to wonder why people give so much medicine to their kids?

[RagamuffinAndFidget]

I am totally open to being told IABU here, am just looking for opinions really.

DS3 (7mo) has a cough and a cold. I posted a 'go the fuck to sleep' type status on Facebook earlier and had lots of comments from friends telling me to give Calpol/Nurofen. For a cold? Really? Also some comments suggesting Vicks on his feet, which seems more sensible..

Do people really give Calpol every time their child has the sniffles? Is there actually a point to it, or is it just the done thing to dose a child up every time they cry now? Don't get me wrong, I do give my children medicine if they have a very high temperature or are in pain, but I try not to give it often, and I wouldn't give it for a cough/lack of sleep.

Is it just me?

Snopes

Yes, unproven. Not "myth".

Yes, I have read about ibruprofen being more effective for bringing down temperature too. We use both here, they both seem to have the same effect for both boys in bringing down fever and reducing pain. My other half is a HCP and the advice is still paracetamol for fever when he is at work.

DisappointedOne
I think you've misunderstood what I meant - if you take paracetamol, and then honey, lemon and vit c, you are essentially drinking Lemsip. If you are taking this concoction without the paracetamol, then you are not.
If you are taking all of this regularly, with a cold, without Paracetamol, then well done.
Which doesn't negate others need to take it, depending on their symptoms.

Ibuprofen is not great for tummies, but is anti inflammatory. So good for pain/bruises/swelling. Not a good idea to use it when there's no bruising or swelling though.

Yes, unproven. Not "myth"
No reason it can't be both. And bloody silly as well.

My point was that I very rarely take paracetamol for a cold. Only if I have a blinding headache as part of the cold. Which I don't often. So I'm just going for soothing decongestant with the drinks, and reducing my dairy intake keeps mucus levels down too.

No reason it can't be both. And bloody silly as well.
We'll have to agree to disagree. (I'll not lose any sleep over that.)

DisappointedOne
Also, there's a massive difference between sugared and sugar-free calpol, I've found. I only ever buy sugared..
Again, could you provide some evidence of your allegations?
Preferably peer reviewed. "I've found" doesn't really float my evidence inclined boat.....

Also, there's a massive difference between sugared and sugar-free calpol, I've found. I only ever buy sugared....

What is the difference, other than the sugar level?

You know what I don't understand? Why people get so uppity about the Vicks on the feet thing - if people tried and it works for them or even if they just think it works for them then why does it matter to you if you don't believe it?? Surely Vicks is as likely to cause a localised skin reaction on the chest but presumably that isn't rubbish advice or dangerous? Anyways you lose arguments pretty quickly Ime when you adopt a patronising tone - it doesn't make you sound intelligent or well read just like a bit of a know it all who refuses to listen to other people or value their experiences or opinions.

and yes I have had a crap day

Vicks on feet does nothing.
Having a cold is being pain and feeling achey. Pain killers help with that. Why make the child feel more ill just because of a principle you can't even explain.
You say every time they get a cold well that isn't that much really. Giving it for sniffles isn't the same, what does that mean? The start of a cold. I doubt many people medicate when the child isn't ill. It's either they are sick or they aren't.

You kidding? In certain European countries they give the salbutamol inhaler for asthma attacks every time the kid's nose is blocked!

However I do believe calpol is nothing much and really needed cause of aches when under a virus ... Personally I give it especially when they start waking up every 30 mins!

Because its stupid, and illogical, and complete horseshit. And there is far too much stupid illogical horseshit about, so we need to counteract it where possible.

And I don't care if it sounds patronising, and I don't value your experiences or opinions when they are daft and illogical. Like people who tell you that crystals keep them healthy, or homeopathy cured their ailments. Why would we value such silly opinions?

that was to Pobspits, btw.

Again, could you provide some evidence of your allegations?

Beyond one small child who shares half my genes, no. I did say "I've found".......... I'm not GSK!

On the other hand viola, surely even if something has a placebo effect it has some merit. I hate homeopathy with a passion, but am more open minded to other things (food as medicine, acupuncture etc). Science hasn't yet discovered all there is to know. There's quite a lot of grey area.

Disappointed how can something have a placebo on a small baby?

You have to balance it out. This one, no, because the myth has got about and many people seem to be using it on babies feet, when the product is categorically not to be used on the under-2's. So no placebo for them, only the risk.

I never said it would.

(In fact I've said the opposite.)

Although a calmer parent, who thinks they've administered something that will help the baby, may transfer to the baby as a placebo. Hence "miracle" teething necklaces.

And I've not forgiven the bastards who (according to chemist) gave medised regularly to their kids to get the buggers to sleep. So now I can't buy it for my kids when they are actually ill.

Despite the myth that prevails about this paracetamol had very little, if anything to do with medised being withdrawn.

Post-marketing research showed that 2 anti-histamines had a (rare) side effect of respiratory arrest in children at normal doses. Along with a few other unpleasant side-effects. So they made a decision to remove the licence for children under a certain age and everything containing those two drugs had to be withdrawn.

I'm not sure what you think the risks of paracetamol and ibuprofen are.

I have 2 children with a very rare, complex and horribly painful condition. They have been prescribed paracetamol and ibuprofen to help with the pain since birth. There have been occasions where they have had to take painkilling medication round the clock for weeks on end. There have been no adverse effects to their health or development. However, had they not been given their medication, they would be in too much pain to feed, have a bath, or even lied down let alone sleep.

What risks do you think are associated with basic well researched and widely used analgesia?

I, like my grandfather and father before me, shut down when ill. I'll sleep until I feel better (pre DD at least!). So for me sleep is the best medicine. Hence when caring for a baby who was off milk (exclusively expressed by me 3-4 hourly 24/7) alone (husband worked away) with a cold, I did anything I could to ensure we could rest/sleep until we were better. (Treated several bouts of mastitis and blocked ducts in the same way.)

So steam, karvol drops, raised the mattress, coslept and, in desperation, Vicks on the soles of her feet. No adverse effects and it genuinely helped her sleep. And has done since. Putting it on her chest and forgetting about her feet hasn't had the same effect as she's grown up. So I don't really care whether it can be proven scientifically. It hasn't been diluted beyond recognition or whacked against a saddle, so I'm happy to try it.

I actually agree with the Vicks treatment, I am having issues with the non acceptance of paracetamol as a valid treatment for pain and high temperature, in the face of validated research.
I am aware of the "sleeping" effect of the same drug and know this happens. But for a parent to "wonder" why so many others give their children paracetamol when they don't, smacks of smugness, judginess and righteousness that tbh, I just couldn't be arsed arguing with, as the parent of a seriously compromised child, as any search of my username will find.
I suppose I should just be glad homeopathy is not being suggested.