| Parents, family, and caregivers devote themselves to | | | | the two. Dry coughs and incessant coughs typically |
| the welfare of children. Yet, even with love and | | | | require expectorants and/or cough suppressants. |
| devotion, 80 percent of deaths of children under | | | | Some common side effects |
| five-years of age are avoidable. More then half of | | | | include:Antihistamines:generally cause fatigue, loss of |
| those deaths are caused by mistakes in the | | | | appetite, and dryness of the mouth and throat. |
| administration of medications given to benefit the child. | | | | Overuse can cause respiratory failure and weight |
| An even greater number of children are injured or | | | | loss.Decongestants:can cause nervousness, |
| suffer serious side effects from inadvertent errors of | | | | sleeplessness, and heart palpitations.Expectorants:can |
| common health aids found in most homes.Before | | | | cause nausea and vomiting.Suppressants:can cause |
| giving any medication, whether prescription or | | | | chest pain and lethargy.Paradoxical side effects:may |
| over-the-counter, (OTC), child care providers must | | | | occur at anytime. That means that for a small minority |
| know the weight, age, allergies, and sensitivities of the | | | | of patients, what normally causes lethargy, may cause |
| patient. Plus, it is vital that caregivers know what and | | | | excitation in a particular patient.Any instance of |
| when other medications and foods have been | | | | overdose of any medication requires prompt |
| ingested by the child. An up to date list of medications | | | | emergency medical care. Be aware that any sudden |
| and dosages should always be available. A great way | | | | change in behavior or health requires medical attention. |
| to record food and medications given to children is with | | | | The side-effects cited in this article are representative |
| a daily log kept in a visible place for all adults, (parents, | | | | only and not nearly a complete list of all possible |
| family, baby-sitters, and nannies), to use and | | | | problems medications can pose for children.Parents |
| communicate with one another.Before administrating | | | | may give certain herbs to children due to the |
| any prescription medication to a child, the caregiver | | | | inaccurate belief that they are all natural and cannot |
| must assess the child's needs: know what to give, why | | | | hurt, and might help, children.The most popular herb is |
| the child needs it, how to contact the professional that | | | | Echinacea. According to the German government, only |
| is prescribing it, when to give it, how to store it, where | | | | one of the four species of Echinacea is useful as a |
| to refill it, and at what cost the medication can | | | | cold preventative. That form is not even available in |
| purchased. Be aware of probable side effects and | | | | the United States. Some children, especially those who |
| how to manage them if they occur. Know whether to | | | | are allergic to ragweed, may be allergic to Echinacea. |
| give the medication until it is finished or only until | | | | The alcohol-based tincture form of Echinacea can be |
| symptoms abate. Keep the phone number of the | | | | irritating to mucus membranes. Further, recent studies |
| prescribing physician and pharmacy visible in the event | | | | find no benefit from the use of Echinacea.Some |
| of questions regarding reactions or directions.Since | | | | people use large doses of Vitamin C to prevent or to |
| each person has a unique chemical composition, side | | | | treat a cold. Large doses of Vitamin C can cause |
| effects and each individual's reaction to a medication | | | | stomach upset, diarrhea, and heartburn.Honey is |
| cannot be anticipated. Unexpected reactions must be | | | | popularly used to relieve sore throat, or to mix with |
| reported to a licensed medical provider. No | | | | lemon to relieve colds. Honey should not be given to |
| medications that have expired should be given to | | | | any child under one-year-old because of the risk of |
| anyone at any time. Do not follow the advice of a | | | | infant botulism.Multivitamins can be toxic to children. |
| friend, neighbor, or grandparent, however well meaning, | | | | Iron-containing vitamins are a threat to children and |
| regarding the treatment for a child. Seek the best | | | | should not given to children without the advice of a |
| advice from a trained professional and not merely | | | | physician.Headaches, sore throats, and other pain |
| from a convenient source.OTC preparations pose a | | | | should be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but |
| special challenge for child care providers. They require | | | | never aspirin. Aspirin should not be give to anyone |
| no prescription, are widely available, and are relatively | | | | under 19-years-old since it is a salicylate that can react |
