THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is being encouraged to consider a change of indication and/or rescheduling topical lidocaine gels, due to high numbers of reports of adverse reactions to products containing lidocaine when used to treat teething in infants and young children.
The authors of a paper published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, noted "there is a growing plethora of case reports identifying adverse reactions of varying severity and accidental ingestions associated with the use of lidocaine gels in young children and babies for treating teething and other oral conditions".
A literary review of studies investigating lidocaine, found lidocaine ingestion by children aged 3.5 years and younger had induced seizures, respiratory attacks and death.
The authors noted the US Food and Drug Administration no longer approved lidocaine gels for treating teething pain due to their associated risks.
They also called for appropriate health workers to be informed of the risks.
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