A new study shows that parents and caregivers frequently miscalculate the dose of pain medicine and fever reducers for children. The younger the child, the more likely there will be a dosing error.
Poison Control Yields Data
The researchers analyzed data from poison control hotlines from 2002 to 2012.
Each year during the study, an average of nearly 64,000 children experienced medication errors. That breaks down to one child every eight minutes getting an inappropriate dose of medicine.
The authors of the research encourage parents and caregivers to double check their dosage calculations before administering any medication, either prescription or OTC, to a child.
[Pediatrics, online October 20, 2014]
Previous efforts to reduce the use of cough and cold medicines in kids have helped, according to the researchers. Parents also need to pay special attention to pain relievers, especially those containing acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol, as we have written.
Don’t Use Kitchen Spoons
To avoid dosing errors, parents should use oral syringes or medicine measuring tubes rather than household spoons.
