Remedy in sight, child in danger

They are often colorful, fruity, milk-skake-creamy, or candy-like. Formulated to be swallowed without much grimace, some children’s remedies are so tempting that they can become a health trap for the little ones.

A survey recently carried out by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), in Campinas (SP), proved that children even confuse medicines with sweets, a danger that can even become fatal. According to pharmaceutical Patrícia Moriel, coordinator of the study, the problem is not just leaving the medicines within reach of the kids. “Children also end up taking medication on their own because they imitate their parents, who often do this in front of their children,” she says.

Attractive and harmful, if we neglect them!

A survey by the Ministry of Health showed that this problem is much more common than you might think. Of the nearly 28,000 cases of intoxication recorded in one year in Brazil, 43% (that is, almost half!) happened precisely to children and adolescents up to 14 years of age. The technical director of the National Association of Master Pharmacists (Anfarmag), Ana Lúcia Mendes, says that medicines are the main cause of poisoning, followed by pesticides. “Syrups, for example, contain dyes and flavors, such as strawberry, currant and even chocolate, to mask unpleasant tastes and increase user acceptance. This is quite attractive for the kids”, she exemplifies.

6 ways to avoid poisoning

The main precautions to be taken to keep children and young people free from the risk of becoming intoxicated with medication

· Avoid taking medicine in front of children, especially small ones.

· When giving a medication to your child, never convince him to take it by saying it tastes good. Worse than that, lying, saying it’s a sweetie!

· Every time you medicate the little ones, reinforce that it is a medicine and can only be taken in case of need (illness). And only an adult can give it! Make it clear, always.

· Keep all medications, even those for daily use, out of their reach, in a place that is difficult to access.

· Keep the medicines in their original packages, together with the inserts. Expired products must be discarded at pharmacies or health centers that carry out this type of collection.

· Try to buy the medication in sufficient quantity just for the treatment. You save and avoid that accumulation of unused medicine.

Medications that cause the most side effects

Unicamp’s research identified the medications (tasty or not) that cause the most side effects, if taken in excess. If anyone in your family takes high doses of any of these, immediately call the Drug Information and Assistance Center (0800-722-6001) to find out what to do.

Amoxicillin: In excess, the antibiotic can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and skin changes.

Dipyrone: Indicated for pain and fever. It can cause blood reactions and allergy if consumed in large amounts.

Paracetamol: Relieves pain and controls temperature. If taken in excess, it can affect the liver and even lead to death.

Predinisolone: ​​Corticoid-based, treats allergies. High doses bring problems to the eyes, skin and muscles.

Dexchlorpheniramine: For rhinitis and bites. In high doses, it can cause drowsiness, palpitation, headache and even anaphylactic shock.