9 must-know facts about over the counter medicines and your kids
Over-the-counter medicines are often given to children to relieve minor ailments. They are freely available from pharmacies or chemists, supermarkets and even corner stores, and may promise to make our kids feel better. But all medicines have the potential for harm, especially in children.
Even the seemingly mild paracetamol may slow down body’s response to viral infections and, in the case of an overdose, can result in liver failure.
NPS MedicineWise says that parents have a responsibility to be cautious about giving any medicines to children, and to always ask a doctor or pharmacist if they’re ever unsure about anything.
Understanding kid medicines
Previous generations have treated children as small adults, often with dire consequences. Drug regulatory history is filled with therapeutic misadventure involving children.
Now there are shelves filled with medicines just for kids, using a whole lot of terminology to encourage parents to buy them. NPS MedicineWise recommends that parents consider the following and ask their doctor or pharmacist for advice when shopping for child medicines.
- Should I choose a sugar-free preparation?: Much is made of the importance of sugar-free preparations in the marketing of medicines for children. There is a general concern in the community about the effects of sugars upon children's behaviour. However, the only objective harmful effects of sugar are related to the development of dental caries and childhood obesity. Some sugar-free preparations contain artificial sweeteners that may be unsuitable for a child.
- Cough and cold medicines might do more harm than good: The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne says they must be avoided in children under two years and should not be recommended in children of any age. There is little to no evidence that cough and cold medicines improve symptoms in children but they may cause serious side effects.
- Children may react the opposite way to oral decongestants: There’s a vast range of kiddie-targeted decongestants on the market. Often these medicines are chosenby parents for their sedative side effects. Occasionally, however, children become hyperactive instead and this effect may last several hours.
- Congestion may return after using intranasal decongestants: In the short term, these may help to clear the nasal passages. Unfortunately, any effect they have can greatly reduce after a few days of regular use, and rebound nasal congestion can occur after cessation of treatment. Intranasal saline solutions (drops, irrigation or spray), at room temperature, are preferred and a safer alternative(for example 0.5 ml per nostril, one nostril at a time).
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen may be used for pain or fever: Despite issues with wrong dosing, paracetamol is still recommended as a first-line treatment for pain or fever in kids. Ibuprofen is another option for kids over the age of 3 months. Aspirin is not to be used in children under the age of 12 years as its use has been linked with Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal disease affecting the brain and liver.
- Teething gels have failed to demonstrate any specific benefit: It may be that the observed therapeutic effect is related to the actual gum massage. Some of the substances in teething gels have the potential to be harmful..
- Antifungal preparations need to be continued once infection clears: Infants and children are prone to a range of fungal infestations. Oral infection or nappy rash infection by Candida albicans is common. Topical antifungal medicines such as nystatin or miconazole are effective, but need to be continued for a few days after symptoms disappear, otherwise the fungal infection may grow back.
- Ensure rehydrating fluids are given as instructed: One of the great advances in the treatment of gastroenteritis has been the recognition that appropriate oral rehydration is the best form of therapy. Parents can easily prepare balanced electrolyte solutions, but the instructions should be carefully followed, as over-concentrated solutions can draw more water into the gut causing diarrhoea. Using one of the flavoured solutions or pre-chilling the drink can be more palatable for kids and may help them to drink the entire amount required.
- Anti-colic preparations have not been shown to be effective: Colic has not been proved to be due to `wind' or `gas' and may well be a normal developmental phase for many infants. It usually stops after a few weeks and can go away quite suddenly, whether a medicine is used or not.
Related medicine articles
- How you can be a medicinewise mum
- How can I find accurate information on medicines?
- Antibiotics: Is it the pill you want kids to swallow?
- 5 common medicines and their side effects
- How to be medicinewise online
- Your kids and pain relief medication
- Safe pain medicines you can take while pregnant or breastfeeding
- How pharmacists can help you
- How to avoid overdosiing your kids on medicines
- How you can help your elderly relatives be medicinewise
This article was written by Fiona Baker for Kidspot, Australia’s best family health resource.