3 Dangers Of Self-medication In Children – You Are Mom

Self- medication in children and even in adults is a very dangerous and inadvisable practice. 

However, despite the dangers it represents, it is still very common for parents to give their children medication without consulting a professional.

Self-medication in children, a dangerous practice

Self-medication is the administration of natural recipes or drugs without proper medical supervision. The side effects of this practice can seriously affect your health in the short and long term. The worst part is that in some cases it can be fatal.

In many cases,  a simple stomach ache is mistakenly treated with pain relievers. Another common mistake is giving children antibiotics when they have a fever.

Prescribing and getting the right dose is fundamental to effectively treating a medical condition. These are the skills of health professionals.

In truth, the improper administration of a drug  can have serious consequences for health.

The consequences of self-medication in children

1. Antibiotic resistance

One of the main problems with giving antibiotics without adequate medical supervision is developing resistance to these drugs.

Often, respiratory, gastrointestinal or fever conditions are treated with antibiotics. However,  85% of these diseases are caused by viruses. Therefore, they do not require antibiotics.

“The side effects of this practice can seriously harm short and long term health”

2. Possible poisoning

Giving the wrong medicine is dangerous, just like giving the wrong dose. Aspects such as the weight and height of the child are essential and have an influence.

If the dose is low, it is unlikely to cure the child’s illness. On the other hand,  if the dose is too high, the child may suffer from poisoning which  could endanger his life.

3. Side effects of self-medication with antibiotics

Self-medication in children with antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to various side effects.

Some of the most common are:  diarrhea, rashes, breathing problems, fatigue, poisoning and severe allergies  which can lead to death in the worst case.

Mistakes not to make

• Follow the advice of other parents regarding medication. Indeed, in appearance the symptoms of the child are very similar to those of the other. It is therefore assumed that the disease is the same. But remember that the pediatrician is the only specialist trained to diagnose and prescribe.
• Keep over-the-counter medications  prescribed previously and give them another time when the child becomes ill again. You should be aware that even if the symptoms seem to be the same, it is best to take the child to the pediatrician. The latter will then be responsible for making a diagnosis.

• Searching for information on the internet is another big mistake many parents make. The main reason is that there is a lot of information on the internet, of good quality or not. Only a person with knowledge is capable of discerning among all this information.
• Do not be afraid of the possibility of serious illness without relying on a professional diagnosis. Indeed, it can be a minor problem that is very easy to deal with.

Self-medication in children, a problem with a solution

The expert for the treatment of childhood diseases is the pediatrician. It is the only one who has the knowledge necessary to establish a diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment.

Symptoms should never be compared to those of other children. In addition, information should never be searched for on the internet. And even less, of course, self-medication in children. The consequences of this practice can be fatal.

Unfortunately, self-medication in children is a much more common practice than one might think. This is why it is necessary to be informed and to become aware of this subject.

No matter if the parents are working and don’t have a lot of time, we always have to find a way to take the child to the doctor when he has any symptoms.

The child’s health is at stake. Something that may appear harmless can end up being harmful to his or her health. Self-medication is not trivial and it is extremely important to be aware of the risks.