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Medication

Special precautions apply for medication in children. We highlight some of the most important things you should look out for.

Also visit our Medicines and You section for comprehensive information on medication, including how they are manufactured and how they should be used.

Got a sick child

When using nonprescription medicines, don’t guess. Read the label.

Make the medicine go down

Forget that spoonful of sugar. Here are some realistic tips on how to get your children to take their medicines.

Asthma meds: many make mistakes

Many children with asthma and their parents may be incorrectly assessing asthma inhaler medication levels, says a study in the October issue of Chest.

All about antibiotics

Here is what you should know about antibiotics.

Vitamin D kidney disease

Vitamin D deficiency is "rampant" among children with chronic kidney disease, new research shows.

Weight-loss drugs for obese kids

Thousands of children and adolescents are using anti-obesity drugs that in the UK are only licensed for use by adults, according to a study.

Drug errors common in kids

Potentially life-threatening medication errors involving children are vastly underreported in hospitals, according to new research from Canadian scientists.

Antidepressant works for kids

The antidepressant Zoloft appears to be safe and effective for children and adolescents suffering from major depressive disorder, a new study finds.

Keep your medications viable

Go to the medicine cabinet of a typical South African home, and you'll probably find it jammed full of various vials and bottles, creams and gels, all left over from years of ailments.

Global rise in antidepressant use

Children throughout the world are increasingly prescribed antidepressants and other drugs designed to calm or stimulate their brains, according to a new study.

Child cancer patients

Playing a specially designed video game can help adolescents and young adult cancer patients adhere to their prescribed treatment, says a report in the journal Pediatrics.

Meds the culprit for poisoning

Medication overdoses send one in every 180 2-year-olds to the emergency department every year and are responsible for more than two-thirds of all childhood poisonings.