Report: Almost 100 Aussie kids hospitalized every day due to reactions from common medications
By ramontomeydw // 2025-06-02
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  • A report has found that nearly 100 Australian children are hospitalized daily due to adverse drug reactions, half of which are preventable. This has cost Australia's healthcare system A$130 million annually.
  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and antidepressants lead pediatric poisonings, with 7,332 hospitalizations recorded from 2022 to 2023 from overdoses, off-label use and accidental ingestion.
  • Researchers highlight gaps in pediatric medication safety, including untested dosages for children and regulatory transparency issues, as drugs are rarely trialed on young populations.
  • Experts warn that even "safe" doses of acetaminophen may harm neurodevelopment, potentially contributing to autism and ADHD, urging parents to explore alternatives like vitamin D3 and probiotics.
  • Advocates demand stricter oversight to prioritize children’s safety over corporate interests, emphasizing prevention through responsible prescribing and public awareness.
A report has revealed that nearly 100 Australian children are hospitalized daily due to adverse drug reactions, half of which are preventable. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's (PSA) Medicine Safety Report, produced by the University of South Australia (UniSA), documents a healthcare crisis where 93 children present to emergency rooms daily for medication-related injuries. These include poisoning, overdoses and dangerous off-label use Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and antidepressants are among the top culprits, with 7,332 pediatric poisonings requiring hospitalization in 2022 to 2023 alone. The report estimates these incidents cost the Land Down Under's healthcare system A$130 million ($83.46 million) annually. "Medicine use among children and teenagers is common," said lead researcher Dr. Imaina Widagdo. "Yet given that nearly 100 children present at hospitals each day for adverse reactions, it's clear that more needs to be done to protect their health." (Related: Acetaminophen and antidepressants lead to childhood ER visits at significant rate — a symptom of a bigger problem poisoning kids' brains.) According to Widagdo, the PSA report's revelations expose systemic failures in pediatric medication safety. They also raise urgent questions about regulatory transparency and the ethics of prescribing inadequately tested drugs to minors. "Unlike adults, children have developing bodies, which means they can respond to medicines differently than adults," she explained. "Secondly, because medicines are rarely trialed with children, the doses, safety and efficacy of certain medicines may not be fully known or always accurate."

The true dangers of kids' medications

Researcher William Parker told The Defender that the PSA's report touches on a "very important issue" – children being poisoned from common household medication. However, he pointed out that the report is "missing the big picture." Parker, who wasn't involved in the UniSA paper, mentioned that acetaminophen "is not safe for neurodevelopment … even at clinically accepted doses." The researcher specializing in acetaminophen risks continued: "It's causing autism and probably ADHD as well. So that is the real problem." Advocates urged parents to seek alternatives. Writing for Natural Health 365, Wendy Miller recommended immune-supporting strategies such as supplementation with vitamin D3, zinc, probiotics and whole foods over reliance on poorly vetted medications. The global epidemic of pediatric medication harm demands accountability – not just for the drugs that injure, but for the systems that enable it. Until regulators prioritize children's safety over corporate interests, families remain unwitting participants in a high-stakes experiment with no informed consent. "What this tells us is that we need to take much more care when prescribing and monitoring medicines for children and young people," Widagdo said. "We all have a responsibility to protect children and teenagers from the incorrect use or accidental consumption of medicines. Because when it comes to children's safety, prevention is always better than cure." DangerousMedicine.com has more similar stories. Watch Del Bigtree pointing out that link between Tylenol and autism exposes the weakness of claims that autism is linked to genetics. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The suppressed truth about Tylenol: It's toxic to children. Tylenol may cause neurological damage in children, warn researchers. DISTURBING report finds that 20 million American schoolchildren have been prescribed antidepressants. Sources include: NaturalHealth365.com UniSA.edu.au ChildrensHealthDefense.org Brighteon.com
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