Cold Remedies Not Advised For Children Under Four
In a concession to pediatricians who have long debated whether over-the-counter remedies are effective to young children, companies who produce medicines such as Dimetapp and Pediacare are now advising parents not to give cold and cough medicines to children under the age of four.
Doctors instead say that the best remedy for sick children is plenty of rest and fluids, and lots of tender, loving care.
This is the second consecutive year that major drug companies have changed their advice to parents in regards to over-the-counter medicine. In 2007, companies advised parents not to give cold and cough medicines to children under the age of two, and recommended that children not take antihistamines to help them sleep. Pediatricians today are working towards imposing a ban on sales of all over-the-counter cough and cold medicine for children under the age of six.
Problems with over-the-counter medicines send approximately 7,000 children to hospital emergency rooms each year, with symptoms including hives, drowsiness, and unsteady walking. Children age two and under are said to be at the highest risk.
For a child running a fever of 101 degrees or higher, doctors recommend Tylenol or Motrin, but otherwise say that a common cold or case of the sniffles should clear up on its own within a few days. Parents should, however, monitor their children closely for any signs of trouble breathing, which could signal more serious problems.
For more information on what medicines to give to children and the proper way to administer them, please visit the Food and Drug Administration at: www.fda.org.
