Parents warned of the dangers of giving adult drugs to children
Print Edition
PARENTS are being urged to seek medical advice before administering medicines to their children in a bid to keep youngsters safe from harm.
“The misuse and overdosing of drugs are major mistakes made by Chinese parents,” said Xu Shuxiang, executive vice secretary-general of the China News of Drug Information Association.
“Parents medicate children based on their own, unprofessional experience, which can lead to problems,” he said.
According to a poll cited by the China News Service, 32 percent of Chinese children are given medicine “improperly,” while 13 percent have had an adverse reaction to such drugs.
The study found that in the village of Shiqiaocun, central China’s Henan Province, parents have little understanding of child-specific medicines. Many are “put off” by the taste of children’s drugs and so administer adult versions in smaller doses.
But the problem is not limited to rural villages.
Qin Jie, a 27-year-old mom from Beijing, said that when she was sick as a child, her mother would simply give her half the adult dosage.
“She would split the pill and give me half,” Qin said, adding that she is “much more careful” with her own child.
Xu urged all parents to consult their local pediatrician before administering drugs to their children. They should also keep a close eye on them after giving drugs and seek advice if they suspect there might be a problem, he said.
The lack of child-specific medicines remains a concern for industry experts.
According to the China Food and Drug Administration, of the 3,500 drug product categories available in the country, fewer than 60 are specifically intended for children, while 90 percent do not come with information on child dosages.
Wang Xiaoling, pharmaceutical office director at Beijing Children’s Hospital, said that from 2011 to 2013, there were 1,098 types of drug products used in pediatric clinics in 15 hospitals, but just 45 were exclusively for children.
Despite the shortage of appropriate medicines, drug companies are wary of moving into the sector due to increased costs, approval procedures, and other risks associated with producing medicine for children.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission last year issued a guideline on the subject.
It claimed that the government will streamline the approval procedure, encourage research and clinical tests, and issue favorable pricing policies to support the development of child-specific medicines.
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