Syrup of ipecac. The case for distribution from physicians' offices
M. H. Malloy and G. G. Rhoads
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Data from a nationally representative sample of household interviews were
analyzed to examine public preparedness for childhood poisoning episodes.
Eighty-eight percent (61% to 77% in nonwhite groups) of respondents from
households with children younger than 10 years had heard of poison control
centers and 70% (50% to 57% in nonwhites) stated that they had the
telephone number of such a center. In contrast only 25% stated they had
syrup of ipecac in their home. Among blacks and Hispanics this proportion
was 9%. To explore possible reasons for this we telephoned a sample of 65
physicians listed in the greater Washington, DC, telephone directory as
providers of care for infants and children. Of the 45 (69%) who agreed to
be interviewed, 73% informed their patients about poison control centers
and 53% provided the appropriate telephone number. Although 78% believed
parents should have ipecac in the house, only three (7%) of 45 actually
dispensed ipecac to parents. We conclude that ipecac is not widely
available in the homes of American children. By regularly dispensing it in
the course of pediatric care, physicians could largely remedy this
deficiency.
