Medication for children and infants – What medication should I have at home?

Introduction

There are a few things to consider when administering a medicine to a child. Children are not small adults. Because their body and especially their organs are not yet fully developed, children’s metabolism often reacts to certain drugs quite differently than that of adults.

Many drugs from the daily use of an adult are also not approved for use in children. Therefore, the use of drugs should always be considered thoroughly. It is not enough to simply adjust the dose of the drug to the child’s weight.

On the contrary, it is even dangerous and can have serious consequences. In the following text you will find detailed information about the most common health problems of children and infants and different treatment options with the above mentioned and other remedies. If in doubt, the pediatrician should always be consulted before administering medication.

Medicines for children against diarrhea

If children suffer from severe, recurrent diarrhea, there is a great risk of excessive loss of fluids and salts. This can quickly lead to an imbalance in the body’s own fluid balance, which can become life-threatening in a short period of time, especially for small children or babies. If it is not possible to sufficiently balance the child’s need for fluids with sufficient drinking quantities or an adequate infusion therapy and if the diarrhea does not stop, then various medicinal measures can be considered.

After longer existing diarrhea and an irritation of the intestine walls, as well as the mucous membrane, frequently Probiotika are used such as Lactobazillus, which clean the intestine wall and exercise a regenerating effect. In order to replace the large fluid losses in diarrhoea, special electrolyte-glucose mixtures prepared in the pharmacy can be used for small children. Besides there are herbal medicines, like for example Uzara® – juice, which do not block the diarrhea immediately, but only extend the distances between the intestine emptying and provide thereby Linderung.

Perenterol® Junior is used particularly frequently. This is a special medicinal yeast which binds the pathogens in the intestine and supports the regeneration of the damaged intestinal flora. In contrast to many other substances against diarrhea, which are used in the medication for adults, the intestinal motility is not affected.

For older children over 12 years of age, Imodium® (active ingredient loperamide) can also be prescribed. It also effectively relieves diarrhea and thus reduces fluid loss, but is also associated with an inhibitory effect on the mobility of the intestinal loops and the general digestive process. It should also be noted that this drug has not been approved for the acute treatment of diarrhea in young children.