How many tragedies caused by improper use of medication have raised awareness among parents? Many parents think that since the probability of such incidents is very low and far away from us, they are not concerned. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds you not to be misled by such erroneous thinking. It would be too late to become aware only after a tragedy has occurred. Have you fallen into any of the following medication misconceptions?
Children Affected by Medication Statistics
According to statistics from the Chinese Center for Rehabilitation Research on Deaf Children, about 30,000 children in China become deaf every year due to improper use of medication. Furthermore, the incidence rate of adverse drug reactions in children in China is 12.5%, which is twice that of adults, and it reaches 24.4% for newborns, which is four times that of adults.
The "2016 Children's Medication Safety Survey White Paper" shows that the number of children with diseases in China accounts for 19.3% of the total number of patients. Among the over 3,500 types of drugs available, only about 60 are specifically for children, which is just 1.7% of the total.
Dr. Li from a children's hospital's pharmacy department has repeatedly reminded parents in lectures and interviews to pay attention to the safety of medication for children, especially infants and toddlers.
Expert Reminders for Common Cold Medications
(1) Children under 2 years old should not use combination cold medications.
(2) It is not recommended for children aged 2-4 to use combination cold medications.
What are Combination Medications?
In simple terms, it means that there are several different active ingredients in one medication. When choosing medication, parents should pay close attention to the package insert.
What medications are suitable for infants and toddlers? Experts say that medications with a single active ingredient are safer.
The most common symptoms of a cold are runny nose, cough, fever, and allergies. There are medications available for each of these symptoms.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of the flu, and there are many babies with fever. There are two types of fever-reducing medications for children: acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
The minimum age for using ibuprofen is 6 months, and it is not recommended for infants under 6 months.
Babies aged 3 to 6 months can use acetaminophen. However, for babies under 3 months, medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Parents should also remember not to give their children "miracle fever-reducing drugs" for adults, especially antipyretics like aspirin.
Common Medication Misconceptions for Children
1. Giving children adult medication
Some parents believe that as long as the medication can treat the illness, it can be used for both adults and children. This viewpoint must be changed, otherwise it may harm the child.
2. Using medication for too long after opening
The usable time for medication is different before and after opening.
Especially for some children's medications, such as powders and syrups, they can deteriorate after exposure to air.
3. Overdosing or underdosing medications
Overdosing may occur because the medication was not stored properly and the child accidentally ingested it. At the same time, parents should also be careful not to reduce the dosage. It is best to follow the doctor's advice or refer to the package insert instead of making decisions on their own.
4. Mixing medication with milk, juice, or mineral water
Children may dislike the taste of medication, so many parents mix it with milk or juice to make it easier for the child to take. However, the acid and mineral components in these beverages may react with the medication and reduce its effectiveness.
5. Forcing medication or giving it while lying down
Forcing medication on a crying child is most likely to cause choking. If the medication enters the trachea, it can cause suffocation.
6. Opening capsules for easier ingestion
Parents may think that it is difficult for a child to swallow a capsule, so they break it open and mix the powder with water for the child to take more easily.
