Children and Medicines

Parents will be all too aware of the struggle they can have getting their child to take their medicines. Whether it is a course of antibiotics for an ear infection, Calpol for a headache or eye drops for pink-eye (conjunctivitis), every parent will have their own tips and tricks for making sure the kids take their medicine when they need it.

Many children, especially if they have a long term condition, understand why it’s important for them to take their medicine and how to use it safely.  One in seven children has asthma, one in 130 has epilepsy and one in 700 has diabetes.  These and many other common conditions usually need medicines to control them effectively.

But all children should know the basics about using medicines safely.  They also need to understand more about any medicines they are using than just that it’s a pink pill or has a ‘yucky’ taste.

In any given year, the average child takes as many as three different prescription medicines. Antibiotics are top of the list: over half of children under 5 years and at least a third of 5-15 year olds receive an antibiotic. Next come medicines for skin conditions such as eczema.  Respiratory drugs (for complaints like asthma and bronchitis) are the third most commonly prescribed.

Ask About Medicines is the independent campaign to increase people's involvement in decisions about their use of medicines. For the year beginning November 2007 the campaign will have a special focus on the theme of ‘asking about medicines as we grow up’. The campaign will be encouraging children, young people and their parents to ask more questions about medicines so that they can use them safely and effectively.  You can read more about Ask About Medicines at www.askaboutmedicines.org. 

As children get older they take more responsibility for their health, including medicine taking. Knowing more about medicines helps children and young people safely take control of their health. By getting into the habit of asking questions about medicines and talking with health professionals, children will be better equipped to do this.

Of course the doctor doesn’t have unlimited time, so this may seem easier said than done. There are a number of things that you can do, however, to help your child ask questions about medicines and understand more about the medicine they are taking:

• Do…encourage the doctor or health professional to talk directly to your child, not just to you – and encourage your child not to be shy when answering their questions.
• Do…ask your pharmacist any questions you or your child may have about medicines – they are experts on medicines, open at convenient hours and able to answer many of those questions you think of when you have left the doctor’s.
• Do…show your child how to look after medicines safely – keeping them locked away and out of reach of younger children especially.
• Don’t…give your child medicines to take to school in their bag or lunchbox – you should give their teacher the medicine clearly labelled with your child’s name and when they have to take the medicine.
• Do…ask your pharmacist for advice if your child is having any problems taking their medicine – things like crushing up pills can be dangerous with some medicines.
• Do…get into the habit of asking questions about medicines yourself – write down the questions you have about your medicines to ask when you visit the doctor if that helps.

Ask About Medicines has developed a special Lesson Pack with lessons on medicines and worksheets for children.  We will be encouraging teachers and local health professionals to deliver these lessons to children in schools and help them understand more about medicines.

Click here to access to see what the My Medicine Worksheet looks like.

You too can help your children to understand about medicines with the My Medicines worksheet. It is a one page sheet that a parent and child can work through together when they are given a new medicine – you can stick it on the fridge or on the wall to help remind your child why they have to take their medicine and how to use it safely. It is easy to fill in with pictures to colour in and covers the sorts of questions children could ask about their medicines. You can download a My Medicines worksheet from www.askaboutmedicines.org.

Most of all, don’t forget to Ask About Medicines!