Reported this week on the Guardian website.

A doctor says you put your health - particularly your child’s health at risk if you buy drugs online.

Dr Nadeem Afzal, a consultant pediatrician at Southampton General hospital carried out an investigation of medicines for sale on eBay for common gut complaints such as constipation, diarrhea, colic and abdominal pain.

He found that 53% of the 186 gastrointestinal drugs on offer were advertised for children. One of these, Infacol for colic, was being sold with a broken seal and the description ‘slightly used’.

Other sellers did not list side-effects or provide use-by dates, and some suggested double the dosage that would normally be given in the UK.

A total of 42% of sellers gave no contact or address information, so purchasers would have no legal recourse in the event of a problem.

Other dangerous practices included laxatives being described as slimming pills and as treatments for diarrhea.

The drugs offered were mainly over-the-counter remedies. There were also antacid treatments. These are prescription only for under 16s.

Organisations and health watchdogs including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the British Medical Association are all said to be concerned by the findings.

Dr Afzal  presented his findings to the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health in May. He is calling on eBay to place better guidance on the site.