Many parents still feel doctors, they believe they have enough knowledge to give their children certain medications without having the medical recommendation either for the medication or for the doses. It is a clear conclusion after the news of the Withdrawal of the over-the-counter children's medicines themselves for coughs and flu.
A couple of weeks ago the US Government warned about the risk that children were suffering, because many parents provided their children with an overdose of these drugs.
The non-prescription drugs indicated for children under two years of age are:
- Johnson & Johnson Pediacare Infant Drops
- Tylenol Concentrated Infant Drops
- Decongestant drops for Wyeth Infante Dimetapp
- Novartis Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips and Medicine
- Decongestant and cough Prestige Brands Holdings (Little Colds Decongestan Plus Cough)
It is obvious (we believe) that the parents who have administered the medicines without restraint have not done so on purpose, but the lack of knowledge and responsibility is evident.
As a result of the misuse of these medications, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) reviewed reports of the last four decades detecting 54 infant deaths, as well as 69 deaths due to the use of antihistamines.
The situation is very serious and we must act immediately, in addition to the withdrawal of medications, they will conduct a campaign to educate parents and medical professionals. Perhaps they think that medicines that are sold without a prescription have no danger, but that is not the case, much less with children under two years of age. As we have been explaining lately, a useful medication for an adult does not offer the same effect on a child, and may even harm him, and we have already been able to verify it.
An intelligent suggestion of a pediatric pharmacist is the use of natural therapies to relieve the discomfort of a cold or flu before resorting to drugs, without a doubt, a good option.
Remember, do not self-medicate your children.
