Misconceptions about pediatric medication
Release time : 03/22/2025 09:30:02
Recently, the weather has been changeable, and babies are prone to illness. Many mothers will hoard some medicines in case of emergency needs.
But medicine is a medicine if you eat it correctly, and if you don't eat it correctly, it will be poisonous.
Recently, countless mothers cried when watching an online video titled "Silent Telling of a Girl Deaf Due to Medicine". In the film, Xiao Xinuo gradually lost his hearing due to improper medication after having a fever.
This also tells all mothers that you must not give medicine to your baby casually! So what are the misunderstandings about using drugs for infants and young children? Which medicines should not be given to the baby? Come and have a look! Misunderstandings about medication in children The baby's organs are not yet mature, and its physique is different from that of adults. If you are sick, you cannot take medicine indiscriminately. Mothers should follow the doctor's advice and give medicine to your baby. At the same time, you should also avoid the six major medication misunderstandings: Misunderstandings 1: Advictions recommend drugs. When your baby is sick, some inexperienced mothers like to ask other mothers about treatment methods, or even use medicines recommended by others.
However, each child's illness is different and the cause of illness may not be the same. The correct approach is to follow the doctor's instructions for medication.
Misconception 2: Imported drugs are better than domestic ones. Due to frequent domestic drug safety issues, some mothers choose to purchase imported drugs specifically for their children. This approach is incorrect. One major risk associated with imported drugs is that they lack the same level of regulatory oversight as domestic drugs, making it difficult to ensure quality.
Secondly, the instructions for imported medications are often in English, which may not be fully understood by mothers.
Misconception 3: Traditional Chinese Medicine is Non-toxic and Free of Side Effects - As the saying goes, "Every medicine has a dose of toxicity," whether it be Western or traditional Chinese medicine, they all possess inherent toxicity and side effects.
Generally speaking, Western medicine will indicate adverse reactions and contraindications, but traditional Chinese medicine does not.
Therefore, mothers must not think that traditional Chinese medicine is non-toxic and give it to their babies at will.
Misconception 4: Mixing traditional Chinese and Western medicines for effectiveness. Some mothers, when their children's effects from Western medicines are not satisfactory, opt to consult with Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners (TCM), prescribing traditional Chinese medicines for their children. They even mix both Western and traditional Chinese medicines in the same dosage for their children. However, this practice is inappropriate. The kidney function of a child is still immature; simultaneously administering multiple medications can harm the liver.
Misconception 5: Prescribing adult medications for infants. Some mothers, due to lack of experience, prescribe adult medications for their infants.
Although mom might reduce the dose of medication, adult medications are not suitable for babies.
It is best for mothers to buy baby medication specifically designed for infants to avoid the wrong medicine.
Misconception 6: Preventing diseases with medication. To prevent a baby from catching a cold, some mothers give their babies ephedra tablets. However, this practice is also improper because ephedra does not have the efficacy of preventing diseases. Mothers should never give their babies ephedra without proper guidance.
Pediatric Medication Use, the Dangers of Mistaking Medication for a Child, Understanding the Importance of Not Negligently Dismissing Potential Risks: The Importance of Clarifying which medications should not be administered to a child is paramount.
Which medications should not be administered to infants? Here are the top five types of medicines mothers must remember: 1. Antibiotics: When an infant catches a cold, some mothers mistakenly administer antibiotics to their children.
Antibiotics shouldn't be taken carelessly. Overuse can lead to bacteria developing resistance, making the diseases harder to treat.
2. Hormone Drugs: Although hormone drugs can cure skin eruptions and other diseases quickly, they should not be used on babies because these drugs can affect the growth and development of the baby.
Mom must remember not to buy strong corticosteroids like prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone.
3. Medications for fever and pain relief, such as Anelin, Painkiller tablets, and Sodium Benzoate Tablets, are also not suitable for babies due to the risk of causing anemia and purpura, so mothers should avoid giving them to their children without proper guidance.
