A pediatrician from New Taipei has strongly warned parents about the dangers of using adult medications for children. Wu Chang-teng, a specialist at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, emphasized that children’s bodies process drugs differently from adults. Therefore, adult medications for children can lead to serious health risks. Wu explained that medications for children require careful dosing based on their body weight.
Despite this, some parents mistakenly give their own medicine to their kids. This practice can result in harmful side effects. In particular, certain drugs meant for adults may trigger skin rashes, respiratory problems, intestinal blockages, seizures, or irregular heartbeats in children.
Moreover, Wu highlighted that children’s immune systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable to bacterial infections. As a result, antibiotics must be used cautiously and only under medical supervision. Wu pointed out that antibiotics are essential for infections like middle ear infections, bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and cellulitis. On the other hand, common cold symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and mild fever usually stem from viruses. Therefore, antibiotics are unnecessary for those cases.
In line with these concerns, Wang Te-yuan, Deputy Director-General of Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration, shared recent data on antibiotic-related side effects. Between 2020 and June this year, Taiwan recorded 2,354 adverse reaction reports linked to antibiotics.
This number accounts for 3.6% of all drug-related adverse events. Among these, 154 cases involved children under 12. Nearly 70% of these young patients experienced skin reactions, 13.1% had gastrointestinal issues, and 3.4% reported respiratory symptoms.
To tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, Taiwan’s health and agriculture ministries launched a new management plan this year. The health ministry will strengthen its monitoring of antibiotic production and use. Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry will promote alternatives to antibiotics in livestock farming to reduce their overall usage.
In summary, Wu’s message remains clear: never use adult medications for children without proper guidance. Parents should always consult healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective treatment for their children. This approach helps protect children’s health and supports responsible medication use.
