In this article we will figure out whether children can use activated carbon.
The drug has been known for a long time and is an integral part of every home medicine cabinet. Adults take enterosorbent to treat various pathologies of the digestive system, as well as to cleanse the body in case of poisoning. Many people consider taking the drug effective and safe. However, questions have arisen about whether activated charcoal can be given to children under 2 years of age.
What are the benefits of activated carbon?
At the initial stage of production, suitable raw materials are placed in a special chamber in which there is no oxygen and processed at high temperatures. To create a large number of pores that provide high absorbency, the activation method is used. This method involves treating coal with certain substances or steam against a background of strong heat. This results in a substance with a porous structure.
When it enters the digestive system, activated carbon prevents the absorption of toxins, drugs, phenol derivatives, alkaloids, metal salts and other substances into the blood. This is precisely the benefit of activated carbon. This effect of the drug allows you to eliminate the symptoms of drug overdose and other types of intoxication. It should be borne in mind that the drug does not absorb iron salts, alkalis and acids well. In addition, activated carbon is ineffective if poisoning occurs with methanol, ethylene glycol and cyanide.
In addition to medications and toxins, activated carbon can absorb gases. At the same time, the tablets do not irritate the mucous membranes. The drug is not absorbed by the intestines and is excreted unchanged from the body. The withdrawal period for the tablets is one day.
To achieve maximum effect, it is necessary to take the drug in the first hours after signs of intoxication are detected.
Composition, release form and action
The original Activated Carbon is produced in the form of black tablets with a porous structure. The composition includes activated carbon of natural origin, which is obtained from carbonaceous materials - charcoal, petroleum coke, coal coke, etc. Potato starch is used as an additional component.
Charcoal tablets have a wide spectrum of action:
- have an enterosorbing effect in case of poisoning;
- relieve inflammation in the stomach caused by fatty foods;
- disinfected in case of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- normalize stool and have an antidiarrheal effect.
Due to this, activated carbon is used for poisoning, infectious diseases, diarrhea, for weight loss, and for cleansing the body. For children it can be used only in cases of diarrhea and food poisoning.
Indications
Activated carbon for children 2 years old is used to solve various problems with the digestive system. The drug is prescribed for diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, as well as other manifestations of dyspeptic disorders. In addition, tablets are taken in the following cases:
- Flatulence.
- Hepatitis of viral origin.
- Food poisoning.
- Bacterial diarrhea.
- Rotavirus type infection.
- Salmonellosis.
- Dysentery.
- Gastritis.
- Functional diarrhea.
- Excessive formation of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
In case of poisoning
Many parents are interested in how and when to give their child activated charcoal at 2 years old. This drug is most often used to eliminate symptoms of poisoning. For example, taking tablets is indicated for heavy metal poisoning or drug overdose. Doctors also prescribe activated carbon to remove allergens from the body. The tablets are taken in combination with other drugs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, urticaria and other allergic pathologies. This is what the instructions for using activated carbon say. It is absolutely safe for children.
Method of administration, special instructions
The use of these tablets will only benefit the sick child. At what age and how can children drink activated carbon? Is it possible and how much activated carbon to give to a one-year-old and infant child, how to do it correctly?
It can be used from the first days of a baby’s life, so parents use it to relieve their child from rumbling in the stomach, pain and dysbacteriosis.
But it must be given carefully so as not to remove from his body a large amount of nutrients necessary for his normal development.
Therefore, it is advisable to consult a specialist before using activated carbon.
It is best for children under 1 year of age to use this medicine only in cases of food poisoning. At the same time, you will need to take probiotics.
After a year, activated carbon can be replaced by more modern drugs: Enterosgel, Polysorb, Smecta and Neosmectin.
It is best for children under 1 year of age to use this medicine only in cases of food poisoning. At the same time, you will need to take probiotics.
For burns
Treatment with activated carbon is effective for extensive burns, as well as against the background of an increased content of nitrogen or bilirubin in the blood. Such clinical symptoms are characteristic of renal failure and some pathological processes in the liver. Enterosorbent will help remove excess bilirubin and toxins. In some cases, the drug is prescribed to patients before undergoing tests such as endoscopy or radiography. In this way, it is possible to reduce the amount of gases formed in the intestines.
But is it possible to prescribe activated carbon to children 2 years old? We have reviewed the indications for use of the product, and we will look into the age restrictions below.
Side effects
Since activated carbon is a carbon-containing organic compound with a high sorption capacity, its use can bind and remove not only toxins, but also nutritional compounds, vitamins or other drugs.
As a result, with prolonged or improper use of the drug, vitamin deficiency (a sharp decrease in the amount of certain vitamins in the body) or deficiency anemia (anemia, accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin per unit volume of blood against the background of insufficient intake of iron or certain vitamins) is possible. An infant is more susceptible to side effects. To avoid the development of negative reactions, the drug should be used in a therapeutic dose and not for long.
Contraindications
Despite the apparent safety and harmlessness of the drug, activated carbon has a number of contraindications. For example, tablets are prohibited from being prescribed for damage to the digestive system by ulcers, including colitis, as well as intestinal and gastric bleeding. You should not take activated charcoal if you are intolerant to its components, which is rare, but still occurs. Tablets are also contraindicated if intestinal atony is detected.
