Question
A 7-year-old child accidentally ingested 15 milliliters of dextromethorphan syrup. What are the potential issues and how should it be handled?
Answer
In such a situation, there’s usually no need to worry too much about your child. First, ensure the child drinks plenty of water to help expel the drug from the body more quickly. If the child experiences any discomfort, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, or other symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor immediately. An overdose of dextromethorphan can lead to serious side effects like confusion and respiratory depression, but these symptoms typically disappear as the drug is excreted from the body after an overdose.