Rise in Emergency Room Visits for Children Ingesting Melatonin Without Supervision, CDC Report Finds
Melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle, has gained popularity among adults in the US. However, a recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a concerning trend: approximately 11,000 children have ended up in the emergency room in recent years after ingesting melatonin without supervision.
Melatonin supplements, often sold as flavored gummies, are commonly used by individuals struggling with sleep disorders or jet lag. While these products can be helpful for adults, they pose a significant risk to young children who accidentally ingest them.
The CDC and US Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted a study focusing on children aged 5 and younger who were taken to the emergency department between 2019 and 2022 due to unsupervised melatonin ingestion. The researchers identified nearly 300 cases and estimated that there were 10,930 emergency department visits during this period, accounting for about 7% of all ER visits in the US for unsupervised medication exposures in infants and young children.
The majority of accidental ingestions involved children between the ages of 3 and 5, and most visits did not involve additional medications. Although the specific type of melatonin ingested was not always specified, it was found that children had almost always swallowed the product. Melatonin gummies were estimated to be involved in nearly 5,000 cases based on emergency department visits where the dosage form was specified.
One concerning aspect is that melatonin is a supplement and is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A recent study published in the journal JAMA found that some melatonin gummies contained dangerous levels of the hormone, while others contained no melatonin at all and only contained cannabidiol (CBD). These discrepancies in ingredients or strength could pose additional risks to children.
The report also highlighted that about three-quarters of emergency department visits involving melatonin ingestion had documentation of the melatonin container, suggesting that young children were able to open the bottles or that the bottles were not closed properly. This emphasizes the importance of adults who take these products and live with young children to consider purchasing melatonin products with child-resistant packaging.
However, the surveillance data used in the report has limitations, including a lack of detailed information recorded during emergency department visits. For example, the intended age of a melatonin product was not specified in nearly half of the visits, which means that the involvement of a specific product type might be higher than reported.
The use of melatonin by US adults has significantly increased since the early 2000s, and this rise has coincided with a 420% increase in emergency department visits for unsupervised melatonin ingestion by infants and young children between 2009 and 2020. It is worth noting that the majority of unsupervised melatonin ingestions did not result in hospitalization, but further research is needed to determine the safety and necessity of supervised use of melatonin for children.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, short-term use of melatonin appears to be safe for most children. However, it is still unclear how much melatonin is suitable for children and whether its benefits outweigh its possible risks. Some documented side effects of melatonin in children include drowsiness, headaches, agitation, and increased bed-wetting or urination in the evening. There is also a potential for harmful interactions with drugs prescribed for children’s allergic reactions.
Parents are advised to consult their pediatrician before giving their children melatonin. Dr. Cora Collette Breuner, a professor at Seattle Children’s Hospital, warns that melatonin should not be taken indefinitely as its long-term effects on a child’s growth and development are unknown. Instead, she suggests implementing good sleep hygiene practices, such as limiting exposure to blue-light-emitting devices before bed, creating a calming bedtime routine, and ensuring a comfortable sleep environment.
While melatonin can be beneficial for adults, it is crucial to keep it out of reach of young children and to use it under proper supervision. The rise in emergency room visits for unsupervised melatonin ingestion highlights the need for increased awareness and caution when it comes to the use of melatonin products in households with young children.
