Question
When a child refuses to take medication, especially during the treatment of pediatric diseases like hand, foot, and mouth disease, how should parents handle the situation?
Answer
To overcome a child’s resistance due to the taste of medicine, it is recommended to choose pediatric medications with better flavors, such as sweet syrup, fruit-flavored chewable tablets or lozenges. Parents can prepare two small bowls, one containing the child’s favorite juice or drink, and the other containing the medicine. First, let the child drink the beverage, then quickly replace it with the medicine without drawing attention and feed it with a spoon. After that, give another spoonful of drink. When administering medication, it is important to note that the amount should not be excessive, and the feeding process should not form a fixed pattern to avoid the child noticing and refusing to take medication again.