What is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) new recommendation regarding poison treatment in the home?
How does it differ from the AAP’s old recommendation? • The AAP previously advised that parents keep a 1-ounce bottle of syrup of ipecac in the home to induce vomiting if it was believed a child had swallowed a poisonous substance. The AAP now recommends that syrup of ipecac no longer be used routinely at home by parents or caregivers. What should I do if I still have syrup of ipecac in my home? • Parents should throw out syrup of ipecac that is currently in their home in a safe manner, such as flushing it down the toilet. What is the reason for the new recommendation? • There are several reasons behind the new recommendation. Most importantly, there has never been any evidence that vomiting helps children who eat or drink something poisonous. Also, most emergency rooms have stopped using ipecac in favor of activated charcoal – which binds to poison in the stomach and prevents them from entering the bloodstream. Continued vomiting caused by syrup of ipecac may later result in the child
