27.12.2012 Views

A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

lifelong effects as a result <strong>of</strong> toxicity occurring at a sensitive<br />

point in development (a ‘critical window’) during fetal<br />

or neonatal life (‘programming’) as with thalidomide/<br />

phocomelia or hypothyroid drugs/congenital hypothyroidism<br />

RESEARCH<br />

Research in paediatric clinical pharmacology is limited. Not<br />

only is there concern about the potential for adverse effects<br />

<strong>of</strong> new drugs on those who are growing <strong>and</strong> developing<br />

mentally, but there are also considerable ethical problems<br />

encountered in research involving individuals who are too<br />

young to give informed consent. New drugs are <strong>of</strong>ten given to<br />

children for the first time only when no alternative is available<br />

or when unacceptable side effects have been encountered in a<br />

particular individual with established drugs. Pharmaceutical<br />

companies seldom seek to license their products for use in<br />

children. When drugs are prescribed to children that are<br />

not licensed for use in this age group, it is important to<br />

make careful records <strong>of</strong> both efficacy <strong>and</strong> possible adverse<br />

effects. Prescribers take sole responsibility for prescribing<br />

unlicensed preparations (e.g. formulated to appeal to children)<br />

or for prescribing licensed preparations outside the<br />

licensed age range. Parents should be informed <strong>and</strong> their consent<br />

obtained.<br />

Case history<br />

FURTHER READING<br />

RESEARCH 55<br />

A 14-year-old boy with a history <strong>of</strong> exercise-induced<br />

asthma, for which he uses salbutamol as necessary (on average<br />

two puffs twice daily <strong>and</strong> before exercise) is seen by his<br />

GP because <strong>of</strong> malaise <strong>and</strong> nocturnal cough. On examination,<br />

he has a mild fever (38°C), bilateral swollen cervical<br />

lymph nodes <strong>and</strong> bilateral wheeze. Ampicillin is prescribed<br />

for a respiratory tract infection. The next day the boy<br />

develops a widespread maculopapular rash.<br />

Question 1<br />

What is the cause <strong>of</strong> the rash?<br />

Question 2<br />

What is the likely cause <strong>of</strong> the nocturnal cough <strong>and</strong> how<br />

may this be treated?<br />

Answer 1<br />

Ampicillin rash in infectious mononucleosis (gl<strong>and</strong>ular fever).<br />

Answer 2<br />

Poorly controlled asthma. Regular inhaled glucocorticosteroid<br />

or cromoglicate.<br />

Baber N, Pritchard D. Dose estimation in children. British Journal <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Clinical</strong> <strong>Pharmacology</strong> 2003; 56: 489–93.<br />

British National Formulary for Children 2007. www.bnfc.org<br />

Kearns GL, Abdel-Rahmen SM. Developmental pharmacology – drug<br />

disposition, action <strong>and</strong> therapy in infants <strong>and</strong> children. New<br />

Engl<strong>and</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> Medicine 2003; 349: 1157–67.<br />

Paediatric Special Issue. British Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Clinical</strong> <strong>Pharmacology</strong> 2005; 59 (6).<br />

Paediatric formulary, 7th edn. London: Guy’s, St Thomas’, King’s<br />

College <strong>and</strong> Lewisham Hospitals, revised 2005.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!