News | Paediatrics and neonatal

News

Third of women taking anti-seizure medication unaware of pregnancy risks, survey reveals

Data from a survey by three epilepsy charities has shown that a third of women taking carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin or topiramate are unaware of the increased risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy.…

Published: 24 March 2023

News

Whole-pack dispensing of sodium valproate made mandatory following consultation 

The legislation will help address concerns around women taking sodium valproate, who may be unaware of the risks posed to their unborn child if they fall pregnant.…

Published: 20 March 2023

News

Newborn babies to be genetically tested to prevent gentamicin-associated deafness

Around 1,200 babies born in England and Wales each year are at risk of hearing loss from gentamicin.…

Published: 15 February 2023

News

Government advisers warn of ‘negative impact’ of two-clinician sign-off on valproate patients

Exclusive: Meeting minutes of the Valproate Safety Implementation Group say the new measure could have a “negative impact” on patients, and that “their perspective should be taken into account”.…

Published: 13 February 2023

Feature

Why is the UK struggling to contain its sodium valproate problem?

There has been some progress in managing the risks of sodium valproate, but babies are still being born after exposure to the drug, and safety concerns over antiepileptic use in men and women are multiplying.…

Published: 10 February 2023

News

Families affected by sodium valproate should receive compensation, say MPs

In a report reviewing the government's response to those harmed by medicines and medical devices, the House of Commons health and social care committee said that families "need support, and have waited too long".…

Published: 20 January 2023

News

‘Urgent’ action required to reduce level of harm from valproate, says patient safety tsar

Exclusive: NHS England is still around halfway off its target to reduce the number of female patients on sodium valproate.…

Published: 17 January 2023

Feature

Insomnia: the great melatonin delusion

Increasingly prescribed in young people with sleep problems, experts are worried that melatonin, a supposedly ‘natural’ treatment for insomnia, is providing nothing more than false hope.…

Published: 24 November 2022

News

Number of children prescribed melatonin up 170% in seven years

Exclusive: There has been a 'shocking' rise in the number of children prescribed synthetic melatonin for sleep, new data show.…

Published: 24 November 2022

News

No difference between length of antibiotic course for treatment of pneumonia in children, meta-analysis finds 

Researchers concluded that shorter courses of antibiotics were not inferior to longer courses in the treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.…

Published: 15 November 2022