During the pandemic, several experts drew attention to the rise of poisoning in children caused by Melatonin, a sleeping aid. Last year, US Poison Control Centre reported more than 52000 calls about the consumption of huge amounts of dietary supplements. This was seen as a six-fold increase in number over the last decade. 

Dr Karima Lelak, an emergency physician at children’s hospital, Michigan stated that parents may think of melatonin as equivalent to Vitamins, however, it is a medication that can cause potential harm. Melatonin is a hormone that controls the body’s sleep cycle. In the US it is sold as a supplement, unregulated by the US FDA, as a result, there is no oversight on the purity of the ingredients or accuracy of dosage. Lelak and her colleagues have reported that 0.6% and 5% of all poison control calls in 2012 and 2021 respectively were cases of Melatonin overdose. Though in many cases, children did not show any symptoms, some of them endured vomiting, nausea, altered breathing etc. 

She added that the spike of cases during the pandemic can be attributed to several reasons such as lockdowns, virtual learnings, sleep disrupted stress, anxiety etc. She added that being at home was an upsetting experience for children, especially teenagers, who were closed off from their friends. 

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/melatonin-poisoning-reports-are-up-in-kids-study-says-101654236170862.html )