Health trends

Risk of codeine use in children

The US Food and Drug Administration recently issued a drug-safety communication concerning three children who died and one child who experienced a non-fatal but life-threatening case of respiratory depression after taking the pain reliever codeine following surgery to remove tonsils (tonsillectomy) and/or adenoids (adenoidectomy).

The surgeries were performed to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a condition that results in repeated episodes of complete or partial blockage of the upper airway during sleep. The children received doses of codeine that were within the typical dose range. Health-care professionals and parents should be aware of the risks of using codeine in children who have had their tonsils and/or adenoids removed to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

When prescribing codeine-containing drugs, health-care providers should use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time on an as-needed basis. If parents or caregivers notice signs of overdose in a child, such as unusual sleepiness, difficulty being aroused or awakened, confusion, or noisy and difficult breathing, they should stop giving the child codeine and seek medical attention immediately.

"The FDA is currently conducting a review of adverse event reports and other information to determine if there are additional cases of inadvertent overdose or death in children taking codeine, and if these adverse events occur during treatment of other kinds of pain, such as post-operative pain following other types of surgery or procedures," said Bob Rappaport, MD, director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction Products in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "The FDA will update the public when more information is available."

Source: U S Food and Drug Administration

Collision survivor receives grant

Pedestrian car collision survivor Falasha Fitz-Henley has been chosen as the first recipient of the David Squeeze Annakie Prosthesis Grant, as administered by The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation (MCADF).

Ms Fitz-Henley received that grant of $50,000 on August 14 at the Kingston headquarters of The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation.

She needs an additional $115,000 for full acquisition of the prosthetic limb, and the MCADF, while disbursing the grant, made an appeal on her behalf for others to assist Ms Fitz-Henley recover her life after being hit by a motor vehicle and rendered disabled.

Managing director of the foundation, Maia Chung, is appealing to all Jamaicans here and abroad to come aboard and help Ms Fitz-Henley regain her very productive life by making a monetary donation. In addition to the grant, the non-profit Jamaican group, the HALO Society, which recently staged a fund-raiser for the MCADF and netted $12,000, have agreed to forward this fund to Ms Fitz-Henley's case. A Jamaican financial institution has also pledged another $20,000.

Source: The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation