Can Side Fffects Be Prevented?

　　If your child has had a reaction to a drug in the past,an allergist can advise if she is still allergic.and if so,what could be used instead.Genome Canada is funding an $8.4-million research project that may helpprevent side effects in the future.led by Carleton and geneticist Michael Hayden,director of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics.It is looking for genetic markers that would signal if a child was at risk for an adverse reaction.“There are genetic differences in the way a lot of physiological processeshappen in the human body,”says Carleton.“It makes sense that those differences would affect the way we process drugs.Therefore,understanding when that situation exists would help us to construct better guidelines.”

　　What Should You Ask About Your Child's Prescription?

　　First,be sure it is really necessary,says Wooltorton.“A lot of children don't always need prescriptions for a lot of things.Ear infections are an example of when antibiotics are sometimes,but not always,necessary.But there is a tendency in our society to want our kids to be like us.We want to get back to work.We want them to get back to school.We want a quick fix.But‘how wi11 we know the drug is working?'A child with asthma,for example,is usually given a couple of medications.One will be to open the airways.He should feel better after the First dose.If he doesn't,we have a problem.The other medication is used to reduce inflammation.This will decrease the number of acute breathless episodes,but it takes time to have an effect.”Find out how long your physician has been using the drug,says Rieder,and what the experience has been like.Your doctor may know quite a lot about the drug, even if it is being used off-label.

　　What Should Parents Watch Out for?

　　Dr.Michael Kramcr,of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research,says you should contact your physician“ifyour child is very sleepy or is agitated and unable to sleep.You should also be concerned about any rashesthat cause blistering or hivcs.”When you pick up a medication at the drugstore,it often comes with a listof potential side effecfs.Maura MacPhee,who teaches in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia,says,“this is generic information.Before leaving the physician's office,make sure you know what side effects are the ones you need to worry about with your child.”

　　How Safe Is the System?

　　In the last 25 to 30 years,we have seen significant advances in the treatment of childhood leukemia.“WhenI was training 30 years ago,”says Daneman,“childhood leukemia had an 80-percent mortality rate;now the survival rate is better than 80 percent.”Another important development:More drugs are being tested now in children.Daneman says:“if you look at the number of studies that go on,there are many more in the last five to eight years than there were 20 0r 30 years ago.”

　　1.Which of the following is requested by Health Canada before it permits a drug to be sold?

　　A) The aize and the weight of the drug.

　　B) The suggested price of the drug.

　　C) The results of clinical trials of the drug.

　　D) The production budget of the drug.

　　2.Who is seen by Dr.Denis Daneman as a highly vulnerable group?

　　A) Pregnant women.

　　B) Children.

　　C) Elderly people over 70.

　　D) Middle-aged men.

　　3.How many kinds of drugs are now used by children off-label?

　　A) 840.

　　B) 60.

　　C) 1400.

　　D) 560.

　　4.Depo Provera is a drug that can result in adolescents'_____________.

　　A) stomach upset

　　B) low blood pressure

　　C} high cholesterol

　　D) decreased bone density

　　5.Some minor and long-term side effects were not reported due to______________.

　　A) patients' ignorance

　　B) lack of financial incentive

　　C) doctor's irresponsibility

　　D) shortage of health workers

　　6.Dr.Jack Uetrecht is most concerned about drugs' side effect on________________.

　　A) the nervous system

　　B) the digestive system

　　C) the respiratory system

　　D) the skeleton system

　　7.Dr.Jack Uetrecht suggests that an accurate diagnosis is the basis of________________.

　　A) appropriate treatment

　　B) prescribing a new drug

　　C) avoidance of side effects

　　D) feasible medical tests

　　8.The project funded by Genome Canada hopes to prevent adverse reactionsafter identifying relevant______________.

　　9.If a child with asthma suffers acute breathless episodes,he should take medicine to________________.

　　10.When buying a medicine in a drugstore or getting it from a physician,parents need to watchout for its__________________.