Tylenol Shortage Contributes to Children’s Hospital Crash: Nurses

Canadian hospitals are suffering from an influx of children dealing with respiratory ailments, and the continued shortage of Tylenol in children complicates matters.

A fever that could have been managed at home with appropriate over-the-counter medications seems to have progressed to the point where concerned parents have gone to the emergency room.

“They are coming to the ER and hospitals because they are short on Tylenol and Advil,” Eram Chhogala told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview.

“They go to stores and pharmacies and there’s nothing there. So they come to the emergency department to get prescription drugs.”

Chogala is a registered nurse in Toronto. Because she works in the emergency department, she has a mix of adult and pediatric patients, but it’s clear that more and more children are being taken to the ER with respiratory symptoms these days, she says.

These patients include those with influenza, COVID-19, and a common pediatric respiratory infection called RSV, but one symptom appears in many children brought to the ER.

“We have children who have very high fevers, and that’s usually because Tylenol and Advil aren’t available in many stores, pharmacies, etc.,” she said.

“It caused a really massive influx of patients.”

Pharmacists and hospitals began to warn about liquid Tylenol and Advil supply problems in early summer, and Health Canada confirmed a nationwide shortage. Since then, the shortage has only increased, with the Ontario Pharmacists Association saying in September that liquid and chewable forms are in short supply.

Supply chain problems are believed to have contributed to the problem, but Health Canada’s latest update says “unprecedented demand” is the main cause of the shortage.

In recent weeks, children’s hospitals and medical professionals have been warning that children are dying from respiratory illnesses.

Some hospitals are operating at over 100% capacity, according to Public Health Canada, and both RSV and influenza A are expected to be “above expected levels for this time of year.”

Tylenol Deficiency Contributes to Crashes

In the summer, medical experts began advising parents to secure a Tylenol prescription for their child if they were unable to find an over-the-counter drug at their local drugstore.

However, many families are bringing their children to the ER because they can’t even secure a prescription for Tylenol, Chogala said.

“Because there aren’t many places where walk-in clinics and family doctors are accessible, they…just come to the ER because they don’t have access to Tylenol, Advil, or children’s Motrin,” Chogala said.

Even pharmacies attached to hospitals are running out of the Tylenol they normally use to fill prescriptions.

“I walked into the hospital pharmacy the other day to buy some drinks and saw empty shelves. Choggala said.

“So they come in [to the ER] Because they want… basically they want the emergency department to be able to administer Tylenol or Advil. ”

Tylenol is marketed under the brand name of acetaminophen, and ibuprofen is marketed under the brand names of Advil and Motrin.

Children’s Tylenol and Advil can help bring down the fever. This is an important step in addressing the underlying infection and preventing the disease from progressing to dangerous stages.

Chogara and her colleagues said they heard the patient had a fever “probably four or five days or more” and that parents could not find Tylenol or Advil over-the-counter to deal with it.

“Because you can’t target the infection, you can’t bring that fever down, and many other symptoms start appearing, there are many other risks and complications,” she said.

Canada’s healthcare system remains understaffed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and an increase in children admitted to hospitals is increasing the burden on workers.

“The lack of nursing staff puts a lot of strain on us just because we have so many patients and where to place them,” Choggala said.

“When there are too many patients for too few nurses, providing quality care is [difficult]And we want to be able to provide the highest quality care to our patients and their families. ”

what parents can do

Parents worried that their children might end up in overcrowded hospitals because of the flu should think about prevention first, Chogala said.

We need to start with the basic health measures that have not only helped us fight COVID-19, but have helped keep our cold and flu levels in check over the past two years. That includes wearing a mask and washing your hands thoroughly.

“It’s very important,” she said.

If a child becomes ill, parents should closely monitor symptoms.

If Tylenol or Advil is not available over-the-counter in your area, parents can get a prescription from their doctor, check in at a walk-in clinic, or use a virtual care service that can provide a prescription for Tylenol or Advil. you can try.

When these options are exhausted, children suffering from high fever must be taken to the ER for treatment.

However, identifying the difference between mild and dangerous fevers can help reduce patient numbers in ERs and pediatric hospitals.

Normal human body temperature is 36-36.8℃, but there are individual differences. Generally, a fever below 38.5 is considered low-grade fever, and drugs such as tylenol don’t need to fight it, Chogala said, but stressed that her parents should consult a doctor.

“Monitor your child for symptoms in terms of whether they appear lethargic, have changes in behavior, or have altered mental status,” she suggested. Because increasing your fluid intake will help your child stay hydrated and help reduce some fever symptoms.

“A low-grade fever doesn’t require medication compared to a child with a temperature of 40 degrees, for example.”

A fever of 40 degrees Celsius indicates that this child needs to go to the hospital, she said.

Other symptoms that point to a more serious illness include a child with bluish lips or a very dehydrated look with dry, sticky lips.

“I think education is very important in the community to help families understand how to manage [illness]especially in this time when Tylenol is in short supply,” said Choggala.

A shortage of Tylenol may make parents want to stock up, but it’s important not to take more than their fair share.

“If you have reintroduced Tylenol on your shelves, be careful not to take too much Tylenol for yourself,” Chogara said. We need to be considerate of other families out there.”

She acknowledged that this is “an unprecedented and frightening time for many,” stressing that medical professionals just want to help as many people as possible.

“We are doing our best in the emergency department to accommodate every family, every child. We see everyone. Who really needs to see a doctor.” Anyone is welcome,” she said. “But please be patient. Please be patient. Because I really want you to.”