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Along with the cold weather, the cold season has also arrived. And now that ear infections, strep throat and various other infections are running rampant in schools and homes, its time to remember some basic information when administering medicine to children is concerned.
When your doctor prescribes antibiotic or antiviral medication to treat your childs infection, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends finishing all the prescribed doses, even if the child starts to feel better before all the medicine is finished. The AAP also has the following suggestions for giving your child medicine.
Stick with a schedule. Don't skip doses and then ask the doctor what to do if a dose isn't given on time. Abide by the doctor and prescription to ensure your child is receiving the proper dose at the right time. Do not veer from the dosage. Never give a child more medicine because you think it might work better or faster -- or less, for that matter -- if the child seems to be healing. Either could do more harm than good. Don't hide the medicine in something else. If a child dislikes the taste of the medicine or tries to spit it out, it might be tempting to hide it in liquids or food. In addition to being generally ineffective, this can also affect how well the medicine works. Try to avoid histrionics and calmly administer the medication. Its going to be a long winter, and you might have to repeat the process more than once before spring.
How do you administer medication to your children? Do you have any tips? Let us know here, or email me, at jcurtis@mainstreetconnect.us.
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