Drug Information Q&A Q22. What precautions should be taken when giving drugs to children?
Answer
Children tend to have a weaker ability to break down drugs and are more sensitive to drugs than adults. Therefore, adults should not give adult medications to children based on easy judgments.
Explanation
When a child develops a fever at night, some people give a reduced dose of an adult medicine.
However, small children tend to be more susceptible to the effects of drugs because they have less strength to swallow and less ability to break down and excrete drugs (liver and kidney functions) than adults.
In addition, their sensitivity to drugs is high and the ingredients of drugs tend to be transferred to the brain. Therefore, it is important to pay attention not only to the dose, but also to the nature of the drug's ingredients and how they are absorbed in the body.
In the United States, when aspirin, a commonly used antipyretic analgesic for adults, was given to children with influenza or chicken pox, brain damage called "Reye's syndrome" occurred frequently. As a result, in Japan, aspirin is generally prohibited as an antipyretic for influenza and chickenpox in children under 15 years of age. Currently, children's common cold remedies and antipyretic analgesics no longer contain aspirin, but some adult medicines do.
There are also antipsychotics and other medications that should not be given to children.
If your doctor prescribes a drug for children, follow the directions, and if it is an over-the-counter drug, read the directions carefully and use the dosage prescribed for children. For children, there are dry syrups, syrups (water pills), and suppositories that are designed to be easier to swallow and use.
It is also necessary to devise ways to make it easier for children to take medicines without being uncomfortable.
Some mothers often mix the drug with their baby's usual milk, but be aware that the drug may not be effective depending on the milk, and the taste of the milk itself may change, causing the baby to dislike the milk.
Chart/Column
22｜How to Administer Medicines to Newborns and Infants
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Water medicine
Do not give the medicine directly from the bottle, but rather take a spoon or dropper of the exact dose and pour it into the inside of the cheek, where the sense of taste is difficult to detect.
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Powder
Let the mouth water before swallowing. Try to make the suppository into a dumpling shape, or give it with a favorite food, such as jelly oval or ice cream.
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Suppositories
If you put water, olive oil, or salad oil on the tip of the suppository, it will make it easier to put in the suppository and less irritating.
If the suppositories have become hard after being stored in the refrigerator, bring them back to room temperature before use to make them easier to insert.
The trick is to hold the suppository in place for a moment after inserting it, as it will come out when the child strains. -
Eye drops
Lay the child on his/her back, with the child's head secured between the parent's knees or groin, and with the child's eyes lightly closed so that the tip of the container is not visible, pull the lower eyelid down to apply the drops.
After applying the drops, hold down the eye socket or close the eye for 5 minutes to prevent the drug from flowing into the lachrymal duct (causing a bitter sensation in the mouth).
If you roll your eyes or blink, the drug will flow out with the tear fluid. -
Ointment
Do not apply directly from the end of the tube, but only take out the necessary amount on a clean finger.
A thin coating is effective, so there is no need to rub it in. It is not necessary to rub it in, as this will irritate the skin. -
Nasal drops
For children who do not like to be sprayed, put a drop at the entrance of the nose, turn the child's head up and place it in the nose, then turn the child's face back and wipe off any excess liquid.
If spraying is possible, place the tip of the container into the nose without tilting the container too far, and wipe the tip of the container with tissue paper after use to keep it clean.
Source: "Aichi Pharmaceutical Association HP/Children and Medicines/Helpful Information on Medicines/How to Administer Medicines to Newborn Babies and Infants" (partially modified).
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