- 5 Care before giving medicine to the child
- 1. Give only medications recommended by the Doctor
- 2. Know the side effects of the medicine
- 3. Note the times of doses
- 4. Use the dosers or measuring spoons provided in the packaging
- 5. How to give the medicine
- What to do if the child vomits after taking the medicine
Giving medicines to children is not something that should be done lightly, it is important to check if the medicine is indicated for children or if it is within the expiration date, as well as it is recommended to evaluate the appearance of the medicine itself.
In the case of multi-day treatments, it is important to respect the duration of treatment indicated by the doctor, especially in the case of antibiotics that must always be taken until the indicated date.
So, to avoid mistakes and concerns, here are the 5 main precautions to take when administering the medicine to the child.
5 Care before giving medicine to the child
1. Give only medications recommended by the Doctor
Children should only take drugs prescribed by a doctor or pediatrician, and never drugs recommended by pharmacists, neighbors or friends, as children react differently to the use of drugs, being more subject to intoxications or side effects such as drowsiness or diarrhea.
2. Know the side effects of the medicine
Before giving your child any medication, read the package insert and ask your doctor about the side effects of the medication. As the child's organism is more sensitive, symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain, drowsiness or nausea, for example, are common.
3. Note the times of doses
Dosing schedules are very important to ensure the correct performance of the medication, so it is recommended that you record the dosing schedules on a paper. In this way, errors that lead to overdosing can be avoided, and there is also a less chance of missing a dose throughout the day. It is common for these drugs to be prescribed every 8 hours or every 12 hours, according to the instructions given by the doctor.
However, if it is common to miss doses, try setting an alarm on your phone with the time for the next dose.
4. Use the dosers or measuring spoons provided in the packaging
It is common for children's medications to be in the form of syrup, solution or drops. It is important that these remedies are administered using the dosers or measuring spoons that come in the package, so that the amount of medicine the child takes is always the same and the recommended amount. Generally, these dosers contain marks, which indicate the values of the recommended doses to be administered.
5. How to give the medicine
It is important to know whether the medicine should be taken with food or liquids or not, as this can influence the way the medicine works in the body and the intensity of side effects experienced. For example, if the medicine should be taken on an empty stomach, it is a sign that the food must influence the absorption of the medicine by the body. On the other hand, if the medicine is to be taken with a meal, it is likely to be too strong for the stomach, easily causing an upset stomach.
In addition to these precautions, it is important to keep all medicines out of the reach of children, as they can be confused with sweets and the child may consume by mistake. If this happens it is important to take the child to the emergency room or to the hospital as soon as possible, also taking the medicine packaging.
What to do if the child vomits after taking the medicine
When the child vomits up to 30 minutes after taking the medicine or whenever it is possible to observe the entire medication in the child's vomit, it is recommended to repeat the dose, as the body has not yet had time to absorb it.
However, if the child vomits again or if vomiting occurs after half an hour, the medication should not be given again and the doctor who prescribed it should be consulted to know what to do, as this varies according to the type of the medication.
