July 17, 2008 Why Children Are Not 'Little Adults'. NY Times. 7/10/2008.
Earlier this week, the nation's leading pediatric group issued guidelines suggesting that some high-risk children be given cholesterol-lowering statin drugs that are typically prescribed for middle-aged men. The news shocked many pediatricians, who predicted a backlash from the public and doctors.
I spoke with Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, a pediatric cardiologist at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, about the move to put children on adult drugs.
"Children's bodies are very different in how they metabolize or handle drugs,'' he said. "Their livers are different, their kidneys are different. In many cases it's about the same if they're taking Tylenol or asthma medication. But for other drugs like statins that might have some impact on their endocrine system, we just really don't know. I, for one, feel unsafe simply saying children are little adults in this case.''
To read the original story about the new guidelines, click here. Dr. Sanghavi also answered readers' questions about the issue here.
And to listen to the rest of my conversation with Dr. Sanghavi about kids, drugs and cholesterol, listen to the podcast below.
Listen to the Podcast (mp3)