Should I give Benadryl (states 6+) to a 5yr old?

[Billster]

Is it safe? Don't have any piriton and she has just come out in chickenpox blisters tonight.

Benadryl was the only thing I could from the supermarket but now not sure whether I should give it to her if she needs something in the night.

Thanks

bump

I would, as long as the 5 yr old isn't particularly skinny.

Anyone else?

ah therin lies the problem - she is the smallest in her class! OK maybe now the shops are soon to open I should go and get Piriton instead.

Do you know if this is ok for younger children than 6yrs.

Thanks so much.

sara

Not sure about piriton but if she has chickenpox see is you can get some "Aveeno" to go in the bath- really helps with the itching. Failing that buy a large bag of porridge oats. Put some in a sock and run under the tap when you run the bath. The goey stuff that comes out is very soothing.

Do a google and see if it is licensed anywhere in the world for younger children and what the dose is.

Tablets or syrup - it says "consult a doctor" for under 6 year olds. It also says not to break or crush tablets - so I guess that the consult a doctor is because you couldn't give a smaller dose without breaking a tablet. If you have a syrup you could give a smaller dose, as you probably would if she was a small 6 year old.

Is benadryl an antihistamine? Can't see how that will work for chicken pox, chicken pox is caused by a virus not an allergy - you might even make it worse?? Unless there is something i am missing.

Please please don't look at forgein doses etc, it might be formulated differently in other countries, this is sometimes the case with veterinary medicine.

If it says consult a doctor, then consult a doctor - i personally don't think it will do any good. You need something to soothe the itching, antihistamines don't do this, they block the immune response

It's an antihistamine, which means it will reduce itching, and help her sleep.

I'd give a reduced dose, half of what you can give a 6-year-old, but I'm lazy like that.