Here - Health Promotion Agency

Illness and accidents
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out-of-date medicines. Take them
back to the pharmacy to
be destroyed.
Only give your child medicine
given by your GP or pharmacist.
Never use medicines prescribed
for anyone else.
Keep all medicines out of your
child’s reach and preferably out of
sight – in the kitchen where you
can keep an eye on them, rather
than the bathroom.
a ‘liquid medicine measure’,
which looks like a syringe. It
allows you to give small doses of
medicine more accurately.
Always read the manufacturer’s
instructions supplied with the measure,
and always give the exact dose stated
on the medicine bottle. Some
medicines will come with a measure
supplied by the manufacturer, in which
case that’s the right measure to use.
If in doubt ask the pharmacist for help.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
THAT COULD BE
SERIOUS:
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a hoarse cough with noisy
breathing;
crying for an unusually
long time or in an
unusual way or seeming
to be in a lot of pain;
refusing feeds;
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In the past, all medicines for
children have been diluted to the
right strength for each child with
a liquid solution so that you could
give it to your child on a 5ml
spoon. Now most medicines
prescribed by your GP will no
longer be diluted in this way.
Instead you’ll have to measure the
correct dose for your child’s age.
The instructions will be on the
bottle.
Medicines that aren’t diluted in
liquid may need to be given using
LOOKING AFTER A SICK CHILD
It doesn’t matter if your child doesn’t
want to stay in bed. Children are
usually sensible about being ill and if
they say they’re well enough to be
out of bed, they very probably are.
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Don’t overheat the room your
child is in. Keep it airy without
being draughty.
See page 98 for what to do if
your child has a temperature.
Give your child plenty to drink.
For the first day or so don’t bother
about food unless it’s wanted.
After that, try to find ways of
making a bit of food tempting.
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Try to give your child time for
quiet games, stories, company
and comfort.
Sick children are often easily tired
and need lots of rest. Encourage
your child to doze off when he
or she needs to, perhaps with
a story read by you or on tape.
But do not put a baby to sleep on
an armchair or sofa.
Looking after a sick child, even for a
couple of days, is exhausting. Make
things as easy for yourself as you can.
Get rest and sleep when you can, and
try to get somebody else to take over
every now and then to give you
a break.
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diarrhoea or vomiting,
particularly both together;
unusually hot or cold or
listless, or more drowsy
than normal.
Aspirin should not be given
to children under 16 years of
age. It has now been linked
with a rare but dangerous
illness. Seek advice from your
primary healthcare team
(health visitor/midwife/GP)
before taking aspirin if you
are breastfeeding.
Paracetamol is safer, but
don’t give it to children under
three months without asking
your GP first. Make sure
you’ve got the right strength
for your child. Overdosing is
dangerous. Read the label
and/or check with your
pharmacist.
Ibuprofen products especially
for children can be given for
pain and fever in children of
three months and over.
Check the correct dose for
your child’s age. Avoid if
your child has asthma unless
advised by your GP. Don’t
give adult ibuprofen to
children under the age of 12.
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