Parents relying far too much on Calpol
It has been highlighted that many parents are far too quick in administering Calpol to their children. With many children being given this paracetamol based medicine more frequently this could lead to other health issues, possibly developing asthma and damage to the kidneys, liver and heart.
Administering Calpol to children is easily done, and for many parents, this is deemed as doing the right thing, when in fact, this may be the wrong thing. As children develop a fever, many parents deem this as an illness and administer Calpol. Educating parents on when to administer Calpol would be more effective, preventing children from being given excessive amounts of paracentral based medication.
It is suggested that Calpol shouldn’t be used to treat a mild fever which is 37.5C to 38C. It should only be administered if children develop other signs.
With many children attending childcare providers, there is always the worry that children are being given Calpol at home or with grandparents and then being given it at the nursery. It is paramount that there is a procedure in place to prevent this from happening. It is also recommended that providers communicate with parents about how long children have been on this medicine at home, this is to ensure children are not on this medication for longer than they should be.
What is your procedure in administering Calpol in your setting?