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Parents advised against over use of left over medicine
Parents and caregivers have been cautioned against the practice of giving leftover medicines prescribed for one child to another, as it poses serious health risks.
Dr. Agnes Twumasi, a pharmacist at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, explained that although some illnesses in children may present similar symptoms, the underlying causes could be different, making it dangerous to administer drugs without medical advice.
“Let’s say a child may have been prescribed a drug for a particular condition and responded well, but giving the same medicine to another child who shows similar symptoms because it worked for the first could be harmful. You are ending up masking the symptoms,” she warned.
She gave the caution during a panel discussion organised by the hospital in Accra to mark World Patient Safety Day on the theme: “Safe care for every new-born and every child.”
While supporting the use of first aid in emergencies, Dr. Twumasi stressed the need to administer the correct dose of medicines to children to avoid harm.
“Even small measurement errors with liquid medications can result in overdosing, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
Parents and caregivers must not replace medical consultation with home prescribing,” she said.
The pharmacist further advised that medicines should be stored under the right conditions to preserve their efficacy.
According to her, drugs must be kept in their original containers, away from sunlight and moisture, and in locked cabinets out of the reach of children, who often mistake tablets and capsules for sweets.
Addressing ‘home prescribers’ including friends, relatives, or neighbours who casually recommend drugs for children, Dr. Twumasi cautioned: “We shouldn’t be too quick to give advice just because something worked before.”
“Every child’s case is different, and insisting on wrong practices only puts children at risk.”
By Abigail Annoh
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