Melatonin is an endogenous neurohormone that governs the sleep-wake cycle. It is used for the treatment of primary sleep disorders in children. Various synthetic Melatonin preparations are widely available as over-the-counter drugs. The use of over-the-counter Melatonin might place children and teenagers at risk for accidental or intentional overdose. This neurohormone might be an appropriate treatment for children with insomnia having unremarkable medical histories and physical examination findings, and maintaining good sleep hygiene; however, no protocols have endorsed its usage. Parents should consult with the health care providers before giving Melatonin to children. The most frequently reported adverse side effects linked to Melatonin usage in children include:
- Morning drowsiness
- Increased enuresis
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhoea
- Rash
- Hypothermia
- Slight transient headache and gastrointestinal symptoms mainly reported during the first days of the treatment.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, Melatonin became children’s most frequently ingested substance reported to the national poison control centre.
The most significant annual increase in pediatric Melatonin ingestions coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2022 study indicated that sales of Melatonin in the United States have increased during the past decade. The study reported that the increase in sales, availability, and widespread use of Melatonin, has probably resulted in increased access of Melatonin to children. Hospitalisations and serious outcomes from Melatonin ingestion by children have also increased over the past decade. The most significant increase in hospitalisations occurred in children five years and younger.[1]
These results might help guide health legislators regarding the need for public health measures to raise awareness of increasing pediatric Melatonin ingestions and to develop preventive measures to eliminate this risk.
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