Mistakes of parents make children more susceptible to fever-reducing poisoning

2-year-old children with fever-reducing poisoning because of overdose use

On August 14, the Emergency Department - the Pediatrics Center, the General Hospital of Phu Tho province received a child of about 2 years old with signs of Paracetamol antidote poisoning. According to the patient's family member, a high fever for 4 days, coughing and wheezing, the family gave medicine to reduce paracetamol fever 500 mg at a dose of 4 tablets a day, drinking for 4 days.

When in the hospital, she had a fever of 38 degrees, drowsiness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, coughing wheezing, tachycardia, poor lung ventilation, enlarged liver below the rib side 2 cm. Doctors diagnose severe metabolic acidosis in patients with pneumonia, paracetamol poisoning. Based on the condition of the patient, the doctors expect a high death rate if not transplanted. After being able to adjust the basic life functions, the baby is transferred to the National Pediatric Hospital (Hanoi) for further treatment.

Use fever-reducing medicine for children properly

When children see fever, cough, parents need to take the child to see a specialist to be prescribed and use the right medicine, the right dose. Nursing mothers, when taking the drug, must be consulted by a treating doctor.

Assoc. Nguyen Tien Dung - Former Head of Pediatrics Department, Bach Mai Hospital said that relying on the temperature measured in the anus when having a fever can divide the fever into 4 levels:

- Light fever: when the temperature is measured from 38 to 39 degrees C.

- Medium fever: when the temperature is between 39 and 40 degrees C.

- High fever: when the temperature is measured from 40 to 41 degrees C.

- Paroxysmal fever: when the temperature is 41 degrees C or higher.

The temperature measured in the armpit is about 0.5 degrees Celsius lower than the anal measurement.

Doctor Pham Diep Thuy Duong - Lecturer of Pediatrics Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said that the use of antipyretics should only be used when children have a fever of over 39 degrees and need to consult a good doctor. pharmacist advises drugs. Children under 3 months of age absolutely do not arbitrarily use antipyretics without the doctor's instructions.

One of the mistakes of parents when they see a fever is for children to use high-dose fever-reducing drugs, the same dose as adults. This can easily lead to poisoning of children. Doctors make recommendations, to calculate the child's weight-based dosage. A healthy child can only use 10-15 mg / 1 kg of weight and not more than 60 mg / 1 kg weight in 24 hours. Each time taking the drug 4 to 6 hours apart, in one day do not use fever-reducing medicine more than 6 times.

In addition, when children use antipyretics but do not help, parents should not lose their temper and use many different antipyretics will increase the risk of stomach irritation, hemorrhage, digestion, poisoning . .

In addition to taking medicine, parents should use other antipyretic measures such as placing children in a cool place, removing clothes for children .

Absolutely do not apply cold water when your child has a fever. Cold water will cause vasoconstriction, pores do not open so that the heat cannot escape, there is no effect of fever reduction. Only use warm water at 37-38 degrees to wipe all over the body and cover the groin area, armpit, neck . to open pores, help the body cool, change the cloth 1-2 minutes a time. No need to apply warmth if the body's central temperature drops below 38 degrees C.

In the case of infants who are exclusively breastfed, the mother needs to breastfeed more often, if she does not breastfeed, the child should drink plenty of water. Older children can give easy to digest snacks, drink water like lemonade, orange juice, orezol .

If the child has a fever higher than 39 degrees, accompanied by symptoms such as stiff neck, room for fontanel, convulsions, parents need to take the child to the nearest medical center, hospital to be examined and treated promptly.