When babies exhibit diarrhea and other discomfort, mothers should not use anti-diarrheal medications such as Eimunting or Pharmaceutical Charcoal. These medications are contraindicated for infants under two years old and only used with caution in children aged two to twelve. Excessive use of these drugs can affect a baby's intellectual development or lead to malnutrition.
5. Parasitic Drugs: There are many types of parasitic drugs, such as Ivermectin, Antiparasitic, and Diphtheria Antitoxin. Although they are effective against a variety of parasitic diseases, they also have toxicity and side effects. When babies take them, they may experience discomfort such as dizziness, headache, or vomiting. Therefore, mothers should not give these drugs to their babies without proper consultation.
What medication should be used for common diseases in children? Daily life, colds, fevers, coughs, and diarrhea are common symptoms in babies. These common illnesses require careful medication use to avoid misuse that affects the normal development of the child.
Common cold in babies often manifests as symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, coughing, and loss of appetite. The most effective treatment is symptomatic management.
In the case of a mild cold with symptoms such as nasal congestion and sneezing, treatments may include administration of medications like Children's Cold Pills, Zhu Bei Hog Tooth Powder, and Bao Ying Dan.
2. After a fever and cold, babies may exhibit symptoms of fever. Generally, it is not advisable to treat with medication for infants under 3 months old, and instead, physical cooling methods should be used to reduce the fever.
If the infant is over 3 months old, a single-ingredient acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used for treatment.
3. Coughing affects baby's sleep and play. If the baby exhibits this symptom, mothers can administer Pediatric Antitussive Syrup or Qingfei Xuankong Granules according to the situation.
In addition, while taking the medicine, let your baby drink more warm water to relieve discomfort such as dry throat.
4. Infants with diarrhea are prone to infection with rotavirus in autumn and develop acute diarrhea symptoms. At this time, in addition to paying attention to preventing the baby's dehydration, the mother should also give the baby montmorillonite powder for treatment according to the doctor's instructions.
Before taking, it is best to add 50ml of water to each capsule (3g), so the medication can work its best. Note that the baby should not take it on an empty stomach and should not eat immediately after taking it.
Incorrect ways of administering medication to infants, babies refuse to take their medicine when they are sick, and mothers might pinch the baby's nose to force them to swallow the medication. This is a common mistake that can easily lead to the medication being forced into the trachea, causing choking.
What are some common incorrect ways of administering medication? Moms have listed six common missteps that mothers should be aware of. 1. Mixing medicine with juice or milk; since many medications are bitter, some mothers mix the pills into juice or milk to make them more palatable for their baby. This is also not advisable.
Drugs should be taken with plain water, as some fruit juices can inhibit the efficacy of certain medications, such as antiallergic and anti-infective drugs. Milk can also reduce the effectiveness of medication and should not be taken concurrently with it.
2. When administering medication to infants, some mothers find that their baby swallows only the water but does not take the medication. Consequently, they may attempt to dry-swallow the medication, which can lead to the medication remaining in the digestive tract and causing damage to the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, further compromising the child's health.
3. When administering medication to a baby, it is imperative not to forcefully open the baby's mouth for administration. This approach can be harmful and may cause the baby to choke or experience difficulty breathing due to obstruction.
4. When a baby cries, do not administer medication to them by placing it in their mouth; instead, the medication might accidentally enter their airway, causing choking.
Generally, in such situations, one can first soothe the baby, and then administer medication to the mouth from a side angle to avoid the risk of medication entering the trachea.
5. In order to make it easier for babies to swallow medicine, some mothers may tell their children that the medicine tastes like candy. However, once the child finds out the truth, they will be reticent to take the medicine next time, so mothers should avoid this tactic.
6. Increase or decrease the dosage of medication at will, but it is wrong to increase or decrease the dosage while administering the medication. Increasing the dosage can lead to more severe side effects, whereas decreasing the dosage may not be conducive to the recovery from the disease and can negatively impact health.
The medical information provided in this article is for reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical treatment immediately, based on offline face-to-face diagnosis, medical diagnosis and treatment.