OTC Products for Kids: What Parents Should Know
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24 Jul 2024 03:31:54 pm.
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But at the same time, parents should regard such products carefully and with their knowledge, to protect their child and nurture their healthy development.
Here is what parents ought to understand about the use of OTC products for their children.
Understanding OTC Products
OTC products encompass medicines that do not require prescription from a physician and other health related accessories.
These can cater for unlike ailments such as common flu, cough, fever, allergies, alterations in digestion systems and the likes.
As they are easily available and can give prompt relief it has to be taken into consideration that not all drugs belong to the group of OTC products are safe for kids.
Choosing the Right OTC Products
When selecting an OTC product for your child, consider the following guidelines:When selecting an OTC product for your child, consider the following guidelines:
1. Age Appropriateness: Remember that on the label there is information about the applicability for children of a certain age. Certain OTC products are prepared for kids and young people, while others should not be used by children because of the doses or ingredients.
2. Active Ingredients: The next information that you should know are the active ingredients of the vaccine and the functions they perform. For instance, acetaminophen which is also known as Tylenol can be used as a pain and fever reliever and diphenhydramine popularly known as Benadryl for allergy. Try not to buy products that contain extra or even possibly dangerous substances.
3. Multi-Symptom Formulas: Look at the labels for some negative advice Some products may contain multiple symptoms remedies. These may contain active animents more than a single one, thus interacting with other drugs and in extreme cases harming the patient by overdosing. Thus, it is often more effective to address each symptom separately using different products.
4. Dosage: One should stick to the dosage recommended by the doctor. Usually children doses are given according to the weight of the child and therefore it may be advisable to seek advice from your child’s pediatrician on the correct dosage to be administered to the child.
Safety Precautions
1. Read the Label: Check the label and any information that is provided to you always. Beingaware of thecautions, side effects andinteractions that exist with the administered drug.
2. Measuring Tools: The measuring tool shall be provided with the medication to be taken. Kitchen spoons are imprecise and should not be used to measure doses: this results with over or underdosing.
3. Storage: Keep all medicines in a place where children cannot see them. Make it a point that each time after the bottle is used, especially by the children, the child-proof cap is tightly screwed back.
4. Expired Medications: Medications should not be used once they have gone out of date. This could make the effectiveness of the medication reduce and at the same time, it may not be safe for the client.
Common OTC Products for Kids
1. Pain and Fever Relievers: Paracetamol and ibuprofen are some of the commonly used analgesic and antipyretics amongst children. Aspirin causes Reye’s syndrome which is a very rare but fatal condition, thus, should not be administered to children.
2. Cough and Cold Medications: Some of the caveats of using over counter cough and cold medicines include; Most pediatricians advise against the use of such products in children who are below the age of six years. However, the patient should avoid the consumption of steroids, but should take a lot of water, ensure they get enough rest, and use a humidifier.
3. Allergy Medications: Over the counter drugs used to treat allergies include antihistamines which are drugs that are available over the counter and includes; cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin). Hear about side effect of drowsiness that is likely to occur if you use older antihistaminelike the diphenhydramine.
4. Digestive Aids: For digestion related complaints, things like, simethicone for flatulence and oral rehydration solution for diarrhea and vomiting. It is advised not to administer antidiarrheal medications to young children without the doctor’s consultation.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
1. While OTC products can be useful, there are situations where professional medical advice is necessary:While OTC products can be useful, there are situations where professional medical advice is necessary:
2. Persistent Symptoms: In case your child has not recovered within a few days or even the symptoms become worse, you should see your doctor.
3. Underlying Health Conditions: Before using over the counter products, the children with chronic diseases or who are already on other medications must consult their physicians.
4. Uncertain Diagnosis: In case of the unknown type of the sickness or medicine required, one should consult the doctor.
5. Adverse Reactions: If your child has any allergic reaction or side effect, consult a doctor, and stop using this medication.
Conclusion
It is, therefore, practically useful to understand how the use of OTC products can be useful in the management of minor health conditions in children if properly used.
But the parents must be very careful, follow the rules and regulations and should consult the experts if required.
In this way, they are able to tend to the health and wellbeing aspects of their child and eradicate various illnesses in the process.
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