Common Meds Out Of Stock

You may have heard there is a nationwide shortage of antibiotics and over-the-counter medications formulated especially for children this fall. Lisa Mulcahy explains why these medicines parents depend on to help their sick kids feel better are in short supply:

The main reason: Kids are simply getting sick more often. “What I’m seeing is that kids didn’t get sick as much over the past couple of years because of masking and social distancing,” says Meghan Martin, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. “Now, it’s like they’re playing catch-up — getting sick multiple times.”

For example, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 2 million kids under the age of 5 get outpatient treatment for RSV every fall and winter. This year’s numbers are expected to soar much higher. We can already see it in action: In November 2021, a little more than 18,000 patients were diagnosed with RSV in the United States; in November 2022, that number is closer to 70,408. (This could also be due to a change in seasonality, with RSV hitting earlier.)

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics addressed the shortage of the commonly used antibiotic, amoxicillin, last month in AAP News:

Clinicians should be sure their patient needs antibiotics before prescribing them, Dr. [Jeffrey S.] Gerber said. Most infections in children are caused by viruses, not bacteria. If antibiotics are indicated, pediatricians can consider other formulations of amoxicillin not impacted by the shortage. They also can choose another antibiotic depending on the type of infection, age of the child and antibiotic allergies.

“Unfortunately, these are often broader-spectrum antibiotics that we prefer not to use too often. So if the shortage continues, this can drive the development of antibiotic-resistance,” Dr. Gerber said.

 

Shortages of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines aren’t a big problem for children; because they don’t work as advertised, don’t shorten the course of the illness, and can have unintended and serious side effects in youngsters, most pediatricians don’t recommend using them. But the scarcity of fever and pain meds like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) on pharmacy shelves is unsettling for pediatricians and parents alike.

Hanna Webster found a friendly pediatrician last week — AHN Pediatrics’ Michael Petrosky — with some reassuring advice:

Dr. Petrosky said Wednesday that he had heard of shortages in the area, but that if parents cannot access Tylenol or Motrin, they should call their doctor to see if it can be prescribed or to adjust the dose. While children’s and infant’s Tylenol are the same strength, children’s and infants’ Motrin are different — infant Motrin being more concentrated with less volume. When informed about the child’s size and weight, the doctor can recommend an adjusted dose if you have one product but not the other.

Tylenol and Motrin work by reducing fever and relieving pain — they should not be given if the child only has a cough and congestion, or if the child has a low-grade fever but has remained happy and playful. A fever is a sign that the body is fighting infection, so as long as the child is not fussy and the fever is not too high, the medication is not needed.

 

Dr. Petrosky explained why aspirin is not a suitable substitute to relieve pain or lower fever in children:

Parents also should not give children or teens aspirin in place of Tylenol or Motrin — aspirin in children has been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, which causes swelling of the brain and liver.

And Dr. Petrosky discouraged parents from treating their child with a more general cough and cold medicine with Tylenol in it, like DayQuil, as many have other medicines in them that the child should not take. He reiterated that medicines should be taken only for their intended use.

All in all, assure the child is comfortable, and if you have a primary care provider, it can’t hurt to call.

“We’re doing the best we can to try to keep kids as healthy as we can,” Dr. Petrosky said.

 

There are a number of ways parents can help their kids avoid getting sick with RSV, influenza, COVID-19, and other common viral infections:

• Influenza vaccines. The 2022-23 flu season started early but it’s not too late for everyone 6-months and older to get a flu shot. An annual flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent the most serious symptoms and complications associated with an infection that everyone who’s had it agrees is brutal.

• COVID-19 vaccines. The primary series of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is proven to be safe and effective in preventing serious disease from SARS-CoV-2. Protection is greatly enhanced by getting a dose of the bivalent booster vaccine, especially against the Omicron variants which have dominated throughout the year.

• Face masks. As we noted in yesterday’s post on The PediaBlog, face masks are highly effective in reducing transmission of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. As we enter our 4th pandemic year this winter, accumulated knowledge and some common sense tell us how prudent it is to properly wear well-fitting face masks in crowded indoor settings.

• Handwashing. After using the bathroom or wiping a drippy nose, before eating, soap and water, 20 seconds… you know the drill.

• Stay home when sick to prevent harmful viruses from spreading to others.

• Count on your pediatrician and their office staff to be there when you need them. Call the office with questions and concerns so, in the words of Dr. Petrosky, we can do our best “to keep kids as healthy as we can.”

 

 

(Google Images)

 

source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/12/13/common-meds-out-of-stock/