Cough, cold and flu season is in full swing?it?s that time of year when medication errors are most likely to occur. Doling out liquid medication is especially tricky. In fact, researchers found that more than 80 percent of parents made at least one dosing error measuring out liquid medication for their kids in a study published in the October 2016 journal Pediatrics. And a previous study found that the younger the child, the more likely a medication mistake is to be made. Though the vast majority (94 percent) of these mistakes didn?t require medical attention, some lead to serious complications and even death.
Most medicine mistakes happen with liquid pain relievers meant to reduce fever (likely because they?re more commonly used with little kids, but also because they can be tricky to measure out), such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, followed by allergy and antibiotic meds. The biggest jump in medication errors in kids has been seen with dietary supplements and homeopathic and herbal treatments. Even the most conscientious parents make mistakes, but there are ways to cut the risk. Here are the most common medicine mistakes and tips to help keep your children safe.
1. Giving the wrong dose

Always follow the dosage recommended by your doctor or pharmacist or as written on the package. Most children’s medication doses are based on the child?s body weight, which is the most accurate way to dose medication. (Over-the-counter medication doses sometimes p...