§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she has taken to avoid deaths of children due to the administration of prednisolone.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines have investigated the issue of the effect of corticosteroids, such as prednisolone, on the body's defence system and in particular the association of severe or fatal chickenpox. Their findings and recommendations were published in the bulletin, "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance", which was sent to all doctors and pharmacists in February 1994. Doctors were also reminded of this issue in the Chief Medical Officer's update in May 1994. Copies of the documents were placed in the Library.
The Medicines Control Agency has also requested that all pharmaceutical companies producing corticosteroids administered by mouth or injection include further warnings and precautions in their product information, and introduce patient information leaflets. This action is expected to be completed in the near future.