Even the most conscientious parents and caregivers can inadvertently harm children with liquid medicines for colds, coughs, allergies and stomach aches these days. A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that dosing instructions, measuring cups and even droppers packaged in these over-the-counter remedies are confusing. Consequently, children can be under-dosed or over-dosed. The study examined 200 popular medicines for children 12 and under.

According to the Los Angeles Times “….more than one-quarter of these products failed to include a measuring device in the package.” Others had instructions that were at odds with the device that was included. Some of the measuring devices were not properly marked: The instructions called for a teaspoon while the device was marked in milliliters.

While many of the differences don’t cause serious health consequences, some do have that potential. As the Times report noted, “…several days of overdosing with products that contain acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver.” Under-doses of liquid medicines for pediatric cold, cough, allergy and stomach medications can leave a child in pain.

The study called the problem widespread given the popularity of the 200 top-selling products it tested for measuring discrepancies that could lead to under- or over-doses of these medications. It was conducted at the New York University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center.

That good old World War II phrase – meaning you’ve got it good without the extras – could be used to describe the American breakfast today: Eat your bacon and biscuits but skip the eggs. Since May, eggs contaminated with salmonella have sickened more than 1,500 people in the United States, leading to the largest egg recall in American history.

It was bound to happen. The U.S. egg industry has escaped federal regulation for decades. It’s a $4.4 billion industry that’s had little if any oversight despite pleas from consumers, public health experts and economists. The lack of supervision stems from what The Washington Post calls the “Balkanization” of federal agencies that are supposed to regulate food production in the U.S.

According to the newspaper, more than 15 federal agencies and 71 interagency agreements are involved in monitoring food in America. The proliferation of agencies results in serious safety gaps that expose the public to potentially deadly salmonella infections and other ailments that threaten health and waste tax dollars.

Since the May recall, a congressional investigation, a federal criminal investigation and several lawsuits have been filed over eggs contaminated with salmonella at two huge Iowa egg farms said to have caused the latest outbreak. Federal investigators found the farms had chicken coops piled high with manure and other contaminants.

Twenty years ago, experts warned that salmonella in eggs could be a public health threat. In July, the first federal regulations of egg production in the United States took effect.

Medicines that can injure and kill

The makers of Paxil, Reglan and the Duragesic Pain Patch – all prescription drugs – are facing lawsuits across the country. Paxil can cause fatal birth defects. Reglan can cause permanent, jerky body movements. The Duragesic patch can deliver a fatal overdose of a powerful narcotic. Anyone experiencing these side effects or who has lost a loved after taking these drugs should consult an attorney.

Paxil: If pregnant women take Paxil their babies can be born with fatal heart and lung defects. Paxil is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder – conditions that cry out for relief. But it is highly addictive and can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including suicide.

Reglan: If this drug is taken for an extended period (three months) it can cause permanent involuntary movements: lip smacking, grimacing, tongue protrusion, rapid eye movements or blinking and pursing of the lips. Reglan is used to treat heartburn and acid reflux that does not respond to other drugs.

The Duragesic Patch: If these pain-killing patches leak, they deliver an overdose of Fentanyl, a narcotic that is 80 times stronger than morphine. Even after a patch with a crack has been removed, the overdose remains in the system for up to 72 hours. Duragesic patches are prescribed for cancer patients and others with chronic pain who have been taking prescription pain killers for some time. The patches never should be prescribed for anyone who has not previously been on pain medication.

It’s called Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and its maker Merck & Co. is now the target of hundreds of lawsuits across the country brought by patients who say they developed osteonecrosis of the jaw after taking the drug. Osteonecrosis is a rare disease that breaks down the jawbone. Ironically, Fosamax is taken to combat osteoporosis, a condition that thins and weakens bones especially after menopause.  Osteonecrosis can develop without causing symptoms for weeks and sometimes months. Symptoms include loose teeth, exposed bone, pain in the jaw or gums, infections in the gums, loss of sensation and significant gum loss.  The Mayo Clinic considers Fosamax safe for most patients. But it notes that reports of osteonecrosis associated with oral doses of Fosamax began surfacing in 2003. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved generic versions of Fosamax in early 2008. Individuals who most often develop osteonecrosis are patients with cancer or dental problems.

A fiery explosion from a fatal accident involving six trucks and a car in East Texas that killed two on Sept.29, 2008 puts the spotlight back on the need for truck safety in Texas. The near-midnight collision closed Interstate 20 eastbound for hours. A video clip on CNN shows flames engulfing the wreckage. Jim Adler & Associates has created a new web site, www.18wheeleraccident.org, to keep the public informed about their legal rights in truck accidents and the need for new laws. It includes a stunning video about the son of a Texas man who was killed in one of the most horrific truck accidents in recent years. The two people who died in the East Texas accident were in a car. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says drivers and passengers in cars account for 78 percent of the fatalities in accidents involving cars and large trucks.

An investigative story in the Dallas Morning News on truck safety in Texas reports that “truck drivers were at fault in at least 44 percent of all accidents between cars and big trucks.” The paper spent seven months researching its series. With more miles of roads and the second highest number of registered trucks, Texas has one of the highest rates of fatal truck accidents in the United States. The need for tougher truck laws extends beyond Texas, however. The national death toll in truck related accidents “is the equivalent of 26 major airplane crashes every year…” according to the Truck Safety Coalition, a national non-profit organization devoted to reducing fatal truck accidents.