 Caution Urged When Giving Kids Cold and Flu Meds
Over-the-counter cold and flu medication can have serious side effects in children under the age of 6
Source: Marketwatch Date:1/5/2009
It's cold and flu season, which means misery for kids and the parents trying to help them.
But doctors are asking parents to resist the urge to give children under the age of 6 over-the-counter cough and cold medication.
Such
drugs can have serious side effects on the smallest of children, the
Food and Drug Administration warns. Side effects include hives,
drowsiness, difficulty breathing and even death.
"Some 7,000
children end up in the emergency room each year because of problems
associated with these medicines," says Esther Yoon, M.D., general
pediatrician in the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases
at the University of Michigan Health System.
Roughly two-thirds
of incidents occurred after children drank medication while
unsupervised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Most problems have occurred as a result of dosing errors.
To
ease pain from a harsh cough or throat pain, doctors recommend using
over-the-counter acetaminophen and ibuprofen in age-appropriate doses,
Yoon says.
To relieve symptoms, doctors recommend the following:
-- For blocked noses, parents should use nasal saline drops and a
bulb suction to loosen up and remove mucus or have the child
blow their nose.
-- For coughs, the child should be given a teaspoon of honey or
corn syrup if over the age of 1. Have the child drink warm
fluids like water, apple juice and chicken broth to help with
coughing.
-- Take the child into the bathroom and run a hot shower. The steam
relaxes the airways and helps with coughing spasms.
-- Increase the humidity in the home to help reduce nasal
congestion and coughing.
Parents
can help prevent colds by washing hands frequently, using instant hand
sanitizers, teaching children to cover their mouth and nose when they
cough or sneeze, and making sure children are well hydrated, have good
nutrition and are getting enough sleep.
"Other good tips include
disinfecting the home, kitchen countertops, door knobs and toys," Yoon
says. "Children should get plenty of vitamin C and E to help fight
germs and a multivitamin is also helpful."
Cold symptoms caused by a
virus typically last between four and five days. But if they continue
for more than five days, Yoon recommends taking the child to a doctor.
If
a child is having difficulty breathing or is wheezing, he or she should
be seen right away. Infants younger than 3 months old with a fever
should also be seen right away.
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