With a surge in flu, RSV and COVID-19 in children, doctors are warning not to substitute adult medicines for children. Some pharmacies may be running low on over-the-counter medicines for children due to the high number of illnesses.“In the pediatric world, I don’t know that we’ve seen anything like this in quite some time. We’ve never really had our resources quite this strapped,” said Dr. Tanner Isaacson, Pediatric Associates.Isaacson and Dr. Shawn Sood, a pediatrician at the University of Kansas Health System, have both seen children treated for problems after either getting into or being given medicine inappropriate for their care.“It can be fatal. And so, vigilance about the number of medications you have and where that are stored and making sure that they’re locked properly is really important,” Dr. Sood said.Doctors say medicine specifically designed for children is weight-based.Doctor Isaacson said a baby under 6 months should only be given Tylenol and children from 1 to 4 Tylenol or ibuprofen.He also said children under 4 can be given honey for their coughs.“That actually works just as good as any of that over-the-counter stuff that you buy for cough, for colds.” Dr. Isaacson said.“There’s really no studies that show there’s effective medications for children who have cough or congestion,” Dr. Sood said.Both doctors say it’s important to check ingredients on any over-the-counter children’s medicine as well and to never give adult medication to children, even in small doses.“We’ve seen many instances in the ICU, in the general floor, where a child has got into medicine where they shouldn’t have,” Dr. Sood said.Watch the video above for the full story.
With a surge in flu, RSV and COVID-19 in children, doctors are warning not to substitute adult medicines for children.
Some pharmacies may be running low on over-the-counter medicines for children due to the high number of illnesses.
“In the pediatric world, I don’t know that we’ve seen anything like this in quite some time. We’ve never really had our resources quite this strapped,” said Dr. Tanner Isaacson, Pediatric Associates.
Isaacson and Dr. Shawn Sood, a pediatrician at the University of Kansas Health System, have both seen children treated for problems after either getting into or being given medicine inappropriate for their care.
“It can be fatal. And so, vigilance about the number of medications you have and where that are stored and making sure that they’re locked properly is really important,” Dr. Sood said.
Doctors say medicine specifically designed for children is weight-based.
Doctor Isaacson said a baby under 6 months should only be given Tylenol and children from 1 to 4 Tylenol or ibuprofen.
He also said children under 4 can be given honey for their coughs.
“That actually works just as good as any of that over-the-counter stuff that you buy for cough, for colds.” Dr. Isaacson said.
“There’s really no studies that show there’s effective medications for children who have cough or congestion,” Dr. Sood said.
Both doctors say it’s important to check ingredients on any over-the-counter children’s medicine as well and to never give adult medication to children, even in small doses.
“We’ve seen many instances in the ICU, in the general floor, where a child has got into medicine where they shouldn’t have,” Dr. Sood said.
Watch the video above for the full story.
