Special considerations of medication adherence in childhood and adolescence

Nearly all children and adolescents will at some point require medication therapy for an acute illness, usually a prescribed antibiotic or an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for symptomatic relief. Many children also require medications for chronic illnesses such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. The number of children with chronic health conditions which could benefit from medication therapy has also been rising [1], due to a wide range of factors such as improved survival of premature infants and the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity.