Читать книгу Fundamentals of Pharmacology for Children's Nurses - Группа авторов - Страница 33

When caring for CYP there are many aspects of medicine administration that need to be given special consideration, including the age of the child, gaining consent, if they have the ability to swallow tablets, the taste of medicines and what to do if a child refuses to take it. Consent will be explored in more depth in Chapter 3.

The changes in body proportions and composition in CYP change rapidly and this affects the efficacy, toxicity and dosage of medicines for children. Proportions of body fat, protein and extracellular water change over months in newborn babies, whereas at the age of 1 to 2, metabolism and elimination of medications from the liver and kidneys is at its greatest (NICE, 2021). Development of the gastrointestinal tract also affects the absorption of oral medications, and difficulties with this may indicate an intravenous route being more appropriate.