Once this information has been
collected it may be clearer to see if
the patient has had an adverse
drug reaction. If it is still possible
that the patient has had an adverse
drug reaction then the doctor
looking after them will be informed.
What happens then?
The doctor caring for the patient,
and his or her team, will decide how
important the drug reaction is. For
example, some medicines cause
short term side effects; in this case
it may be okay for the child to carry
on using this medicine. Some
medicines, however, may cause
worse side effects, which may
mean that the patient will not be
able to take that medicine in the
future
The patient’s doctor can contact the
patient’s parent or carer and tell
them about the drug reaction. If
they do this they may ask if the
patient and/or the parents/carers
would be interested in taking part in
further parts of the study. This
would involve talking to somebody
about the adverse drug reaction
and answering some questions
about the reaction. This will be
explained in detail if it is required.
This leaflet gives only general
information. You must always
discuss the individual treatment of
your child with the appropriate
member of the hospital staff. Do
not rely on this leaflet alone for
information about your child’s
treatment.
This leaflet has been prepared in
partnership with Royal Liverpool
Children’s NHS Trust staff, parents
and carers of patients.
Adverse Drug
Reactions In
Children
This information can be made
available in other languages and
formats if requested.
If you have any questions about this
leaflet, or its content, do not
hesitate to ask the ward staff to
contact the;
ADRIC Team.
Royal Liverpool Children’s hospital
Eaton Road
Liverpool
L12 2AP
www.alderhey.com
Author; Kim Bird, Research Nurse.
Revision Date; 1st July 2009.
An Information Leaflet
for Young People,
Parents and Carers
What are Adverse Drug
Reactions?
All medicines are tested before they
are given to patients. This can show
problems with medicines before
they are prescribed for anyone.
However, some people can still
have a side effect to a medicine.
Side effects are also known as
“adverse drug reactions”
Children and young people are very
different to adults in how their body
deals with medicines. This means
that they can have different adverse
drug reactions from adults.
Adverse drug reactions can be
reported, by doctors, pharmacists,
nurses and parents, to a
government agency, using
something known as the yellow
card scheme. When any reaction is
reported the information is totally
confidential. At the present time this
is the main way we find out about
adverse drug reactions in children.
However, we think that not all side
effects are reported.
What are we doing?
Part of the National Health Service,
The National Institute of Health
Research, has funded The Royal
Liverpool Children’s hospital to look
at children and young people who
have adverse drug reactions over
the next five years.
How will we do this?
We will look at;
 drug reactions among children
and young people admitted to
the hospital.
 drug reactions among children
and young people who are
inpatients in the hospital.
 information already known
about adverse drug reactions
in children.
 how children and their parents
feel about adverse drug
reactions.
This means that one of our study
team may wish to speak to you.
The information we collect about
the patient and their medicines will
be looked at. We will be able to find
which patients have had an adverse
drug reaction. We will, then, look at
the best way to find drug reactions
and also the best way to deal with
them when they happen.
The team is made up of a children’s
doctor, a pharmacist and a
children’s nurse.
Study One
This study started on the 1st July
2008 and will run for a year. It looks
at children and young people who
are admitted to Alder Hey
Children’s Hospital as an
emergency.
Information will be collected on;
 why the child/young person has
been admitted to hospital.
 any medicines the child/young
person has taken within the two
weeks before they came into
hospital. Even if the child/young
person is still not taking a
medicine, but has taken it within
the two weeks before, it is
important we know about it as it
could still be causing an
adverse drug reaction.
If the study team feel that the
patient has not had an adverse
drug reaction no further information
will be collected.
If the team feel that the patient
could have had an adverse drug
reaction they will seek further
information. This may include
speaking to the patient and
parents/carers about any medicines
that are being taken and any other
problems leading up to the patient’s
admission to hospital.