What else does the instructions for using activated carbon for children tell us?
Activated carbon for children: instructions for use, dosage, analogues, price
The cost of the drug varies greatly. It starts from 5 rubles for a standard and ends at 120 rubles.
The price depends on the manufacturer, the form of packaging, the number of standards in one package and the pharmacy.
The price depends on the manufacturer, the form of packaging, the form of packaging, the number of standards in one package and the pharmacy.
Activated carbon has a number of analogues that have an absorbent effect:
- Atoxyl. Application: diarrhea, poisoning, dermatitis. Designed for children after one year. Available in the form of a suspension.
- Smecta. Active substance of the drug: aluminum and magnesium dioxide. Used from the first year of life. Used for diarrhea, increased gas formation, poisoning. The drug has a bright fruity taste.
- Lactofiltrum. The medicine is a preobitic that normalizes the intestinal flora. They treat children from 12 months.
- White coal. Recommended for children aged five years and older and adults; the drug is not suitable for infants. Treats diarrhea, used for poisoning and infections of the gastrointestinal tract, possibly used for allergic reactions.
Before giving activated charcoal to children, parents are eager to understand what kind of medicine this is, will it be safe, for example, for infants under one year old, how long is it recommended to give the medicine? Coal tablets are produced in the form of black tablets, packed in paper without cells. Activated carbon tablets consist of carbon with small pores, which have undergone special treatment at a temperature of 1 thousand degrees.
The drug is a natural sorbent obtained from natural raw materials (stone, coconut or charcoal). Thanks to the porous structure of activated carbon, it absorbs harmful substances that enter the child’s body during poisoning or diarrhea.
The absorbent properties of the medicine allow it to be used for poisoning, diarrhea, and intestinal infections. This drug combines reasonable cost, effectiveness and has almost no side effects.
The main principle when taking: maintaining the correct dosage. The instructions for use say that it is recommended to continue treatment for three days; if activated carbon does not help, then most likely the child has a complication or a serious exacerbation of the disease.
In such cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor for advice.
You can give medicine to children under one year old, but not as a tablet, but as a suspension, dissolving the powder from a crushed tablet in water. In addition, activated carbon manufacturers have developed convenient forms of medication for children (suspensions, pastes, granules).
In case of poisoning, the amount of medicine needed is calculated by multiplying 0.05 by the weight in kilograms. The dose of the drug for a baby weighing ten kilograms should be no more than 0.5 grams.
The amount of the calculated drug is divided into equal portions and drunk within 24 hours.
In particularly difficult cases of poisoning, gastric lavage can be performed with a large dosage of the drug (20 to 30 mg). This procedure will stop the impact of harmful substances on the child’s body.
For diarrhea and vomiting caused by stale food, pathogenic bacteria entering the body, dysbacteriosis, and gastrointestinal infections, it is recommended to give activated charcoal, which normalizes stool. In these cases, drink from one to three grams of the medicine (depending on weight), and then drink a large amount of water so that the body does not become dehydrated.
Medicine dosage
The dosage of the sorbent is directly related to the baby’s weight, but pediatricians say you should not give more than 15 mg of absorbent per day.
It is better to take the drug three times a day, do this 2 hours before meals or two hours after eating.
This rule is connected with the strong absorbing effect of activated carbon, because you can give it immediately after lunch, only the medicine will absorb all the useful minerals obtained from food and remove it with feces.
- Children under 12 months of age are given 1–2 crushed tablets;
- Children aged 1–3 years are recommended to take 2–4 tablets;
- For children aged three to six years, the dosage increases from 4 to 6 tablets;
- For schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years, it is recommended to take the medicine in an amount of 10 to 12 tablets per day.
Before treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor, who will decide at his own discretion how much medication to take to treat the disease.
Dosage
How much activated carbon should I give my child? The tablets are swallowed and washed down with plenty of water. For young children who have not yet learned to swallow tablets, the drug is crushed to a powder. Next, water is added to it, everything is mixed until a suspension is obtained. It is not recommended to eat and take the drug at the same time. Children 2 years of age should take activated charcoal an hour or two before or after meals.
Dosage for children is calculated based on the patient's weight. As a rule, it is recommended to take 50 mg of the drug per kilogram of body weight. So, a child aged two years, whose weight is approximately 10 kg, is prescribed two tablets at a time.
Most often, activated charcoal is given to children aged 2 years for diarrhea.
Against the background of poisoning and after the gastric lavage procedure, the child may be given a larger dose. The maximum allowable amount of the drug is one tablet per kilogram of the child’s weight.
The duration of use of activated carbon for children 2 years of age directly depends on the nature of the disease or the intensity of symptoms. In case of poisoning, the drug is taken for several days until the little patient’s condition improves. When treating rotavirus, intestinal infections, including salmonellosis, tablets are prescribed for 2-3 days. To treat flatulence, enterosorbent is taken for about one week.
Sometimes it may be necessary to prolong the course of treatment, but the total period of treatment should not exceed two weeks.
