Comprehensive: CCTV website , State Food and Drug Administration website
Recently, a screenshot "About the XBB.1.5 strain reaching the top in the United States, everyone should stock up on montmorillonite powder, Zhengchangsheng, norfloxacin " was circulated on the Internet, and many drugs were out of stock. (Previous report: On the first day of the New Year, “Montmorillonite Powder” topped the list of hot searches! Urgent reminder from doctors!)
Immediately afterwards, “Minors are prohibited from taking norfloxacin” hit the top of the hot search list again.
What kind of medicine is norfloxacin? Why is it prohibited for minors to take it? What do you need to prepare for having children at home?
Previously, the official website of the State Food and Drug Administration recommended that every family should prepare a family medicine box specifically for their children, keeping it as streamlined as possible and only preparing some commonly used medicines that are relatively safe. Many people around us use antibiotics when they have a cold or fever, but fever does not mean infection, let alone bacterial infection.
In fact, fever is just a symptom, not the cause of the disease. Fever is part of the body's immune mechanism, and it is important to find the cause of fever. There are many causes of fever. In addition to infection, there are also connective tissue diseases, tumors, drug fever . Even if it is infectious, it also includes different pathogens such as viruses , bacteria , and fungi. Common colds are mostly caused by viruses, and drug treatment focuses on symptomatic treatment and relieving cold symptoms. Antibacterial drugs only kill or inhibit bacteria. When there is no bacterial infection, antibacterial drugs are ineffective. Taking antibacterial drugs at the beginning of a cold is not only useless for treatment, but can also cause adverse drug reactions and the development of bacterial resistance. Only when you have symptoms of secondary bacterial infection such as frequent coughing, yellow and thick phlegm, fever, sore throat, etc. after a cold, you should go to the hospital for examination. The doctor will choose corresponding antibacterial drugs for treatment according to the condition.
Moreover, there are many types of antibacterial drugs, each of which has its own characteristics and should be appropriately selected according to different groups of people, diseases, and pathogens. After a child becomes ill, parents cannot use drugs without authorization. The doctor should decide whether to use antibacterial drugs. When using antibiotics, try to use narrow-spectrum antibiotics instead of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and try not to use them in combination.
Norfloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, can hinder the action of DNA gyrase of pathogenic bacteria in the human digestive tract after being taken, hindering the replication of bacterial DNA, thereby inhibiting the bacteria. It is often used for diarrhea caused by bacteria, such as enteritis and dysentery-like diseases. It is ineffective against diarrhea caused by viruses. Because acute diarrhea is often caused by viral infection, when symptoms of diarrhea occur, you must find out the cause and then take the corresponding medicine. Do not take this medicine indiscriminately. It should be noted that norfloxacin can hinder the growth and development of bones, so minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from taking norfloxacin.
The State Food and Drug Administration teaches you how to prepare children’s medicine boxes
In October 2019, the State Food and Drug Administration released information on its official website to guide the public on how to prepare children’s medicine boxes at home.
The State Food and Drug Administration recommends that every family should prepare a family medicine cabinet specifically for their children, keeping it as streamlined as possible and only preparing some commonly used and relatively safe drugs. Specifically include:
antipyretic analgesics
acetaminophen : taken in conventional doses for a short period of time, there are few adverse reactions; if used in large doses for a long time, hepatotoxicity may occur. The minimum applicable age is 3 months. Children under 1 year old should follow medical advice when taking the medication. Repeat application every 4 to 6 hours, no more than 4 times a day.
Ibuprofen : Few adverse reactions, effective in treating high fever in children and long lasting. The minimum applicable age is 6 months. Doctor's advice should be followed when taking medication under 6 months of age. Repeat use every 6 hours, no more than 4 times a day.
Antidiarrheal medicine and gastrointestinal conditioning medicine
Montmorillonite powder: "physical" antidiarrheal, which can form a protective film in the intestines and can effectively stop diarrhea, but excessive use can cause constipation.
Oral rehydration salts : It can be used for electrolyte imbalance and dehydration symptoms caused by diarrhea.
Probiotics : It can regulate intestinal flora disorders in both directions. It can not only treat diarrhea, but also relieve constipation.Commonly used ones include Bifidobacterium triple live bacteria, Bacillus subtilis double live bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis live bacteria, Saccharomyces boulardii powder, etc. The appropriate type can be selected according to the child's situation.
Laxative
Kaiselu: The main ingredient is glycerol , which is a good helper for children with constipation.
Lactulose : Mild laxative with few side effects, but long-term or large-scale use may cause diarrhea. Constipation in children is generally temporary and can be adjusted through diet. Foods such as prune juice, apple juice, and pear juice contain ingredients that relieve constipation, which can effectively improve constipation.
External use
Calamine Lotion: Apply to itchy areas to effectively relieve skin itching symptoms.
Band-Aids and iodophors: When children have skin trauma, they can be disinfected with iodophors; waterproof, sterilizing and other types of band-aids can be kept on hand, and appropriate band-aids can be selected according to the wound condition.
Others
In addition, medical gauze, medical tape, medical cotton swabs , measuring cups and droppers, thermometers, etc. should also be kept in the medicine cabinet.
The State Food and Drug Administration also reminded that adult drugs cannot be given to children. Children are not smaller versions of adults because their liver, kidneys and other important organ functions are still developing and have not fully matured. Therefore, when taking medications, adult medications cannot be taken in "half the amount for children."
Source: State Food and Drug Administration website
After adults take medication, many drug ingredients cannot easily pass through the blood-brain barrier and harm the brain. However, children's blood-brain barrier function has not yet fully developed. Some drug ingredients will pass through the blood-brain barrier and cause damage to the child's brain.
Therefore, children must be allowed to take children's medicines, and do not reduce the dosage of adult medicines to children.
Children's tolerance and reaction to drugs are different from those of adults. Drugs that can be used by adults may be prohibited or used with caution in children.
Quinolone antibacterial drugs, norfloxacin and other floxacin drugs may inhibit cartilage development and are prohibited for minors under 18 years of age.
Aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, etc., are nephrotoxic and ototoxic and should not be used by children.
Corticosteroid drugs, long-term use may cause growth retardation in children and affect their height, so they should not be used by children.
Source: Zhejiang Voice
