Take care with medicines
Instinctively, every parent wants to see their sick child get well. But despite having the best of intentions, they may innocently give their child an overdose of medicine which could result in complications for the child. Then there are the cases of children finding and taking medicines that were not prescribed for them.
Many children are given the wrong dose of medicine by their parents, especially when it comes to over-the-counter medications. This, as the amount of medicine to be given should be determined by the child’s weight and specific condition.
Paediatricians warn that overdosing can have serious side effects.
These include:
. Stomach ache
. Vomiting
. Lethargy
. Irritability
. Fast heart rate
. Fast breathing.
More serious signs of overdosing in children are irregular heartbeat, seizures, coma and death. If the child suffers any of these symptoms, take him/her to the doctor immediately. It is difficult for the doctor to tell the difference between the early signs of overdose and ‘normal’ symptoms of a child being sick. It is therefore wise to tell the doctor if you have recently given your child any form of medication.
