The Dangers Of Overprescribing Cough Medicine To Babies

When are little ones are sick, we do something to assist them really feel higher… similar to Singaporean mother Berlinda Lum did when when her child boy had a cough lately.

She by no means imagined the horrifying chain of occasions that adopted her go to to the neighbourhood clinic to get some aid for her kid’s cough.

On November 22, Berlinda introduced her 14-month-old child boy to a clinic in, she wrote in a Give.Asia put up.

The child was prescribed Fedac syrup for his cough – the dosage prescribed was 10ml, 3 times a day, as you may see on the picture she gives under.

Overprescribing cough medication to infants will be very harmful to their well being (Image: Give.Asia)

When Berlinda obtained residence, she says she adopted the directions and gave her infant the primary dose of cough medication.

Her child “was immediately knocked out.” She says, “after we went home, and feeding [sic] him with the medicine, he was completely knock [sic] out, which I thought was normal.”

Soon, the mommy realized that one thing was not proper, that her son was really unconscious, and she rushed him to Gleneagles Hospital.

There, it was confirmed that her child had overdosed on codeine.

Berlinda additionally mentions in her Give.Asia put up that, “If I had given the complete dosage as per prescribed for 3 times a day @ 10ml each time, my son will [sic] die!”

Image: Give.Asia screengrab

According to consultants, codeine is an opioide ache medicine (narcotic) that’s used to deal with delicate to reasonably extreme ache.

It is not secure to be used in youngsters underneath the age of 12 months. 

Codeine is present in Fedac syrup.

Berlinda mentions in her put up that her child solely regained consciousness a full day later, and even then, nonetheless appeared drowsy.

She additional says, “I’ve also taken the liberty to speak to the Singapore Medical Council of reporting them, and all they ever reply is that they will take 9 months to investigate the case! I’m not sure how much damage they will have done in the 9 months if they are still operating.”

Overprescribing cough medicine to infants: Real risks

In Berlinda’s case, the medicine was prescribed by a health care provider. But usually, mother and father purchase over-the-counter cough and chilly medicines for his or her child’s cough.

However, the overall consensus is that cough and chilly medicines are usually not of a lot use in relation to ‘curing’ a baby’s cough.

An issue with these medicines is that the results are normally solely studied in adults after which utilized to youngsters, despite the fact that adults and youngsters could not react to those medicines in the identical approach.

Also,

• You may by accident give a baby a dose that’s too excessive.
• Parents may use two totally different manufacturers on the identical time, not realising they comprise the identical components.
• Parents may measure the unsuitable dose by mistake in the event that they rise up in the course of the night time to assuage a coughing youngster.

Medical consultants strongly discourage mother and father from giving youngsters underneath 4 years of age over-the-counter cough medicines due to the assorted dangers they pose. These medicines neither treatment the cough nor reduce its length.

Also, a threat of utilizing cough suppressants is that they could stop your youngster’s physique from expelling phlegm, which may then accumulate and switch into bronchitis or pneumonia.

If your youngster is sufficiently old and after a medical skilled guidelines out any severe diseases, you could possibly attempt mild residence cures to assist soothe your kid’s cough, similar to these listed on this article.

Moms and dads, once you take your infant to the physician, keep in mind it is okay to ask questions on medicines prescribed.

Also, it is best to at all times examine together with your physician what the prescribed dosage is so you may double-check on this quantity once you get the medication on the pharmacy or counter.

We hope Berlinda’s son has made a full restoration by now.

Reference: Mothership.sg

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore