Lock it up: The secret dangers hiding in your medicine cabinet.
Imagine something designed to make you feel better suddenly turning into a dangerous poison. It sounds like the plot of a movie, but it happens in real life every single day.
Health experts in South Africa have issued an urgent warning to families: everyday medicines can become incredibly dangerous if they end up in the wrong hands—especially those of curious children or family pets.
According to a shocking 10-year study published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine, a massive 38% of all children treated for poisoning at one South African hospital were there because they had accidentally swallowed medicine. In fact, across the entire world, accidental poisoning is now one of the top five causes of serious childhood injuries.
So, how can something helpful turn harmful? Pharmacist Cathy Jacobs, from Medipost Pharmacy, said that it all comes down to the size of your body. Because children are much smaller than adults, a normal adult dose of medicine can completely overwhelm a child's system. Paediatric doses are specifically calculated based on a child's weight, meaning even a tiny extra amount can be toxic.
