Essential Medicines For Children Quiz

Answer: Intravenously

Propofol is a widely used anesthetic agent in surgeries. It is used as an inductive and maintenance agent. It is short acting. The main side effect of this drug is pain in the vein of injection. Other adverse effects are hypotension and vasodilation.

In children, propofol can be used in sedation - before, during and after surgery. It used to alleviate their anxiety during procedures like an MRI scan and endoscopy. It has a good record of efficiency in children with minimal side effects.

Answer: Paracetamol

Paracetamol is used as an analgesic and an antipyretic, i.e. fever medicine. Some common trade names are Tylenol and Panadol. It is an over-the-counter drug. Continuous usage can cause toxicity, leading to liver damage. N-acetylcystine is the antidote to paracetamol poisoning.

In children, it is usually used for fever and to alleviate pain. The dosage used is usually used is around 15 milligrams per kilogram of weight. So if the child weighs 20 kilograms, then the dosage is 300 milligrams. Pediatricians advise a maximum of 90 milligrams per kilogram, if necessary and no more.

Answer: Diazepam

Other benzodiazepines are alprazolam, midozolam and lorazepam. They are usually given as drugs for anxiety, epilepsy, panic attacks and muscle spasms. They can also be used as sleeping pills. Overdose of these drugs can lead to toxicity, for which the antidote is flumazenil. Tolerance for benzodiazepines can be developed in humans.

In children, Diazepam is a drug used to reduce anxiety before a medical procedure like a colonoscopy. It can be also used to reduce muscle spasms in children. The drug is usually given in a tablet form. 10 milligrams is the maximum advised dosage. It must be given twice a day to children who need it.

Answer: Epinephrine

Epinephrine is listed as a drug for anaphylaxis. It is also called adrenaline and is also produced in our body by the adrenal glands which lie above the kidneys. Epinephrine is a beta receptor agonist. It can be used in cardiac arrest to kickstart the heart. It can also be used as a bronchodilator in asthmatic attacks. Some side effects of this drug and hormone include palpitation, headache, tremor, hypertension and anxiety.

In children, epinephrine is usually a self administered drug for allergic anaphylaxis. There are guidelines to administering this drug to children during an attack as improper delivery can cause fatality.

Answer: Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is called the universal antidote and is used in many types of poisoning. Its absorbing properties make it ideal to ingest. It increases the surface area for absorption and thus makes the poison less active. It can be used in alkali, iron or methanol poisoning.

If any child is poisoned and taken to the emergency department of a hospital, chances are they will flush out the stomach using charcoal.

Answer: Phenytoin

Phenytoin is an anti-convulsant. It is used in the treatment of seizures in addition with benzodiazepines like diazepam. It is a hydantoin derivative. It can also be used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Some side effects are nystagmus, reduction in folic acid levels, teratogenicity and gingivitis, amongst others.

In children, it is widely used against seizures. 100 milligrams is the recommended dose. It must be given twice to day to children with a history of repeated seizures. It is usually given as a tablet but capsules and syrups are also available for kids. Phenytoin usually has almost no side effects.

Answer: Anti-helminthic

It is an imidazole and is most widely used for worm infestations. It can be used in diseases like filariasis, ascariasis and cysticercosis. Side effects include headaches, nausea and fever. It is not to be used in case of allergies and in pregnancy. It causes the parasite to lose its glycogen storage thus leading to their destruction.

So if the child has a worm infection, the essential drug, albendazole is to be given. It is usually given via the oral route as a capsule. Tapeworms are most commonly treated with albendazole in kids. Other, weaker, imidazole drugs can be used too like metronidazole.

Answer: Tuberculosis

Rifampicin is a drug that is used to treat tuberculosis. It is a bactericidal drug, meaning it kills the bacteria rather than arresting its growth. Other anti-tuberculous drugs are ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrizinamide and streptomycin. Rifampicin inhibits DNA-dependent RNA polymerase and thus doesn't allow the bacteria to function properly. This drug is hepatotoxic, meaning it causes damage to the liver.

It is one of the most recommended drugs for anti-tubercular therapy in kids. It is to be given in addition with the other drugs listed above and not alone as it is less effective in children as the single antibiotic against the bacteria. It also can be used in children who are asymptomatic carriers, to eradicate the dormant bacteria from the child's body. It is given in tablet form via the oral route in children.

Answer: Fungal

Fluconazole is part of the triazole group of anti-mycotic drugs. It is most commonly found in powder or ointment form. It can be used against fungal infections like candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis and histoplasmosis. It can be used for both superficial and systemic fungal infections. Adverse reactions are nausea and vomiting. It acts by inhibiting formation of fungal cell wall.

Fluconazole is proving promising as an anti-fungal agent used to treat opportunistic fungal infections in children whose immune system has been compromised. It is usually given as a tablet and a suspension form but can be obtained as an ointment. The fungus Candida is the most common infection in children.

Answer: Organ transplantation

The activity of the immune system is reduced by ciclosporin thus allowing the body to accept the organ that has been transplanted. It is most commonly used to treat graft-versus-host disease. It can also be used to treat atopic dermatitis and Kimura's disease. Side effects include gingival hyperplasia, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity and hyperkalemia.

Usually children go through organ transplants when they have an congenital anomaly (an abnormal growth or development of an organ, in utero). After the transplantation is done, usually this drug is given to reduce the immune response and prevent rejection. When this drug is being given, the child must undergo regular kidney and liver function tests.