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.

Take care:
If you see fever or cold in your child, give him result and use a vapouriser. If not cured, next day itself consult a doctor. Never ask suggestion from friends. Give medicines according to doctor's prescription only. If you can, consult the same doctor who has treated him before. i.e. Never change pediatrician repeatedly. It will help the doctor to treat your child, knowing his medical history.

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.

Take care:
Give medicines according to prescribed dosage only. Even if given a little less, there is no problem. But never give him over dose. Some diseases, even if given antibiotics, may take 3-4 days to lessen its intensity. You can ask your doctor also. If he also says so, leave your tensions and show a little patience for some time more.

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.

Take care:
Keep medicines in small bottles with labels about its dosage and time. Keep it near your eye contact. If the next dosage comes at midnight, ask your doctor to arrange its prescription time so that it won't disturb your kid's sleep. You can also set an alarm. It will help you from forgetting giving medicines. Always try to keep at least half hour lag between medicines and food. It is applicable for both cases.

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.

Take care:
Never give adult's medicine to kids. Also, while giving him medicine, take account of his body weight too.

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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.

Take care:
Give him his favourite and good food, if he wants it. But try to avoid oily food. Also, food should be fresh and heated before giving to your child. i.e. Never give him cold food. If he has dysentery or shows signs of vomiting, never force him to eat solid food. Instead, you can give him something light and ORS solution. If medicines have bitter taste, give him a pinch of sugar.

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.

Take care:
Even if your stock of medicine is completed, discontinue its usage only after your doctor's advice. Also, complete the course.

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.

Take care:
When your kid is completely cured, if not needed, throw away the remaining medicines. But you can keep cough syrups and paracetamol till its expiry date.

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.

Take care:
While consulting a doctor, you should tell him, what medicines he is presently taking because some medicines cannot be taken together. It may either cause any side effects or lessen the power of medicines. It is better to carry the prescription of medicines given before, while consulting another doctor. If your kid has any allergy problems, do tell him.

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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.

Take care:
Never neglect doctor's advice. Also, give your kid complete rest till he becomes healthy.

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.

Take care:
Give him natural food. Vitamins needed for a person is found abundant in fruits, vegetables and cereals. Always opt natural food items instead of tablets. Give such tablets only according to doctor's prescription. While giving different tablets at the same time, assure that their reactions won't conflict.

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.


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