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You are looking after a 5-year-old girl post tonsillectomy who is ordered regular Panadol for pain relief. The patient is refusing to take the medication. What would you do in this situation?

Options:
A) Encourage the child with a small reward or incentive to take the Panadol
B) Wait and see if the child's pain subsides without the medication
C) Administer the Panadol forcibly to ensure pain relief
D) Consult with the healthcare team for alternative pain relief options

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

In case a child post-tonsillectomy refuses Panadol, it's appropriate to offer a small reward to encourage medication intake, or as a second option, consult the healthcare team for alternative treatments.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a 5-year-old girl post-tonsillectomy is refusing to take Panadol (paracetamol) for pain relief, it is important to handle the situation with empathy and professionalism. Administering the medication forcibly (option C) is not appropriate and could lead to distress or injury. Option B, waiting to see if the child's pain subsides, risks the child's comfort and recovery. The best immediate course of action would involve option A, encouraging the child with a small reward or incentive, such as a sticker or praise, which may positively reinforce medication adherence. However, if the child still refuses, option D is advisable; consult with the healthcare team for alternative pain relief options. There might be alternative forms of pain relief that are suitable for children, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which can be available in a more palatable form such as honey or supplement syrup, that may encourage the child to take the medication.

User J Flemm
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