The expert spoke about the dangers of self-medication for children

When a child gets sick, parents want to help him "here and now." But haste and advice from the Internet often lead to serious mistakes: incorrect dosage of medication, inappropriate medications, and loss of time for serious illnesses. On September 24, Gulnara Orlova, Rosgosstrakh Life expert, Director of insurance Products and Customer Experience Development, explained to Izvestia why it is important to consult doctors at the first symptoms, rather than taking on the role of doctors.

"The same sign of the disease in children can be for different reasons. Coughing occurs with a viral infection, allergy, or bronchospasm. Home "experiments" blur the picture of the disease, and it is more difficult for the doctor to assess the condition during examination. The right first step is to monitor and record all the manifestations of the clinical picture of the disease in a child," said Orlova.

In addition, she drew attention to the fact that the child's body assimilates drugs differently and requires a special approach to dosages and the form of drugs. For example, the use of antibiotics for viral diseases is completely useless, and the dosage should correspond to the weight of the minor.

Before the doctor arrived, the expert recommended providing the child with fresh air, warm sips of water and a calm regime. Measure the temperature, if necessary, use an antipyretic according to the instructions. Write down the symptoms and their dynamics. Contact the pediatrician face-to-face or through a telemedicine service. In case of alarming symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rash, vomiting, seizures, or fever, call an ambulance immediately.

"A child's first-aid kit should be kept separate from an adult one. Antipyretic in a child-friendly form, a remedy for treating small wounds, a thermometer, and dosing syringes. Check the expiration dates and instructions regularly, and avoid generic powders. Consider access to care in advance: specify the address of the nearest children's clinic, clear rules for calling a doctor, and contacting specialists in round—the-clock telemedicine - especially if trips or active classes are planned. This is not a reinsurance, but a way to quickly get qualified help wherever you are," concluded Orlova.

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On August 15, Alexander Umnov, a lecturer at the Department of Fundamental Medical Disciplines of the Medical Faculty of the State University of Enlightenment, a surgeon, spoke about the dangerous ways of self-medication for high blood pressure. He said that people often start taking aspirin for a long time on the advice of friends, not taking into account that it is contraindicated in gastric ulcer and kidney diseases. The doctor noted that the selection of safe and effective therapy in difficult cases can take two to three months.

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