Five pointers for parents on pain relief for children

There is no room for error in pain relief for your children at home.
Medication with a too-small dose may not ease the pain effectively, while too much of the medicine can cause liver or kidney damage leading to organ failure and may be fatal.
“Incorrect dosing is a potential danger of over-the-counter medication which is available without a doctor’s prescription. This can be especially dangerous for children as a relatively small overdose can be extremely harmful to their little bodies,” said pharmacist Siphamandla Mbuli.
“On the other hand, parents may sometimes under-dose their children by not giving them enough pain medication to ease their discomfort. Parents and caregivers need to be sure they fully understand the dosage of self-care medication, such as paracetamol, for treatment of pain and fever before giving it to babies and children in their care,” he said.
Paracetamol is the most common over-the-counter analgesic or pain relief medication and is present either alone or in combination with other compounds in many medicines under various trade names in either syrup, drops, sachets, or oral tablets or suppositories.
Fortunately, awareness of a few principles can help prevent mistakes when treating your child for mild to moderate pain at home.
1. Identify the active ingredients
“Before giving your child any nonprescription medicine, check the list of active ingredients on the sides of the packaging.“If you are giving your child more than one medicine at a time, make sure to check that these do not have the same active ingredient. Medicines under different trade names can contain paracetamol, and if these are combined this could lead to overdose.”
2. Measure correctly
“Never guess or estimate the measure of medicine you give to your child. Always use a medicine measuring spoon or syringe to accurately obtain the correct dose of syrup, or use a medicine dropper,” he advised.
3. What’s the correct dose for your child?
While some formulations of paracetamol available without a prescription can be given to infants from one month old, it is preferable to discuss options with your healthcare professional, or paediatrician if your child is younger than three months old. Follow the dosing guidelines in the package insert. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Remember not to administer more than four doses within 24 hours and only for up to five days.
Babies from three months to one year:
• Paracetamol drops for babies 0.6 ml to 1.2 ml (60 to 120 mg) may be given orally every four hours.
• When using a sachet 2.5 ml to 5 ml (60 to 120 mg) may be given orally every four hours.
• Paracetamol syrup can be given at a dosage of 2.5 ml to 5 ml (60 to 120 mg) orally every four hours.
• Suppositories can also be used. Discuss its use with your pharmacist.
For children aged one to five years:
• Paracetamol in a sachet may be given at a dose of 5 ml to 10 ml (120 to 240 mg) orally every four hours.
• Syrup may be given to the child at the dosage of 5 ml to 10 ml (120 to 240 mg) orally every four hours.
• Suppositories can also be given and dosing should be discussed with your pharmacist.
4. Signs of overdose – a medical emergency
“Initial symptoms of paracetamol overdose may include gastrointestinal irritability such as the child may not want to eat, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. These symptoms are not always present and do not necessarily indicate the severity of the overdose.
“Sometimes the child may show no noticeable symptoms of paracetamol overdose for the first day or two, even in cases of severe poisoning. Liver and kidney failure may take between two and five days to develop and manifest.
“If parents suspect that their child may have overdosed, they should immediately get urgent medical attention,” Mbuli warned.
5. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
“It is also important for parents to be aware that they may ask their pharmacist for information regarding pain medication.
“Discuss recurring pain with your child’s paediatrician, as non-prescription medication should only be used for temporary, short-term relief. The underlying cause of pain that lasts for longer must be investigated,” Mbuli said.