Children and medicine :::

Common complaints :::

Children are exposed to infectious diseases throughout their childhood. Most infections are caused by a virus, which cannot be treated by antibiotics. But if an infection is thought to be caused by bacteria, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for the child. Often it is difficult to make the distinction between viral and bacterial infections on clinical examination alone.

Paracetamol (eg Calpol), in an appropriate dose, remains a very good treatment to relieve pain and fever in most circumstances. Ibuprofen (eg Nurofen for children) is an alternative for other than very young children, but should be avoided in asthmatics. Aspirin (eg Disprin) should never be given to children aged under 16 years unless prescribed by a doctor.

How to get a child to take their medicine :::

It may be difficult to get children to take their medicine. This might be due to a variety of reasons, but commonly stems from the child not liking the taste of the medicine, or having difficulty swallowing it. To get around this a wide variety of preparations of medicines are often available. Medicine may be found as drops, mixtures, liquids, powders, granules, suppositories, capsules and tablets with or without coating.

The first time a child has to take medicine, it may be a good idea to consult the doctor or pharmacist to decide which type of medicine the child is most comfortable with.

Medicine for small children :::

Mixtures, liquids and drops with flavoured additives of some kind are often the types of medicine preferred by small children. Often you can mix the medicine with juice or breast milk, but it is important to be sure that the child gets the exact amount of prescribed medicine; neither more nor less. Always follow the instructions given with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice if you have problems.

The dose for young children may sometimes be too small to measure using a spoon, in which case you will be given an oral syringe to administer the medicine. Make sure you know what to do before using it.

Medicine for chronically sick children :::

Some children suffer from a chronic (long-term) disease such as epilepsy or asthma and so constantly need medicine. They should be able to help choose the type of medicine they prefer. Most children handle these problems very well, as long as it is explained to the child why it is necessary to take the medicine.

At every age medicine is absorbed differently by the human body. Some medicines have very strong effects on children compared with adults, and vice versa. So different guidelines may be found concerning the correct dose of medicine, depending on the child's age and weight.

Safety and medicine :::

Never give a child any medicine without first checking the directions thoroughly. Even an innocent headache tablet may have unfortunate side effects. In some cases, it may conceal a disease or symptoms of a disease, which may delay the proper treatment.

The use and storage of medicine in the home is very important. Far too many cases of poisoning happen because of children's natural curiosity. They are interested in trying the types of medicines that adults have left in the bedroom, the bathroom or the kitchen.

Always remember to keep all medicine out of children's reach.

Based on a text by Dr Per Grinsted