The unreliability of your average spoon can create serious problems when doling out medicine.

In a study in the Jan. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers asked student patients at the Cornell University health clinic to pour 5 milliliters of cold medicine into different-sized kitchen spoons. The researchers found that participants expressed confidence in their measuring abilities, and yet "underdosed by 8.4 percent when using the medium-sized spoon and overdosed by 11.6 percent when using the larger spoon."

That might sound minimal, but consider someone who's making that same mistake three to five times a day for a seven-day regimen. That can add up. Overdosing can mean nasty and troublesome side effects. Underdosing -- on an antibiotic, for example -- can lead to drug-resistant bacteria, ultimately rendering the medication ineffective.

The moral of the story? Use a proper device -- a measuring cap, a syringe or a dosing spoon -- to make that medicine go down. And parents, before you pour any liquid for your kid, make sure you have the proper dose for your child's age and weight.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Make giving meds easy Got a sick kid? Parents magazine makes getting your child to take medicine an easy task:

Put on a happy face. Kids can pick up on negative tone and body language. So, act as if "medicine time" is an enjoyable experience, but be honest. Don't lie and say the medicine will taste good if it doesn't. If they're able to understand (3 or older), explain that the medicine will make them feel better.

Bypass taste buds or disguise the taste. Kids will often spit out medicine that doesn't taste good. Even if your child is old enough to drink from a cup, use a syringe or dropper. (Be sure the dosage is correct.) Or, for a few extra dollars, have your pharmacist add a flavor (such as banana or watermelon) to prescription drugs.

Get help from your doctor. Kids sometimes have a harder time with liquid medication. Ask the doctor if chewables are an option.

WASHINGTON POST

Diet: Target bad habits The just-released book "The Mayo Clinic Diet" (Good Books, $26) suggests breaking five habits to help you lose weight:

• Don't watch TV while eating, and spend no more time watching TV than you do exercising.

• Eat no sugar except what is naturally found in fruit.

• Eat no snacks except vegetables and fruits.

• Limit the amount of meat and low-fat dairy that you eat.

• Eat no restaurant food unless it fits in the diet program.

WASHINGTON POST