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Poison Control centers see spike in calls for children drinking highly caffeinated energy drinks

Poison Control centers are seeing a spike in calls about children drinking highly caffeinated energy drinks.

Last year, calls were up by 20% across the country.

Florida Poison Control said it received 131 calls last year for 134 children who had gotten sick from drinking caffeine, including more than 50 children aged 5 years and younger.

Nationwide, in nearly half of the calls last year, young children who drank an energy drink did it unintentionally.

As of last week, there have been more than 90 total calls in Florida this year for 98 child patients. Of those 40 were 5 years old or younger.

The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics say children and teens should avoid energy drinks, which can lead to caffeine overdoses.

Doctors with the Cleveland Clinic suggest children 12 and younger should avoid caffeine altogether.

As for teenagers, guidelines suggest no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine a day.

For perspective, some energy drinks have as much as 300 milligrams.

A poison control expert joined us on The Morning Show to explain the signs and symptoms of caffeine poisoning -- and the steps to take if your child drinks an energy drink and gets sick.


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