A report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revealed that the US is likely to fall short on medical supplies to treat children in case of a natural disaster, epidemic or terrorist attack. Kids are more susceptible to fall ill or get hurt during such events, and since they have different medical requirements compared to adults, the medical resources stocked for the latter will not be useful for the affected children.

The solution to this concern can be found by boosting expenditure on developing more suitable treatments for kids and also enhancing the already available medical stocks for children. Studies must be undertaken to formulate therapies in line with age. The recommendations were made by the Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council of AAP.

“Without research and development the pipeline of new and innovative medical countermeasures will not be achieved or sustained. Life or death is what’s at stake,” said Dr. Daniel Fagbuyi of George Washington University. He was the lead author of the report and is a retired infantry expert with proficiency in disaster and terror response.

The country’s medical supplies for children must be equipped with life-saving equipment, devices, materials and suitable medicines and vaccinations. In addition, the emergency stocks should have the liquid form of the pills available for adults as well as dosing instructions on the basis of age or weight.

The nation faces two considerable problems in boosting medical stocks for children. One is the lack of research that has been carried out in the field of children due to parents not giving permission to involve kids in clinical trials. Also, the parameters for clinical trial in case of kids are very stringent. Co-author of the report, Dr. David Schonfeld of the University of Southern California, stated that extensive expenditure involved in developing pediatric versions of medicines might also be a reason for the shortage.