When children fall ill, parents are eager to relieve symptoms and often administer medicine on their own based on limited medical knowledge without professional guidance. This practice is incorrect and even dangerous, as improper medication use is quite common in daily life. The following medication misconceptions deserve parents’ full attention.
Do Not Abuse Antibiotics for Colds
Antibiotics are generally referred to as "anti-inflammatory drugs", yet the two concepts are not equivalent. Most childhood colds stem from viral infections, against which antibiotics have no therapeutic effect. Misuse of antibiotics fails to curb viral illnesses, and instead induces drug resistance and adverse drug reactions.
Do Not Randomly Use Antipyretics for Fever
Fever in children has complex underlying causes, ranging from common colds and tonsillitis to severe conditions such as measles, pneumonia and meningitis. Taking antipyretic and analgesic drugs before identifying the root cause masks clinical manifestations, hinders accurate diagnosis and delays treatment.
For infants under 6 months old, improper use of fever-reducing medicine during high fever may trigger profuse sweating, abrupt temperature drop and collapse.
Nevertheless, antipyretics should be administered when body temperature exceeds 38.5°C to prevent febrile convulsions.
Do Not Abuse Anti-diarrheal Drugs for Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a prevalent ailment among infants and toddlers, triggered by immature gastrointestinal function, intestinal dyspepsia, bacterial infection and other factors. Medication differs drastically between infectious and non-infectious diarrhea.
Some parents hastily give anti-diarrheal agents once stool becomes loose. Such medicines exert strong astringent effects; while they temporarily stop diarrhea, harmful bacteria and toxins trapped in the intestines cannot be excreted, multiply rapidly and trigger secondary illnesses that seriously threaten children’s health. Infantile diarrhea requires targeted treatment rather than universal anti-diarrhea medication.
Do Not Abuse Antitussives for Cough
Cough is a protective physiological reflex that expels bacteria and sputum from the respiratory tract to keep airways unobstructed. Many parents give antitussives at the first sign of mild coughing. Though cough symptoms are temporarily suppressed, large volumes of sputum and pathogens accumulate in the respiratory tract, leading to secondary bacterial infection. Severe cases may present chest tightness, dyspnea and even atelectasis. Antitussives shall not be given before clarifying the cause of cough.
Avoid Administering Adult Medicines to Children
Children’s organs and tissues are immature, especially the liver, kidneys and nervous system, which are highly vulnerable to drug damage. Common adult medications unsuitable for kids include quinolones, aminoglycosides, compound aspirin, compound sulfamethoxazole, etc.
Do Not Take Western Medicine with Fruit Juice
Acidic substances in fruit juice break down active ingredients or dissolve drug coatings prematurely, impairing gastrointestinal absorption. Alkaline medicines are particularly incompatible with fruit juice; acid-base neutralization drastically reduces therapeutic efficacy.
Do Not Take Medicines with Tea or Milk
Tea contains caffeine, theophylline, tannic acid and silicic acid, which react with medicinal components, neutralizing drug effects or inducing side effects. Milk is rich in protein and fatty acids, forming a film wrapping around tablets and obstructing drug absorption by the body.