Citing their immature livers, kidneys and smaller body size, paediatricians have urged parents to stop giving children, especially those under five, adult medicines, warning that the practice could lead to severe organ damage.
The child health experts also warned against giving children medications that were not prescribed by a doctor, including the common practice of administering half of an adult dose when a child falls ill.
They stressed that children are not simply “small adults” and are often more sensitive to medication side effects, particularly those that cause drowsiness.
The paediatricians advised parents to consider their children’s age and developmental stage when determining the most appropriate medication and to exercise caution before giving them any adult medicine.
According to the experts, drugs should only be administered to children when prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals, warning that inappropriate medication use can cause serious harm.
