Expert panel warn parents about fatal dangers of ‘plane doping’ children

As millions of families prepare to jet off on their summer holidays, experts have issued a stern warning to parents against the off-label use of antihistamine medication on children.

A child fatality review panel in the US has issued a statement warning parents and caregivers about using antihistamine medication for the sole purpose of making their child sleep or calm down. The Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel (GCFR) are a state team that meet quarterly to review and report on the incidence of child deaths and recommend preventative measures. The expert group released a prepared statement on the misuse of antihistamines such as Benadryl, warning that 'off-label' use can result in acute diphenhydramine intoxication causing rapid heart rate, confusion, hallucinations, convulsions and even death. Recent US polls have shown that one in five mothers admit to misusing antihistamines to 'get through' long car and plane journeys. The panel warned that, since 2013, the state's Poison Control Centre has received 940 reports of acute diphenhydramine intoxication involving children aged five and under. According to the GCFR, four babies have died as a result of the toxic effects of diphenhydramine since 2015. The group state that 'dosing errors' cause acute diphenhydramine intoxication in many cases, advising that the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon can mean life or death for a young baby.