Paracetamol For Children: What You Need To Know
Whichever brand it is, this basic treatment used to treat the flu is hardly lacking in our first-aid kit at home. We adults often consume it, but there are also children’s versions of acetaminophen.
Well, the fact that this medicine is basic, that is, commonly used and has few contraindications does not mean that its use should be indiscriminate, especially when we talk about children. Care must be taken with the administration of doses and self-medication.
Next, we’ll look at the essential information every parent should know about acetaminophen prescribed for children. With proper precautions, it can be a good medicine for the little ones.
What is acetaminophen and what is it for?
Paracetamol is an analgesic and antifebrile for prolonged use. It is consumed to alleviate the general malaise and recurring joint pains associated with the flu. In addition, it usually serves to control fever and other pain.
Versions of paracetamol for children
Generally, children’s versions of acetaminophen come in the form of a syrup or chewable tablet. These are the most recommended and are easy to find at the pharmacy without the need for a prescription to buy.
In addition, parents have a third option in case the child does not want to take the medicine orally: the suppository.
With regard to the suppository, there is an adequate concentration according to the child’s age and weight. For example: children 6 to 36 months of age can only take 80 mg acetaminophen. A suppository may be administered every 6 hours.
Paracetamol contraindications
The main advantage of this drug is that it has almost no contraindications. The only population at risk are children with liver disease or liver development problems. In that case, a doctor should be consulted before administering the medicine.
Patients who have a history of allergic reaction to the use of the drug cannot take this drug either. However, apart from these two cases, almost all patients can take this drug. Even the patients
allergic
Anti-inflammatory drugs rarely have an allergy to what is also known as acetaminophen.
Children who have viral conditions can take it without fear, as well as pregnant women and nursing children. Babies under the age of 6 months should not take it unless the doctor prescribes the medicine.
How are the correct doses of acetaminophen given to children calculated?
Basically, the concentration of the medication and the child’s characteristics are the variables considered when preparing the appropriate dose. In addition, we can use age if it gives us an approximate reference to the weight the child weighs.
Thus, children weighing between 11 and 16 kilos can take a dose of 5 ml, if the syrup has a concentration of 160 mg. If the child’s weight varies between 16 and 21 kilos, the dose will be 7.5 mg, and it will be administered in liquid solution.
Children weighing between 22 and 27 kilos should take a dose of 10 ml, if the drug has a concentration of 160 mg. As we can see, everything will depend on the type of drug version: chewable tablet, syrup or even
suppository
.
A formula that doesn’t fail
However, there is a very simple formula to calculate the exact dose that should be given to the child according to their weight. It is summarized in a mathematical formula: child’s weight + half the child’s weight/10.
Thus, if a child weighs 10 kg and if we add 5 kg, this gives a total of 15 kg. Then we divide by 10 and arrive at the final result of 1.5 ml. This is the amount of syrup that should be given to the child every 6 to 8 hours.
It is noteworthy that this medication should not be given to children older than 6 months, unless the pediatrician prescribes it. In this case, the correct thing is to consult an expert you trust. We must always avoid self-medication.
In short, this is a safe medicine, with few contraindications and very reliable to be given to children. Perhaps its only disadvantage is that it does not perform an anti-inflammatory function. However, it is also very effective in controlling general malaise.