| inexpensive. Yet, they can be hazardous if used | | | | with a virus that can cause the dangerous Reyes |
| inappropriately. Child care providers must carefully read | | | | Syndrome. The adult formulation of Pepto Bismol, |
| and understand the labeling found on every | | | | Kaopectate, and willow bark are also |
| package.The following categories are found on every | | | | salicylate-containing compounds and must be avoided |
| medicine package label:Active Ingredients:The first | | | | by infants, children, and teenagers. Use ibuprophen or |
| panel on the label lists the active ingredients and their | | | | acetaminophen in forms designed for pediatric use, |
| purposes. This section provides the chemical name of | | | | rather than smaller doses of adult |
| the active chemical and how it is intended to work for | | | | formulations.Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are all |
| the patient.Uses/Indications:This section explains which | | | | potentially dangerous conditions that may lead to |
| symptoms the active ingredient is supposed to | | | | dehydration. Pediatric electrolyte replacement drinks |
| treat.Warnings:The warnings section alerts the | | | | are appropriate. Diluting adult electrolyte replacement |
| caregiver to conditions, or people, that should not use | | | | drinks will give the patient a drink that is too acidic for a |
| the particular medication without the specific advice of | | | | child.There are many effective strategies to relieve the |
| a physician.Directions:The directions explain the dosage | | | | discomfort of teething but Anbesol to be used by |
| and administration of the medication. Always use a | | | | adults and liquor may burn the gums and should be |
| manufacturer provided measuring device and not a | | | | avoided. Cold gel pacifiers are a better choice.Intestinal |
| kitchen teaspoon, tablespoon, or dropper. Household | | | | gas and heartburn are treatable with a large variety of |
| goods vary widely in size and cannot be depended | | | | safe products. Use those made for the age of the |
| upon for proper dosage.Other Information:Other | | | | child. Too much antacid can cause constipation, |
| information listed often notes proper storage and gives | | | | diarrhea, or stomach cramps. Over dosage of acid |
| pertinent information about how and when the product | | | | blockers can inhibit digestion. Track the diet of children |
| should be taken.Inactive Ingredients:The inactive | | | | with stomach or digestive discomfort for a few days |
| ingredients listed on the medication label are the | | | | to check if there is a sensitivity to some food.Among |
| chemicals in the compound that are presumed to have | | | | the most effective methods to prevent the spread of |
| no effect on the body. Dyes, preservatives, fillers, and | | | | illness is careful and frequent hand washing. Plain soap |
| food colors are among the compounds listed on this | | | | and water are all that is necessary.If a child is cranky |
| part of the label. A child may be allergic or sensitive to | | | | because of fatigue, do not give medication to quiet the |
| any of these ingredients, even though they are called | | | | child. Most complaints are temporary and self-limiting |
| "inactive." Kids are not small adults. Do not dilute or | | | | and do not require medication. Sufficient sleep and a |
| reduce the dosage of adult products and dispense | | | | nutritious diet often allows the body to heal |
| them to children. Pediatric oral medications are often | | | | itself.References:1. American Botanical Council2. AMA |
| sweetened to make the palatable. However, they are | | | | Family Medical Guide 3rd ed |
| not candies and like all medications, should be kept out | | | | . |
| of the reach of children.Adult medications that are | | | | 3. National Council on Patient Information and |
| especially dangerous to children are analgesics, | | | | Education4. City Futures, Inc5. Integrative Medicine |
| anti-depressants, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Safety | | | | Communications6. Courtroom Television Network |
| caps should be used and tightly secured, whether | | | | LLC7. dt.gov.uk8. Family Health and Medical Guide9. |
| prescriptions or OTC preparations.Some common | | | | Griffith, H.W. Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and |
| ailments and popular products used as treatments | | | | Supplements.10. Institute for Safe Medication |
| may cause problems for children. Runny noses, | | | | Practices11. KeepKidsHealthy.com12. KidsSource.com13. |
| stuffed noses, and post nasal drips are among the | | | | Merchant, Anne. M. The Nanny Textbook.14. The PDR |
| conditions that prompt a doctor to prescribe an | | | | Family Guide to Prescription Drugs.15. |
| antihistamine or a decongestant, or a combination of | | | | pediatrics.aappublications.org16. |