Is your sick kid overdosed with pills?

New Delhi: Emergency can crop up anytime, but would you expect it to occur after your child taken the cough syrup has been having all these days?

Often given to children without a prescription, some commonly administered medicines can prove deadly.

According to a centre for disease control report, 1,519 toddlers were taken to US emergency departments during 2004-2005 for side effects associated with cough and cold medications, including overdoses.

“Either the mother gives a larger dose to the child or the child because he or she likes it takes a larger dose. These are the cases,” says paediatrician, Nitin Verma.

Another big no-no for parents is antibiotics. However, if given without doctor's consultation, they can lead to side effects including fungal infection, drug resistance and severe allergic reaction.

Doctors say parents are at times tempted to give kids antibiotics for treating diarrhoea.

“Antibiotics do further harm. They kill the good bacteria in the gut lining,” says

So how do parents take care without putting their children’s health at risk?

“Give nutritious food or ORS. If the fever is still not controlled then take the child to the doctor,” says Dr Verma.

And doctors believe that if the child is active and eating normally, except for a slight discomfort, chances are he will be back to normal soon.