Careless mistakes while giving medicines to kids can often lead to big mistakes. Medicine, if given correct dosage in correct time and intervals only gives good results. Some methods should certainly be avoided by parents to avoid future complications too. In this article, I am briefly describing 10 such things.
Buying medicines without doctor's prescription
To save money and time, parents sometimes buy medicines for kids without doctor's prescription. Sometimes, suggestions from friends or relatives are taken into account. Very often, they give medicines of their elder kid or even same medicine given to the kid some days or months before. Medicine given to a child may not be suited for all kids in all situations. Also, it will cause many side effects. If antibiotics are induced into the body unnecessarily, bacteria causing diseases may gain immunity against those medicines.
Giving overdose to kids
Sometimes seeing no changes in child's condition, a worried mother gives overdose to her kid thinking that it will cure the child fast. It never cures your child faster but leads to more side effects only. Overdose of antibiotics like paracetamol can cause damage to internal organs including liver.
Not giving medicines at correct time
Some mothers think that, even if it is a little bit late to give him medicines, it is not at all a problem. It mostly occurs when the kid shows signs of relief from disease. Time interval is fixed by the doctor according to the dosage of medicine. It medicines not given at correct time, it brings irregularity in its dosage too. It will lead to taking more time for curing the disease.
Never taking his weight into account
Some people often give same medicine of elders with half or quarter dosage. i.e. If 1 tablet is needed for an adult, a mother may give quarter or half of the same tablet if her kid gets the same disease. Each medicine is prescribed by a doctor taking account of his age and body weight. Also, some content in the medicine may be harmful to kid at his early ages. Over dosage is another problem.
Giving less food to kids when they are ill
Kids show a less interest in food if he is not well. Some mothers believe that if given solid food, he will have digestion problems. Such mothers give kids only a little food or liquid food which will make your kid more tired. He is taking medicines. So he needs some healthy food. If he feels that he can eat solid food or usual diet, never avoid it. But, never force him to eat if he is not willing to.
Stopping medicines when you see your child has recovered
Antibiotics is a dose. So never discontinue it even if you feel that he has cured completely. Each medicine has a prescribed dosage and the course is completed only if the dosage is completed. Sometimes your kid may not show external symptoms of diseases. Course of a medicine also include giving full immunity to your kid's body to fight against same disease in future also. If dosage is not completed, disease causing bacteria may return back gaining immunity against the same disease. It will only make situations worse. This time, much more strong dosage may be required to cure it completely. Also, repeat attack of the same disease will make your kid more tired than before.
Giving medicines after its expiry date
It will only invite more problems. Even if medicine has not reached its expiry date, kindly avoid those bottles opened some months before, particularly syrups and antibiotics. Instead buy a new bottle for him.
Giving medicines which may cause side effects
Parents should know which medicines cause allergy and side effects to their kids. Some medicines, if given together, may become ineffective. Some vitamin tablets and medicines if given together may cause some health problems.
Neglecting doctor's advices
Even if the disease is cured completely, doctor asks the patient to complete its dose, which is very often neglected by parents. In some cases, even after he is discharged from hospital, doctor advises the patient to take rest at home. Most parents avoid it and send him to school fearing about the loss of classes. Also, he may be given cold food like ice cream and cool drinks neglecting doctor's advice. It will only cause to take more time to completely cure the disease. Sometimes, it may welcome the same disease once again.
Giving excess vitamin tablets
Mothers often give kids vitamin tablets if he is tired or not eating proper food. Such mothers should kindly understand that vitamin tablets is not at all a solution to such problems. Such artificially given nourishment may lead to many health problems.
In this article, I have described some of the common and careless mistakes committed by parents while giving medicines to their kids. If medicines are given in correct dose and time interval, taking all suggestions given by his doctor, your kid can go to school as early as possible. Otherwise, it will lead to more problems and adversely affect his health and studies. If you want to know what things are to be remembered while giving sweets to kids go through the link When you give sweets to your kid.