It used to be so simple – get an over the counter medication and fix a symptoms, in ourselves and our kids. Nowadays, however, there is concern in over the counter medication use in children under 6 years of age and many of the products we were given as children and may have used in our teens and tweens as infants and toddlers with colds have now been pulled from the shelves.
Knowing what over the counter medications to have on hand and when to use them can come in very handy for those unexpected illnesses, when on vacation and for those middle of the night ails!! If you have any doubt at all about whether a medication is appropriate for your child, consult your pediatrician.
Here are some rules of thumb to help you decide what to stock in your medicine chest at home:
1. Other than ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol), most over the counter medications do not work well in children under the age of 2 and are thought to be unsafe in this age group. With this in mind:
a. Most over the counter (OTC) cold medications for kids under 2 years of age have been pulled from the shelves for this reason.
b. If you notice a product on a store shelf, do not purchase it.
c. If you have an OTC product at home that was once on a shelf, toss it.
2. Medications are dosed by age until approximately 12 years of age and 95 pounds at which point “adult” dosing kicks in.
a. Medication dosing for kids under 12 years of age are typically given in a range on over the counter packaging but this range is not very accurate on the extremes.
b. For an accurate dose for your child, consult your pediatrician for a weight-related dose.
3. Never give over any counter medication if your child appears very ill to you. Consult your doctor first or call 911 if your child appears
a. distressed in any way
b. has labored breathing
c. has altered mental status (inability to recognize you or act normally)
4. Fever is an elevation in body temperature and the cut off for what is considered fever varies by age. The younger the child, the lower the cut off for what we consider fever.
a. 100.4 rectally is considered a fever in infants. Infants under 1 month of age should be seen very quickly for a fever but older infants may not need to be seen right away. Consult your pediatrician right away in this age group for advice.
b. Fever in older infants, toddlers and school age children is generally considered 101.5 or higher taken any way – orally, by ear, rectally, under the arm. For older infants, consult your doctor’s on call group if a fever develops and it is after hours
c. For older children with fever, fever may be the only measurable sign of illness and it can last for a few days. You can usually wait for 1-2 days before seeing your doctor unless your child has any specific complaints (such as ear pain or abdominal pain).
5. I would not recommend using anti-diarrheal medication without consulting your doctor first.
In addition to over the counter medications, there are a number of other items that are useful to stock and have on hand:
1. First Aid Kit: band-aids of all sizes, wound cleaner, antibacterial ointment (Bacitracin or Neomycin), ace wraps, ice packs, tweezers for splinter removaA
2. bug spray and antiitch lotions such as aveeno, calamine or the first aid antiitch sprays
3. Benadryl for hives and allergic reactions (consult your pediatrician for a dose)
4. Fever reducer: acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Acetaminophen also comes in a rectal suppository – Feverall is the brand
5. Humidifier – cool works for most coughs and congestion
6. Pain reducer: Tylenol and Motrin/Advil as well as over the counter ear pain drops for middle of the night ear pain
7. For girls: Uristat is worth having for pain with urination to buy time while waiting to see your doctor. Hydrocortisome cream and antifungal creams are useful (such as Lotrimin)
8. Potty issues: stool softeners, Dulcolax suppositories, swipes
9. Rashes: mild soaps, hydrocortisone cream, lotrimin, lotions – Aveeno, Eucerin, Lubriderm are my favorites
10. Saline nose spray – great for kids of all ages, and bulb syringe for infants
You may end up needing other medications at home depending on your child’s symptoms. Your pediatrician’s office will guide you to these as your child’s symptoms evolve.
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