Post by Mrs. Mommy Marlett™ on Mar 18, 2009 12:24:14 GMT -6
- Never give aspirin to children
- Antibiotics will not cure colds, flu or upper respiratory infections
- Follow label recommendations & doctor’s instructions carefully
- Store medicines safely & keep out of the reach of children
Anti-Diarrhea Medications
I don’t recommend anti-diarrhea medication. If a child has diarrhea, it indicates that the body is trying to get rid of something. Anti-diarrhea drugs stall the problem. It’s better just to let the natural process take place and let the body rid itself of what it needs to.
Aspirin
Never give children aspirin. It can cause Reye’s syndrome. Age-appropriate non-aspirin – acetaminophen or ibuprofen – should be used instead. If you have any questions about which strength to give your child, ask your pharmacist. Always administer the recommended dose. Never give a greater strength than recommended for the child’s age and never give more than recommended.
Over-the-Counter Medicine
Never give your child over-the-counter medicine that contains alcohol or anything that has a sedative affect. Look on the packaging to make sure that the product does not contain alcohol.
Prescription Drugs
Never give prescription drugs to your child that has not been prescribed for your child. Even if the prescription has been prescribed for a brother or sister, it should not be given to another child. Always use a prescription of the duration that is prescribed, even if your child is feeling better. Throw out all prescriptions that haven’t been used.
Laxatives
I really don’t like to give children laxatives. This can be a chronic, frustrating problem for both children and parents. Not all children go to the bathroom once a day. Some go every two or three days – this can be normal. There are approximately 22 feet of intestines in the human body. A lot of waste can be stored there. As long as your child’s stool isn’t really hard, what is actually normal can be mistakenly thought of as constipation. If a child is constipated, it is usually a result of diet, so dietary treatment should be sought, not laxatives.
Fevers
Children under two-months-old who have a fever in excess of 101 degrees should see a medical professional, even if other members of the family are ill and it seems like the baby may have a cold or flu. Children this young have a very undeveloped immune system and are susceptible to a number of infections. It could be something serious. Seek medical attention immediately.
Dehyrdration
Seek medical attention if your child is dehydrated. You can tell with small children that they’re dehydrated if they have few tears when they cry. You can also tell by feeling the inside of their mouth. If it’s sticky, that indicates dehydration.
Change in Behavior
Also, be concerned if there is any major change in behavior. If the child is usually even tempered and suddenly becomes combative, or if your child is active and is suddenly lethargic, seek medical attention.
Rashes
Rashes are tricky. Some are serious and some are not. I advise parents and caregivers to touch the rash. If it blanches (turns white) when pressure is applied and then goes back to red, it usually is not serious. However, if the rash doesn’t blanch or is rapidly spreading, or if there is a rash present as well the child is having trouble breathing – seek medical attention.
Common Colds
Medications are usually not needed for the common cold. Let it run its course. Never give any kind of over-the-counter cold medicine to a child under two-years-old. Make sure your child gets a lot of rest, fluids and humidity. Antibiotics will not cure a cold and giving them can lead to a resistance to antibiotics later on.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics do not cure colds, flu, or upper respiratory tract infections. The overuse of antibiotics is contributing to more resistant strains of bacterial infections. Never keep antibiotics. In fact, you should really never have them, since they should be only given upon a doctor’s prescription and finished as prescribed. Note that many families living close to border towns will cross over to Mexico and get antibiotics without a prescription.
Flu
Children should really get a flu shot every year. You can administer medication if you detect it early enough, but it’s hard to detect early. The best thing to do is to administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen for aches and pains. Make sure the child drinks plenty of liquids like water or Gatorade.
Remember that coughing is a response to get congestion out of the lungs and helps rid the lungs of congestion. If the cough is really bothering the child, especially at night, then cough medication may be useful. Again, be very careful with what type of cough medicine you use and do not use if your child is under the age of two.
Sore Throats
Bacterial infections – including strep throat – need to be tested. There is an immediate culture and one that comes back 24 hours later. This should be seen by a physician and medication prescribed. After the antibiotics are taken for two or three days, the child will feel better, but make sure your child takes the full ten-day course of antibiotics or the infection will not be defeated. Always make sure a child takes the full course of antibiotics, even if he or she is feeling better.
Most sore throats are caused by a virus. For these, I do recommend over-the-counter throat sprays and lozenges such as Chloraseptic. Spray for very young children. Lozenges for toddlers. These contain antiseptics, which help numb the pain and allow the child to swallow liquids and food.
Allergies
As doctors and medical professionals, we can seek to control allergies, but they can’t be cured. The good news is that most children will outgrow them. If the allergies interfere with everyday activities like playing outdoors, then seek professional help.
Eye Medications
Conjunctivitis can be a problem for some children. There are eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis so check with your doctor. For viral conjunctivitis, there also are drops you can get from your doctor.
Info came off A Place of Our Own.
