5 Mistakes in taking medication that are often done by parents in children

When a child is sick, parents must be worried about the situation and seek treatment to restore the child's health. Even though it was treated, it turned out that there were several mistakes in taking the medicine that the parents gave to the child. Instead of a cure, it could be that the child's health condition is getting worse. What are some mistakes in taking medication that parents often make to children? Find out the answer in the following review.

Mistakes taking medicine in children

Reporting from Parents, each year an estimated 71,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for accidental drug poisoning. Experts say that many parents make the mistake of giving drugs to children on purpose. Mistakes can lead to prolonged illness as well as potentially serious side effects, especially in infants and toddlers.

Daniel Frattarelli, M.D., former committee chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Dearborn, Michigan, says that children's metabolisms are still immature and complete so they are more prone to risk of medication errors. The most appropriate step is to ask your doctor or pharmacist for an explanation again if you still do not understand about the drugs given. Then, don't forget to reread the label or dosage instructions that you get from the pharmacy as a guide. Because, mistakes can occur when the drug is given. If parents read the drug again carefully, errors in administering the type of drug or dose can be avoided.

The following are mistakes in taking medication that parents often make to their children and how to avoid them, such as:

1. Giving drugs excessively

Children often catch colds and you must not feel the heart to see him constantly tormented by a stuffy nose. Maybe you will buy cold medicine at the store to cure it. However, you need to know that many cold medicines on the market actually contain the same ingredients, namely acetaminophen (paracetamol). The content of the drug is indeed useful as a pain reliever during fever, which is also found in the drug tylenol. This means your child will take two doses of acetaminophen if you treat it at the same time as tylenol.

When the fever has subsided, you should stop using the drug. This gives the body the opportunity to strengthen its immune system to fight infection. Instead, apply a compress of lukewarm water to the underarm area to help reduce fever.

Then, it is not allowed to give the drug more than the dose if the symptoms do not improve; usually cold medicine has a duration of six hours to drink again.

2. Using natural remedies without a doctor's permission

Do not use natural remedies at the same time as prescription drugs, especially without the doctor's knowledge. This is because the two types of drugs have different processes in the body. It is possible that the functions of the two are mutually contradictory under certain conditions, causing a harmful reaction in the body.

3. Give antibiotics in unsuitable conditions

It may have occurred to you that antibiotics can help your child's immune system get stronger and kill the bacteria that cause infection. However, not all diseases are caused by bacteria. So, the use of antibiotics is just not right.

In addition, giving antibiotics without a doctor's advice and used for a long time can make bacteria resistant to treatment. Instead, ask the doctor again whether the child needs antibiotics or not. Most of the antibiotics are not used when the child's condition is getting better.

4. Do not use the medicine spoon provided

Often times parents do not pay attention or ignore the spoon provided in the syrup packaging. This can cause the syrup that is taken not according to the dosage. On the medicine package, a clear measuring spoon or millimeter-sized cup will be provided which has been adjusted according to the dosage.

Then use the spoon. Do not pour over the syrup with a clearly different and inaccurate size of the syrup. This avoids over or under the recommended dosage of the drug.

5. Choosing the dosage based on the child's age, not body weight

Every child has a different weight even though they are the same age. Overweight children, on average, need more than the recommended dosage on the packaging label when metabolizing caffeine and dextromethorphan in cough medicines. This does have an effect on the effectiveness of the drug. Likewise, if the child is underweight.

However, you need to note that if you want to overdo the dose, consult your doctor first. In essence, mistakes in taking medication in children can be avoided if you first ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice and comply with the drinking rules.