Dr Phil Kieran: Is it safe to buy paracetamol for children when I'm overseas?
Is While I'm On Paracetamol Holidays? Away Buy Safe To It
Kids getting sick when you are away is an unavoidable part of life. Thankfully, most childhood illnesses are mild and resolved without medical intervention. However, you may need to pick up over-the-counter essentials while away. This is where things can become a bit worrying.
The most common children’s OTC medications in Ireland are Calpol and Nurofen. These are available overseas but may be sold under different names and possibly in different strengths.
The medication in Calpol is paracetamol, so you would ask for this if you were in Europe. In North America, however, it's called acetaminophen.
Just as importantly, you will need to pay close attention to the concentration. Regular Calpol in Ireland has 120mg of paracetamol in 5ml, and the version for over-sixes has 250mg per 5ml. In a number of countries, particularly in some parts of Spain, you will find liquid paracetamol, which is 100mg in 1ml. This is twice as strong as the over-sixes Calpol.
My main advice is to read the label and instructions carefully.
Children’s OTC medication dosing is based on weight, and usually, this is represented on the box by age categories. It is essential to check these details if you are using a product you are not familiar with, as the guideline dosing will likely be different.
Nurofen contains ibuprofen, which is known by the same name in Europe and North America. It usually comes in a 100mg per 5ml dose, but this can’t be guaranteed in other countries, so again, read the details on the box carefully.
I usually recommend using paracetamol as a first line of response before ibuprofen, as ibuprofen can be a bit harsh on the kidneys. If your child is dehydrated, vomiting, has diarrhoea or is in a very hot country, use ibuprofen with caution and make sure they are drinking plenty of water.
Armed with this information, you should be able to navigate formulations in other countries without much worry.
On a slightly different note, there is an increase in measles cases internationally (due to poor vaccine uptake). This is putting more and more people at risk, and the HSE is recommending considering giving the MMR vaccine early to children travelling overseas. This vaccine would normally be given at 13 months, but if you are travelling with a younger child, consult your GP a few months before you travel to see if they recommend getting an early shot of MMR (your child will still receive the normal dose if they get this early dose).
- If you have a question for Dr Phil Kieran, please send it to parenting@examiner.ie