Melatonin Ingestions Lead to Surge in ER Visits Among Young Children, CDC Reports

A significant increase in emergency room visits by children under 5 due to unsupervised melatonin consumption has been reported, with thousands affected in recent years.

• The CDC found a 420% increase in ER visits for unsupervised melatonin ingestion by children aged 5 and under from 2009 to 2020.
• Nearly 11,000 emergency department visits were estimated between 2019 and 2022 for infants and young children who ingested melatonin without supervision.
• More than half of the accidental ingestions involved children between the ages of 3 and 5, with flavored melatonin products like gummies being a common factor.
• Melatonin use among U.S. adults has spiked, contributing to the increased availability of the supplement in homes.
• The CDC emphasizes the need for education on keeping medications and supplements out of children's reach and calls for consideration of child-resistant packaging for melatonin products.

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