2023-10-12 20:31:55
When it comes to the health of our little ones, it’s natural for parents to feel concerned and sometimes confused about how to administer medications safely and effectively. Many times it is a real challenge to be able to administer medications at the times indicated to children, this for multiple reasons, among them, because they do not feel well or do not like them even though we know they need them.
Children may be reluctant to take medications, and sometimes may even have problems such as vomiting that further complicate the situation. For this reason, we want you to know some alternatives on how to give them medications safely and to be able to guide you with these recommendations.
5 recommendations for giving medicine to children
Depending on the reason why your son or daughter is receiving medication, it is important that you know the different presentations that exist. Furthermore, always keep in mind if your child has any type of allergy or adverse reaction to any medication or component and inform your treating doctor so that he can evaluate what alternatives exist.
Proper administration of medications in children is essential to ensure that they receive the necessary treatment effectively. This can be a real challenge and here are some tips that can make the process easier:
1. Flavors and shapes that make administration easier
Opt for medications with pleasant flavors for children, also consider whether chewable or orodispersible formulations are available. This can make the process more attractive to them.
2. Create a ritual
Little ones love rituals, so if they are sick, “medicine time” can be done as part of the daily schedule, this helps anticipate the event. In addition, it is very useful to use incentives such as stickers, as it encourages them to achieve a goal. They can paint a calendar with the days of the treatment where they mark how far along they are and how few days they have left to finish.
3. Mix with food
Depending on the medication, it can be given with orange juice, milk or fruit compotes. For example, some medications, such as ferrous sulfate, if administered together with citrus fruits such as orange juice, improve their absorption.
In the case of diluting a medication with food, do so with a small volume that allows us to ensure that the full indicated dose of medication is taken. This is why we do not recommend mixing, for example, an antibiotic in a complete bottle, since the child may not drink the contents completely and it will not be possible to determine how much he ingested.
We always recommend that you confirm with a specialist whether the medication you need to administer can be mixed or diluted, as it may alter its properties or not be as effective as we expect.
4. Use an oral syringe
This item can be useful for accurately administering fluids, especially to young children. Use a small syringe without the needle, and position the child at about a 45-degree angle. Do not direct the volume of the medication at the roof of your mouth because this could cause you to gag and vomit the medication. We recommend directing it towards the cheek and back. Have water or juice ready once you have already ingested the medicine so that the taste can pass through.
5. Reinforce with praise
Reward your child with praise and positive reassurance after taking the medication to associate the experience with something positive.
When receiving an indication for any medication, what should you do before giving medicine?
Consult a health professional: Avoid self-medicating your little one with medications without knowing the dosage or indication and always remember to consult with a specialist so that he or she receives the indicated and timely treatment. It is important to ask your treating doctor about the possible side effects and interactions that this new medication could have. Especially if it is the first time you administer it, you should be attentive to whether it presents any unexpected reaction.
Follow the instructions to the letter: When you get the medication, be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. This includes double checking the dose, route of administration, frequency and method of administration. If you have doubts about the indication, ask your pediatrician before administering the medication.
Use medications appropriate for children: always use medications formulated specifically for children when available. Avoid giving medications intended for adults unless directed by a health professional.
Check expiration date: If you are going to take medication that you have at home, always consider checking if there is any medication left, as in the case of inhalers, and also if the expiration date is after the date of administration.
Keep the medication in a safe place: Always consider keeping medications out of the reach of children, since they could accidentally ingest them, exposing themselves to poisoning and serious side effects.
Discover new drug presentations: Over the years, various orodispersible (sublingual), effervescent or chewable presentations have appeared that allow us to administer medications in a safer and equally effective way. This is a very useful tool when our little ones have difficulty swallowing a liquid or a tablet, even if it is small.
Important! If you accidentally ingest any medication, the first thing you should do is call CITUC at +56 2 2 635 3800, who can guide you on the measures to follow.
This information is merely informative and does not replace the opinion of a health professional. If you have any symptoms or discomfort, we recommend that you consult with your doctor. Additionally, please note that due to the changing nature of the topics covered in this article, some concepts may change since the original date of publication.
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