Over The Counter Medication

3 Common Mistakes Parents Make When Giving Kids Over-the-Counter Medicine

The blooming trees and the roar of lawn mowers also means there is a large amount of pollen in the air, some of which can cause allergy symptoms in children. There are some great over-the-counter choices for allergy medicines for children. A recent poll by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital finds three common mistakes parents make when giving these medications to kids. Confusion over what medicine to give, and how much to give. The cold and allergy aisle in the pharmacy can be overwhelming. Parents expressed some confusion over the difference between cold and flu treatments versus allergy medications and which one to choose. The poll finds they make choices based on recommendations from doctors, pharmacists; even friends and family. Once a choice is made, parents report that dosage amounts are confusing to figure out, and that may lead to some guesswork on the part of parents.Parents give children allergy medicine labeled for adults. Of those that made this choice, about one-third gave the recommended adult dosage, and two-thirds gave some portion of an adult dose. Giving a child too much medicine could result in side effects, including sleepiness.Administrating outdated or expired medicine. While experts don't think expired medicine is likely to make a child ill, it may not have the desired effect because older medicine can lose its potency.If your child is exhibiting allergy symptoms, including runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, and cough, it can be difficult to know what treatment to use. A visit to the pediatrician can help determine if symptoms are indicative of a cold or allergies, as well as determine what allergy medicine and dosage is appropriate for your child. For more information about seasonal allergies and children, contact us.