Drug poisoning in children: What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Linh - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Drug poisoning in children can lead to many complications that directly affect the health and comprehensive development of children. Therefore, when they will be sick or have any health problems, adults need to take their children to see a doctor for advice on the proper use of drugs.

1. Risk of drug poisoning in children

Children, especially those aged 0-5 years, are at high risk of drug poisoning. First, at this age, the immune system is still weak, so it is susceptible to infectious diseases and leads to the need for regular use of drugs. Secondly, the functions of the organs in the child's body are not yet complete, so the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs may fluctuate, and there is a risk of drug poisoning if the drug is not used correctly.

2. Causes of drug poisoning in children

The most common causes of drug poisoning in children are:
2.1. Due to the ignorance and carelessness of adults When seeing their child's pain and fever, many parents are so worried that they buy medicine according to their own experience or according to the advice of others without taking the child to see a doctor. . Many cases of reusing old prescriptions, taking drugs from one person to another, when seeing that the child is not getting better, then arbitrarily increase the dose or redistribute the dose from the adult dose, ... causing the risk of poisoning. poison for children.
2.2. Due to careless adults do not leave medicine in a safe place Keep medicine in places where children often play or can reach. Young children may mistake medicine for cake or candy, leading to eating or drinking by mistake.

2.3. Drug poisoning by suicide Children aged 10-17 often have psychological changes, the pressures of studying, conflicts with parents, teachers and friends can make children feel hurt. and have negative thoughts.

3. Signs of drug poisoning in children

Children with drug poisoning often have the following signs:
Signs on the digestive system: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Symptoms in the respiratory tract: Children suddenly cough and choke, especially young children because of panic, more severe symptoms of rapid breathing, purple lips, difficulty breathing. Manifestations in the nervous system: With different severity, such as coma or generalized convulsions, tremors in the limbs, muscle tremors (in the face, chest, thighs, arms), muscle weakness followed by muscle paralysis. More severe can cause respiratory paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia. Symptoms of increased secretion: Children have increased secretion of mucus in the throat or respiratory tract, abnormal increase in digestive juices, cold hands and feet because of sweating, salivation a lot. If you suspect that a child has drug poisoning, parents and adults need to be very calm, check around to detect objects and drugs that are suspected to be toxic, call the hospital for instructions on how to give first aid. At the same time, quickly take the child to the nearest hospital, remember to bring suspected toxic objects when going.

4. First aid for children with drug poisoning

When knowing that a child has drug poisoning, parents should keep the child in a sitting or standing position, absolutely do not put the child in a lying position so that the contents of the stomach when the child is vomiting a lot does not back up into the esophagus. trachea, entering the lungs will be dangerous for children. If the child is awake, has not vomited, and has a good response, parents should use their fingers (it is best to wrap a soft, clean gauze) to gently stimulate the floor of the child's throat (the uvula). Help children can vomit, remove toxic substances from the body, pay attention to the stimulation of vomiting to be gentle to avoid hurting the child's throat. Absolutely do not induce vomiting in cases where the child has been comatose, the child is having a convulsion, especially in cases where it is suspected that the child has both been poisoned by drugs and mistakenly drank volatile chemicals, cleaning solutions that cause food poisoning. strong corrosives such as acids, bases or gasoline, adults should absolutely not induce vomiting in children. If the child complains of a sore throat, parents can give the child a few sips of clean filtered water or cold boiled water to soothe the pain, pay attention to the child to drink slowly to avoid choking. After the initial first aid, family members need to quickly bring the child to the nearest hospital so that the doctors can continue to treat and detoxify the child. When you go, remember to bring drugs that are suspected to be toxic so that the doctor knows the cause and has a suitable detoxification plan.

5. Prevention of drug poisoning in children

Parents do not arbitrarily buy drugs for children without a doctor's prescription, when taking drugs, they need to follow the prescribed dose, absolutely do not increase or decrease the dose by themselves, pay attention to use the right form of medicine as oral drugs. or injection drugs..., should not mix the drug with food, fruit juice, milk, do not abuse topical skin medications such as creams, ointments... Need to store drugs carefully, in sealed vials , clearly labeled, keep the medicine out of the reach of children. Limit taking medicine in front of children because children are hyperactive, or imitate. Breastfeeding mothers need to consult a doctor when taking medication for themselves because some drugs can be passed through breast milk, causing poisoning to the baby. Do not give children tonics and traditional medicines of unclear origin.

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