“The FDA recently announced that there have been 3 deaths in young children
related to the administration of oral codeine after tonsillectomy. Children at
risk have a specific enzyme that concerts codeine to morphine more rapidly and
completely than the average person. The prevalence of this gene in
African-Americans, Caucasians, and Asians is typically low (1-6%), but the
prevalence in Ethiopian children is about 30%. It might be a good idea to inform
parents who have adopted from Ethiopia that they might talk to their child’s
doctor about this if their child needs medication for postoperative pain.”
International Adoption Clinic at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm313631.htm
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