Tips On Giving Children Liquid And Solid Medication
Children don't know the importance of medication. They don't like taking medication. Children that take their medication easily are doing so because they either like the taste or other attributes of the prescribed drug. Majority don't like it. To get a child to take oral medication require some skills on behalf of the person giving it.
Each dosage form requires different techniques and at what age. It also depends on the means of administration. Liquid dosage form can be administered by drug spoon, syringe, drug measuring cup or dropper. The following guide should be of help.
Infants are usually prescribed liquid medication. Dispersible medication that dissolve in a solvent such as water can also be referred to as liquid medication here. There are different ways to administer it for children. The choice of the tool to use usually consider the dose and the age of the child. Droppers are the best for very young children and when the liquid is a solution and not suspension. It makes it easy to give an accurate dose and makes administration easier.
Read Also: Tips For Adults Who Find It Hard To Swallow Solid Medication
To use a dropper, open the lid of the medication and dip the tip of the dropper into the liquid medication. Press onto the bulb. This will release air from the tube. Release the bulb gradually as liquid medication draw inside to the desired calibrated level. Take it out when the measurement is correct.
Place the child in a breast feeding position. Dip the tip of the dropper into the mouth. Direct the tip to the side of the mouth inside the cheek or between gums. Press onto the bulb gradually. This will release the liquid medication gradually. Allow the child to swallow it gradually.
Pushing all the medication inside the mouth all at once is bad as it can choke the child. Also avoid placing the tip at the back of the tongue as it can also lead to choking.
Remove the dropper from the child's mouth. Give water to wash down the medication. Wash the dropper with soap and clean water using the technique of withdrawing the medication for another use.
Using syringe follows same technique as dropper. The only difference is the method of withdrawing the medication from its source and administration. In this case, draw the plunger to the required calibrated level. This will draw in air. Put the bung of the syringe on the bottle mouth. Push in the plunger. This will push in the air into the bottle. The air in the bottle will increase the pressure in the bottle and reduce the pressure in the syringe. This will make it easy to draw up the liquid medication into the syringe.
Invert the bottle and draw the plunger until it gets to the required calibrated level. The liquid will follow the plunger. Sit the bottle down and close the lid.
Insert the mouth of the syringe into the mouth of the child either at the cheek or in-between the gums. Push the plunger gradually until all the medication enters the mouth. Take out the syringe and dissemble the set-up and wash it with soap and clean water for another use.
Using measuring cup or spoon is reserve for older children. Although, some drugs still make use of it when giving to children. This is more difficult to administer. It is not possible to direct the medication to the cheek or between the gums. This should be encouraged when giving drugs to children who are willing to take it.
Most preschool children cannot take solid medication such as tablet, capsule or caplets. For caregivers who cannot afford the liquid formulation or when it is not available, solid dosage form provides an alternative. In most cases, it is difficult to get the drug at the right dose. It requires cutting it into half or one quarter. When a child can swallow it at this stage, that is fine.
Some children find it difficult to swallow such cut pills because of the sharp edge they have. In such a case, crushing or opening (if capsule) them and adding to a solvent or food if possible can solve that problem. If this is not feasible, train them to swallow drugs at an early age.
Start by introducing them to food they can swallow but are small. In Nigeria, a very good place to start is to introduce them to eba or fufu. Gradually encourage them to increase the size of the eba or fufu.
When it is time to take the drug, let them choose the dosage form they are comfortable with if available. A sip of water to moisten the throat. This prevents the drug from getting stock on the way down. Let them place the drug on the tongue and not at the back of the tongue just to avoid the bitter taste. This not a right thing to do.
The tips that work for adult works well for children too. Let them put the drug in the tongue, take water and tilt the head forward towards the heart. At this stage, they should drink the water containing the drug. If the drugs are more, they should take one at a time. If they are to take a whole tablet, they can cut it and take it bit-by-bit the size they are comfortable with
However, if the child still find it difficult to swallow them, let them add the drug to food. Using eba have always work well for many. That still depends on the drug we are talking about because not all drugs can be swallowed with eba. In some cases, the drug can be sprinkle on food such as tea or milk.
There are some simple tips that can help them take the drugs. It works for children who also take tablet.
