After a Reaction to a Medicine: How to Care for Your Child

Medicine or drug reactions do not usually lead to lasting problems. But it is very important to follow the health care provider's directions about whether your child should stop taking the medicine that led to the reaction.

Most medicines are helpful when taken as the health care provider directed. But sometimes medications can cause problems. Health care providers call this an "adverse drug reaction." This kind of reaction can happen if a child:

• is sensitive to something in the medicine

• takes the wrong dose

• takes expired medicine

• takes medicine stored at the wrong temperature

• takes more than one medicine at a time

Sometimes an adverse drug reaction means that a child has an allergy to the medicine, but not always.

A reaction can happen the first time a child takes a medicine, or it may happen after a child has taken the medicine many times. Some reactions happen right after taking a medicine. Others show up a few weeks later.

Signs of a reaction can include headaches, stomach pain, diarrhea, rashes, itching, canker sores, swelling, bruised skin, fever, a runny nose, wheezing, or fainting.

Your health care provider might tell you to stop giving your child the medicine that led to the reaction. Or the health care provider might tell you to keep giving your child the medicine, but in a different way. This may include giving a different dose or avoiding certain foods or drugs with the medicine. The health care provider also might give your child a medicine to treat the reaction.

• Follow directions carefully when giving your child any medicine.

• Do not give your child the medicine that led to the reaction unless your health care provider says it's OK.

• If your child has a rash:

  • Apply soothing creams or lotions if directed by your health care provider.

  • To prevent dry skin, keep showers or baths short and use a humidifier.

  • Dress your child in lightweight and loose clothing.

• If your health care provider prescribed any medicine for itching, follow instructions carefully.

• If your health care provider changed your child's diet, follow those instructions. Otherwise, serve your child a normal healthy diet.

• Make any follow-up appointments as directed.

Your child:

• Becomes restless and hard to comfort.

• Stops eating or drinking.

• Does not start to feel better in a few days.

Your child:

• Has a swollen face, lips, or tongue.

• Has hives.

• Drools.

• Has sores inside the mouth.

• Has skin that peels off in large sections.

Call 911 if your child has signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hoarseness, wheezing, trouble breathing, paleness, weakness, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat.