Skip to main content

Calls to Poison Centers on the Rise for Pediatric Exposures to Caffeine Energy Products

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 19, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2025 -- Pediatric exposures to caffeine energy products reported to U.S. poison centers increased from 2011 to 2023, although most exposures had minimal clinical effects, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in the Journal of Medical Toxicology.

Timothy R. Thompson, from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues investigated trends of pediatric exposures to caffeine energy products reported to U.S. poison centers. The analysis included data for 32,482 caffeine energy product single-substance exposures during 2011 to 2023 among individuals younger than 20 years old identified from the National Poison Data System.

The researchers found an increase of 17.3 percent in the exposure rate from 2011 to 2023. Most exposures occurred among children younger than 6 years (69.6 percent) and among males (56.7 percent), and most involved liquid formulations (57.5 percent). Most exposures (80.7 percent) were not treated at a health care facility, although 1.6 percent of exposures were medically admitted. Teenagers (13 to 19 years old) were more likely to be medically admitted (odds ratio [OR], 12.74) or have a serious medical outcome (OR, 18.83) compared to children younger than 13 years. Serious medical outcomes (OR, 1.98) and medical admission (OR, 5.23) were more likely with solid energy product formulations versus other types of formulations. The exposure rate among liquid formulation subcategories increased for beverages (46.5 percent) and decreased for shots (−86.1 percent).

"Opportunities exist to reduce the adverse effects of caffeine energy products among the pediatric population," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Pediatric Magnet Ingestion Rates Still High

THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Global pediatric magnet ingestion rates remain high and incidence has increased, despite the implementation of national policies, according to a review...

Power Outages Up Odds of Carbon Monoxide-Related ED Visits Among Children

MONDAY, May 5, 2025 -- Power outages increase the odds of carbon monoxide (CO)-related emergency department visits among children, according to a study published online May 5 in...

ACC: Microplastic Exposure Tied to Chronic Disease Prevalence

WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2025 -- Microplastic exposure may increase the risk for chronic diseases, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.