Are our kids over-caffeinated?

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's in all of our favorite drinks, but it's also a drug with side effects. Extremely high levels of caffeine can be deadly in kids. Recently, an Ohio teen died from an irregular heartbeat and seizures after ingesting caffeine powder.

Even though that cup of Joe might rev you up, are kids getting a daily jolt, too? A new study in the journal Pediatrics found 75 percent of kids and teens consume caffeine every day.

Metee Comkornruecha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist of Miami Children's Hospital told ABC30, "A lot of the caffeine advertising is for these kids. They have bright packages. They have really, really cool looking logos."

But experts say caffeine can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, worsened anxiety, irritability and attention problems in kids.

Comkornruecha explained, "Caffeine can also be an appetite stimulant, so that can affect their consumption of food."

The study found soda was the most common caffeinated beverage choice for older children and teens. For kids between 2 and 5, it was tea. Coffee only accounted for 10 percent of caffeine intake 15 years ago, but increased to 24 percent by 2010.

"There are coffee shops on every single corner now," said Comkornruecha.

While there are no official guidelines for kids, most experts recommend they consume no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day. A cup of coffee can have up to 120 milligrams, a soda: 60 milligrams and energy drinks: 200. So don't let your kids become over-caffeinated.

Comkornruecha told ABC30, "I think caffeine can definitely disrupt one's life."

The American Academy of Pediatrics was quoted as saying, "stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children and adolescents."

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Caminas
Public and Media Relations Specialist
Miami Children's Hospital
305-663-8476
jennifer.caminas@mch.com