How to Know When a Child Can Take Aspirin

Aspirin is a great medication for adults to take. However, it is never safe to give a child aspirin. Asprin used in childhood has been linked to a dangerous and potentially fatal disease, known as Reye's syndrome. Only under a doctor's advice and supervision should a child ever take aspirin.

Instructions

1. Wait until the child is 19 years old. This may seem extreme, but it is necessary. Reye's syndrome, while rare, carries the possibility of death.

2. Use alternatives to aspirin. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen work just as well as aspirin, and are completely safe to give to most children. Children should never have to take aspirin since these substitutes are available and work so well.

3. Ignore advice to the contrary. While many of today's adults took aspirin as a child, this is no testament to its safety. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) first started campaigning to restrict aspirin use to adults 20 years ago, and since then the cases of Reye's Syndrome have significantly decreased. Just because some people got lucky, does not mean another child's health should be risked.

4. Ask the child's pediatrician. He can prescribe or recommend alternatives to aspirin. He can also assert that avoidance of aspirin is necessary.

5. Follow doctor's instructions. There are certain childhood conditions, such as Kawasaki's disease or rheumatoid arthritis, that may necessitate the use of aspirin. However, the doctor will prescribe the aspirin, and carefully monitor its use. Since Reye's syndrome is more likely to be contracted when aspirin is used during periods of illness or fever, be sure to ask what medications the child can take during those periods.