Children pose unique challenges to the medication use system.
For example, almost all pediatric drug doses must be calculated. Clinicians care for the tiniest premature babies, toddlers, school age children, teenagers, and sometimes even adults in the pediatric inpatient setting. Pharmacists must often dilute stock solutions or divide pills. Young children are less able to communicate side effects. Finally, all children, but most particularly young, small, sick children, are less able to physiologically tolerate a medication error.