Read Also: Age Children Can Start Taking Solid Medication
Be calm with them. Let them sit upright for older children. Don't lie to them about the taste of the drug. Also make it a fun time. Keep all distraction away like television or phone. Your attitude or facial expression can sell out the idea that the drug may taste awful. You can add bribe to it by promising something nice. Something that always work is masking the taste by either taking something cold before the drug or taking something sweet after the drug. Some medication can be added to food or something to mask their taste. When adding to food, they must finish the food in one sitting to make sure they took all the medication. Always ask from your pharmacist if this is possible with the drug in question. When they successfully take a drug, give them praises.
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Each dosage form requires different techniques and at what age. It also depends on the means of administration. Liquid dosage form can be administered by drug spoon, syringe, drug measuring cup or dropper. The following guide should be of help.
Liquid Medication
 |
| Liquid medication |
Read Also: Tips For Adults Who Find It Hard To Swallow Solid Medication
To use a dropper, open the lid of the medication and dip the tip of the dropper into the liquid medication. Press onto the bulb. This will release air from the tube. Release the bulb gradually as liquid medication draw inside to the desired calibrated level. Take it out when the measurement is correct.
Place the child in a breast feeding position. Dip the tip of the dropper into the mouth. Direct the tip to the side of the mouth inside the cheek or between gums. Press onto the bulb gradually. This will release the liquid medication gradually. Allow the child to swallow it gradually.
Pushing all the medication inside the mouth all at once is bad as it can choke the child. Also avoid placing the tip at the back of the tongue as it can also lead to choking.
Remove the dropper from the child's mouth. Give water to wash down the medication. Wash the dropper with soap and clean water using the technique of withdrawing the medication for another use.
Using syringe follows same technique as dropper. The only difference is the method of withdrawing the medication from its source and administration. In this case, draw the plunger to the required calibrated level. This will draw in air. Put the bung of the syringe on the bottle mouth. Push in the plunger. This will push in the air into the bottle. The air in the bottle will increase the pressure in the bottle and reduce the pressure in the syringe. This will make it easy to draw up the liquid medication into the syringe.
Invert the bottle and draw the plunger until it gets to the required calibrated level. The liquid will follow the plunger. Sit the bottle down and close the lid.
Insert the mouth of the syringe into the mouth of the child either at the cheek or in-between the gums. Push the plunger gradually until all the medication enters the mouth. Take out the syringe and dissemble the set-up and wash it with soap and clean water for another use.
Using measuring cup or spoon is reserve for older children. Although, some drugs still make use of it when giving to children. This is more difficult to administer. It is not possible to direct the medication to the cheek or between the gums. This should be encouraged when giving drugs to children who are willing to take it.
Solid Medication
 |
| Solid medication |
Some children find it difficult to swallow such cut pills because of the sharp edge they have. In such a case, crushing or opening (if capsule) them and adding to a solvent or food if possible can solve that problem. If this is not feasible, train them to swallow drugs at an early age.
Start by introducing them to food they can swallow but are small. In Nigeria, a very good place to start is to introduce them to eba or fufu. Gradually encourage them to increase the size of the eba or fufu.
When it is time to take the drug, let them choose the dosage form they are comfortable with if available. A sip of water to moisten the throat. This prevents the drug from getting stock on the way down. Let them place the drug on the tongue and not at the back of the tongue just to avoid the bitter taste. This not a right thing to do.
The tips that work for adult works well for children too. Let them put the drug in the tongue, take water and tilt the head forward towards the heart. At this stage, they should drink the water containing the drug. If the drugs are more, they should take one at a time. If they are to take a whole tablet, they can cut it and take it bit-by-bit the size they are comfortable with
However, if the child still find it difficult to swallow them, let them add the drug to food. Using eba have always work well for many. That still depends on the drug we are talking about because not all drugs can be swallowed with eba. In some cases, the drug can be sprinkle on food such as tea or milk.
Tips To Encouraged Children To Take Medication
 |
| Children medication |
Read Also: Age Children Can Start Taking Solid Medication
Be calm with them. Let them sit upright for older children. Don't lie to them about the taste of the drug. Also make it a fun time. Keep all distraction away like television or phone. Your attitude or facial expression can sell out the idea that the drug may taste awful. You can add bribe to it by promising something nice. Something that always work is masking the taste by either taking something cold before the drug or taking something sweet after the drug. Some medication can be added to food or something to mask their taste. When adding to food, they must finish the food in one sitting to make sure they took all the medication. Always ask from your pharmacist if this is possible with the drug in question. When they successfully take a drug, give them praises.
Share On Social Media With Family And Friends To Show You Care!
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