News
Read all the latest news from the Medicines for Children team
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Concerns raised about overuse of ‘PPIs’ in babies
Research published over the summer raised concerns that some babies may be receiving unnecessary treatment for regurgitation (reflux) using a type of medicine called proton pump inhibitors, shortened to PPIs. These include omeprazole, esomeprazole and lansoprazole. This Medicines for Children news item explains what PPIs are and whether they are helpful in babies.
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New advice to address safety concerns when using clonidine patches for dystonia
New guidance has been issued to address safety concerns regarding the use of clonidine patches for children with dystonia, emphasising proper patch application and the importance of following dosing instructions. Parents are advised to ensure patches are applied correctly and have a backup plan for switching to liquid medicine if patches are unavailable due to supply issues.
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How can we improve Medicines for Children?
The Medicines for Children team needs your help! We aim to provide reliable and accessible information on a range of medicines given to children. We want to hear from parents, carers, health care professionals - anyone who uses Medicines for Children - to understand if our information has been helpful, and what we could do to improve.
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Changes to potassium supplements
Medicines for Children has updated its information on how to give potassium using effervescent tablets. This is because supplies of the liquid potassium medicine called 'Kay-Cell-L' are likely to be limited over the next few months. As an alternative, children may be prescribed effervescent tablets and parents/carers will need to know how to give this medicine.
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Two of the Medicines for Children board given awards for their significant contributions to children’s health
We are delighted and proud to announce that two members of the Medicines for Children board – Steve Tomlin and David Tuthill – have been made Honorary Fellows of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
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Childhood vaccinations – we want to hear your views!
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is undertaking a programme of work to look into the declining rates of childhood vaccinations in the UK. They want to hear from a range of health professionals and parents/families to understand their views on the barriers they may have faced in getting children vaccinated.
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Vacancy to join the Medicines for Children programme board
The Medicines for Children team is looking for an RCPCH trainee to join the programme board, to take the newly vacant role of RCPCH trainee representative.
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Our new medicines management app
We are now nearing the end of the development phase our new medicines management app. We are looking for child health professionals, and parents/carers who are interested in being the 'first adopters' of our mobile app.
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Whooping cough – advice for parents and carers
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It causes bouts of coughing which may cause difficulty breathing. It spreads very easily through droplets from coughs and sneezes. In some babies and children it can cause them to be very unwell. It particularly important for babies and children to get vaccinated against it.
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New information about supplies of medicines
There have been reports in the media about problems with the supplies of some medicines, and parents and carers may have had difficulty obtaining the medicines needed for their children. We have published a new information guide explaining why there may be issues with the supply of certain medicines, and how this is managed to make sure patients get their medicines.
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Primary care rep wanted to join the programme board
The Medicines for Children team is looking for a representative from Primary care with an interest in paediatrics and/or patient information to join the programme board.
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Updated safety messaging about fluoroquinolone antibiotics
The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), which is responsible for the safety of medicines in the UK, has recently published an alert about the safety of a particular group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. This is because of concerns about rare but potentially serious side-effects affecting the muscles, tendons, joints and nerves, and psychiatric side-effects.
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