Tips for Smart Parents: Drug Safety
Medicine can cure diseases and relieve symptoms. However, improper use of medicine may cause delay in treatment or even serious harm to health. The organ functions of young children are not mature and they are less able to handle toxic chemicals. Besides, young children may not be able to express themselves clearly when side effects or allergic reactions occur after taking a medication. To ensure young children's safety, caregivers must be cautious about the proper use and storage of medications to prevent childhood poisoning.
Caregivers must strictly follow the healthcare professionals' instructions while giving medications to young children:
- Read the medicine label carefully.
- Measure the dosage of liquid medicine prescribed accurately.
- DO NOT take more than one kind of medications at a time unless instructed by a doctor to avoid harmful drug interaction.
- Complete a treatment course if you are taking antibiotics.
- Refer to the <Medication safety> website for more information on proper use of medications.
Young children are born curious. They tend to put anything in their mouth, and the medicine bottles may look attractive to them. Parents should properly lock up medications, store them in a dry cool place and keep them out of reach and sight of young children, to avoid accidental ingestion by them. Please refer to the <Prevention of Childhood Poisoning > leaflet for more information about poisoning in children.
If your child has symptoms of common cold and cough, parents should seek advice from doctor. Over-the-counter medication is not recommended for young children. Parents should follow the doctor's instructions when using cold and cough medicines.
- Cold and cough medicines are not indicated for children under 6 years old.
- Codeine is contraindicated for all children younger than 12 years old.
- Avoid the use of codeine in adolescents between 12 to 18 years of age.
- Please visit <Medicines for Cough and Common Cold in Children> for further information on safe use of cough and cold medicines in children.
Parents can also refer to <Preventive Care for Children> (Chinese version only) for more parenting tips and health-related information.
If your children have any discomfort or illnesses, please consult your family doctor as soon as possible.