Over-the-counter medicines pose largest threat to kids

August 4, 2009 10:16:51 AM PDT

It appears the biggest poisoning danger to children comes from medicines. According to a new study, more than two-thirds of all emergency room visits for children involve over-the-counter medications.

In more than 71,000 cases a year, the vast majority of kids took the medications when unsupervised. Overdoses given by adults were much less common.

Researchers say more safety measures are needed to keep children from getting into bottles.

The study is in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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OTC drugs pose largest threat to kids