Ellen Campbell-Grizzle

During Child's Month and beyond, there are many things that we can do to help our children to take their medicines. It is often hard to get children to take their medicines. Many times, your child will push away the dropper, teaspoon or tablet, even if the product tastes good and will alleviate pain and suffering.

The difficulty in getting children to take medication most frequently stems from its bad taste or problems with swallowing. Here are some strategies:

Have your child suck on an icicle just before giving the medication.

You might be able to serve the medicine cold as well.

Sometimes, it may be possible to mix crushed pills with favourite snacks such as ice cream, ice cream toppings, honey or apple sauce.

Chronically ill children require special consideration as they are in constant need of treatment. It is very important that you explore their best option and take note of their preferences. Pharmacists can be very helpful during this process. In many cases, they have assisted by safely converting solid medication into customised liquid forms or by diluting drug concentrations so that the dose taken becomes more palatable.

Child-friendly medicines

Technology has aided the development of some child-friendly delivery systems that taste better, last longer in the body so that fewer doses are taken, capsules that can be opened and sprinkled on food, chewable tablets that melt away on the tongue, vapour patches that can be applied to the chest for cough control and vapour-emitting electrical gadgets. Here are some helpful tips to follow as you administer medication to your child:

Approach your child with the expectation that he or she will take the medication.

Place your child in a sitting position and then administer medication.

If your child is still not cooperating and further coaxing is needed, gently and firmly grasp the jaw so that the mouth pops open and introduce a plastic dropper with medication beyond the teeth and gum line.

Gently press the dropper and slowly drip medication to the back of the throat.

Never squirt the medication forcefully as it might enter the windpipe and cause choking.

At the end of the process, hug, encourage and reassure your child.

Handling common complaints

Children are exposed to infectious diseases. Most infections are caused by viruses but your doctor will decide what is the best course of treatment in such situations. Do not give antibiotics to children without prior consultation with a physician. Abuse of antibiotics leads to resistance.

Later on, your child might need this antibiotic but it will not be effective. Paracetamol is widely used to treat pain and fever, however, many products contain this ingredient so be careful to avoid duplications and overdoses. Aspirin should never be given to children who are 16 years and under, unless prescribed by a physician.

Medicine education for children

As you educate your child about the safe use of medicines, focus on explaining the following points:

Take the right medicine, at the right time, in the right amount.

Take all of your medicine as prescribed, even if you feel better before the treatment is complete.

Report all side effects to an adult.

Few medicines are specifically licensed for children. It is generally recognised that more research needs to be done in this area. A child's body does not behave like a small adult and most medicines are tested only on adults before they are certified as safe for human use. Calculating the right dose for your child is not always a simple matter!