The dose of activated carbon for a 2-year-old child must be strictly observed.
Recommendations for use
Activated carbon is a good drug, but it should not be used often. The following rules must also be observed:
- Children should not consume activated charcoal on an empty stomach. The medicine is able to absorb not only toxic components, but also beneficial substances in the intestines. The instructions for charcoal tablets indicate that they can be taken 1.5-2 hours before meals or 1.5-2 hours after.
- In case of poisoning, the use of charcoal for diarrhea or vomiting is not sufficient. In such cases, the medicine is combined with other drugs. It is prohibited to use the substance for longer than 3–5 days without medical prescription. If the situation has not changed during this time, the baby becomes worse and requires immediate hospitalization.
- Tablets can be taken to treat allergies and chronic diseases. The duration of therapy for such indications is 2 weeks; in this case, a visit to the doctor is mandatory.
During treatment with the drug, it is recommended to give the child water frequently to avoid constipation.
Coal in capsules
Find out more: white activated carbon.
Overdose
If a child takes more tablets than prescribed by the instructions and the attending physician, the following symptoms of overdose may appear:
1. Nausea and vomiting.
2. Weakness.
3. Intense and frequent diarrhea.
4. Pain in the head.
Due to the fact that activated carbon is not absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract, symptomatic treatment is recommended in case of overdose. An overdose can become chronic if the drug is given to a child for more than two weeks. This condition can lead to exhaustion, intestinal dysbiosis and a decrease in the body’s immune forces. For treatment, maintenance therapy is prescribed, aimed at replenishing the missing substances.
Analogs
Enterosorbents are available in pharmacies in a wide range, so if for some reason activated carbon is not suitable, you can choose a similar drug. For example, “Sorbex” or “Carbopect” are produced in capsules. Enterumin in powder form is enriched with aluminum oxide, which enhances its effectiveness. For children, the drug is prescribed as part of complex therapy for hepatitis, intestinal infections and allergic reactions. In addition, there is a group of modern enterosorbents that can be prescribed in childhood instead of activated carbon:
- "Polysorb MP". Due to the presence of colloidal silicon dioxide in the composition, the drug effectively eliminates toxins and other harmful substances from the body. Produced in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. The drug can be given to children at any age to eliminate symptoms of food poisoning, functional diarrhea, renal failure and other diseases.
- "Smecta". Due to the natural composition and safety of the drug, many parents trust it in the treatment of digestive and other problems in children of any age. The medicine contains aluminosilicate, which is also called smectin. The drug is produced in sachets, which contain vanilla or orange flavored powder for preparing a suspension. “Smecta” is often prescribed in pediatric practice to eliminate food allergies, as well as against the background of taking antibiotics to relieve vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. Generic versions of the drug are “Diosmectin” and “Neosmectin”, which are also produced on the basis of aluminosilicate.
- "Enterosgel". Available in the form of a gel based on polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate. The thick mass binds harmful toxins and removes them from the body without harming the digestive tract. The drug can be prescribed even to newborn children; it has virtually no contraindications or adverse reactions. Enterosgel is often prescribed for hepatitis, infections or intestinal dysbiosis, increased acetone, etc.
- "Polyphepan". The composition of the drug includes hydrolytic lignin obtained from the processing of coniferous trees. It also has no age restrictions for admission.
- "Enterodesis." It is produced in the form of a sachet with povidone-based powder. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of infectious pathologies, burns, renal failure, etc.
How the drug works
The tablets begin to act immediately after they are taken orally. Under their influence, the body is cleansed of all types of pollution.
The drug can remove toxic substances by adsorption or precipitation of harmful substances.
Activated carbon does not remove substances from the body that have already been adsorbed into soft tissues, but removes those that are still in the gastrointestinal tract.
Also, the active substance is capable of attracting negatively charged pollutant ions: the drug contains positively charged and activated oxygen.
The main therapeutic effect is the precipitation of harmful substances. Residual disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramines are removed from the body through catalytic reduction.
But when taken orally, not only harmful, but also beneficial substances, vitamins and vital minerals and carbohydrates are removed from the body.
The drug is excreted along with feces within 4-6 hours.
Reviews
Activated carbon is a time-tested drug; it has been used for more than one generation. Reviews about the effect of the tablets are mostly positive; they are considered harmless and safe to take even by young children. Parents note that activated carbon is an indispensable drug in the treatment of poisoning, bloating, diathesis and diarrhea in a child. In addition, the low price of the tablets makes them accessible to a wide range of consumers. The only thing that many parents complain about is the need to give their child a large number of tablets at a time. Even in crushed form, they can be difficult to take.
How to give to a five year old child
Many parents doubt whether children aged 5 can drink activated carbon. The drug consists of carbon with small pores, thanks to which it absorbs harmful substances that cause poisoning or stomach upsets. Before it goes on display, it goes through several types of processing when exposed to high temperatures. Due to this, it is harmless to the child’s body.
For a five-year-old child, the dosage is selected individually, based on weight. Give 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of weight. The average weight at this age is 20 kilograms. Therefore, a single dose is 2 tablets. In case of severe poisoning, the dosage can be increased to 4 tablets.
