MEDICINE ERRORS ‘COULD HARM CHILDREN’
Baku, August 30 (AZERTAC). Many parents are incapable of giving their children the correct dose of liquid medicines, claim Australian researchers.
Using household spoons to measure them out could mean a potentially dangerous overdose, they say.
Children under five are at the highest risk of accidental overdose.
The study, presented in Lisbon, tested 97 adults and found 61% measured the wrong dose - 17% measured an overdose and 44% did not give enough.
Dr Rebekah Moles, from the University of Sydney, recruited 97 people visiting day-care centres catering for under-fives from the city.
Of these, 53 were mothers, seven were fathers and the rest were day care staff. The researchers quizzed the adults on a number of scenarios, asking them what they would do next.
For example they told the parent that their youngest child felt hot and irritable, but was still drinking, eating and playing.
Common over-the-counter medicines were made available, together with a selection of spoons and other dosing devices, and the volunteers chose at what point they would use a medicine, and measured out the dose themselves.
In total, 17% measured out an overdose of the drug, and 44% did not give enough.
