A teenager in the UK has died after accidentally overdosing on painkillers after complaining of a ‘tummy ache’.
Georgia Littlewood, 17, died after ingesting three times the recommended dosage of paracetamol, after calling in sick to work because an ‘upset stomach’.
It was reported in The Hudderfield Examiner that she was rushed to a local hospital after she became delirious and began vomiting.
Telling the doctors the painkillers were for her stomach ache and not for self-harm, Georgia was admitted to the intensive care unit, but died two days later from liver failure.
Her mother, Joanne Littlewood-Booth, believes that Georgia simply just did not know the dangerous of taking too many painkillers.
“Ages ago I had given her some her liquid Ibuprofen tablets which she put in her drawer,” her mother said of her overdose, “After she was taken to hospital I looked and found it was empty, as were two packets of paracetamol in a cupboard but they had all been there for a long time and I never saw her take any tablets or go buy any.”
“I believe that the overdose was a complete accident. She was making plans to go away on holiday and seemed to enjoy her job – I don’t think she knew what the correct dose was,” she continued, “She was a lively girl who had her whole life in front of her.”
Her family has also spoken out about her family, warning others of the dangerous availability to paracetamol, which can be purchased over the counter in the UK.
“You can buy paracetamol at 19p (40 cents) a packet in supermarkets — yet you should only be able to buy it from a pharmacist who tells you of the dangers,” said her family, “You should not be able to go into the shop with no one giving any advice.”
An assistant coroner agreed with the family, stating, “It’s a readily available medication but can be extremely dangerous — the dose limits are there for a reason and if one doesn’t comply with that there could be tragic consequences like this case.”
Georgia had complained to her mother and boyfriend about her tummy ache just hours before she was hospitalised.
