpa, do not forget that they could not know the significance of constructing changes to their medicine routines. For example, grandparents might mix capsules right into a single bottle, or put them in a capsule organizer that’s not safe. Some might even take their capsules out the night time 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. “If you’re touring to somebody’s home with youngsters, don’t depart your medicine in your suitcase, however transfer it up and out of attain,” Dr. Amirshahi advises. “If potential, don’t retailer medicine 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 you must carry medicine 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 little one from by accident ingesting medicine 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 free capsules are, nicely, unintentionally on the free. That is additionally true for those who and your loved ones are visiting a grandparent.
• Remind grandparents about security measures they’ll take to safe medicines. Dr. Zimmerman recommends telling older guests or hosts upfront that their medicines have to be saved in child-resistant bottles, and ideally in a locked cupboard, throughout the keep.

What To Do if a Youngster Swallows a Remedy

Should you assume your little one might have ingested a medicine, a very powerful factor to do is search quick medical consideration. You may attain Poison Management at 800-222-1222 or name 911.

“Should you suspect a toddler bought right into a member of the family’s capsules, attempt to get the identify and power and the quantity of medicine concerned, which can assist inform administration,” Dr. Amirshahi urges.

“It’s essential that you just receive a listing of each medicine within the family,” agrees Dr. Zimmerman. 

In keeping with Dr. Amirshahi, though they differ 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 toddler on their facet whereas awaiting an ambulance if this happens, advises Dr. Amirshahi.
• Bother respiratory. “You may administer bystander naloxone if obtainable,” 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 aim, 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 just simply need to be further protected and tremendous cautious,” he advises.