I saw an interesting article recently which I thought I would share with you all. In the article, 5 experts were asked whether they thought it was safe and advisable to give painkilling medications to children. The people asked included a paediatrician, pain specialist, pharmacist and anaesthetist.

They mostly agreed that it was but had certain contingencies on that.

Some choice quotes:

Caregivers have to ensure, however, the child is carefully monitored and dosage is very carefully calculated and delivered safely. A child in pain is no less than an adult in pain, and should be treated with the same respect. Mild pain killers such as paracetamol often suffice.

Pain relief is an essential part of the management of a child with any condition. But it’s important to remember 1) pain is usually a red flag to an underlying problem, and that must also be addressed, and 2) the benefits must be weighed against the risks; liver problems with paracetamol, stomach problems with ibuprofen, and numerous problems with the opioid analgesics like codeine or morphine.

It only takes a few minutes to read so follow this link to get the full story.