Over the counter cough and cold medicines are not meant for children under the age of 2, and have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children under the age of 2. The labels caution parents to consult with their pediatrician before giving these medications but do not discuss the possible fatal results if they ignore this warning.
In fact some of the OTC cough and cold products such as those that contain antihistamines have not been proven to be safe in children under 6. The CDC (centers for Disease Control) reports that there were more than 1500 reports from emergency rooms across the country of health problems including 3 deaths of children linked to cough and cold medications in 2004 and 2005.
The FDA reports receiving 54 reports of deaths of children from 1969 to September 13, 2006 that were linked to decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, and ephedrine. And 69 reports of deaths from antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, brompheniramine, and chlorpheniramine.
The bulk of these ER instances including some of the deaths were in children under the age of two and were due to overdoses by using more than one OTC cough or cold product at the same time which contained the same active ingredients.
The fact is that many of these medications have been on the market for years and have never been tested for effectiveness in children. The doses for children are extrapolated from mathematical formulas that determine adult dosages.
Although the cold medicines for children instruct parents to contact the physician for instructions for use in children under the age of two, some of the products are labeled as "infant drops." There are over 800 OTC cough and cold medicines available for use in children.
The FDA wants the labels changed to stronger wording stating that these medicines are not recommended for use in children under the age of 2, and for antihistamines that they are not recommenced for use in children under the age of 6.
It is essential to read and compare OTC medication labels when taking these medications or administering them to children. Most of these medication contain the same ingredients. If you want to switch from one name brand to another such as from one containing Tylenol to another containing Advil, you must wait the appropriate 4-6 hours before taking another dose. Otherwise overdosing occurs.
Medications that may work well for adults are not always suitable for children. Consult with your pediatrician before giving any medication to children. Never give aspirin to a child under he age of 12.
Fluids, including hot soup, jello, sorbet, Popsicles, and sherbet, along with rest and the use of a humidifier will provide the best treatment of a cold for adults and children alike. A little lemon juice and sugar mixture can help with a cough. Don't give honey to children under age 2.
Often a cough can result from post nasal drip. Raise the head and shoulders on pillows to keep this dripping from triggering a cough in the back of the throat. Dry throat can trigger a cough as well. Drinking plenty of liquids can help to ease the dryness.
Handwashing and avoiding crowds and others who are ill can help to prevent the spread of cold and cough germs.
See Update October 12, 2007
Kathy Quan - Kathy Quan RN BSN has been a home health/hospice nurse for over 30 years. She has authored five books and writes for several online ...
