Tis the season… school is back in session and going full force, the weather is changing and busy schedules cause families to get run down. Colds and coughs are common among kids and adults and many people may question when it is appropriate to give medication to their children. People are anxious to help their children feel better, however the FDA recommends that no cold or cough medicine ever be given to children under 2, and many doctors take it a step further and recommend no over the counter medications in children under 6 years old.
The reasons for these recommendations are because there is evidence that suggests that children’s cold medicines don’t really help, and they do have a small risk of side effects, especially in young children. There are four different types of medicines that are considered risky in children. Cough suppressants, cough expectorants, decongestants and some antihistamines. One reason these drugs are of concern is that they have not been specifically studied in children, just studied in adults and then applied to children. While the risks of giving children cold medicine are admittedly low, the benefits are equally low, so it seems prudent to discontinue use. One problem with cold medicine for children is that they often contain more than one ingredient, making it easy for parents to overdoes their children by giving them extra pain reliever when it is already in the cold medicine they have been given. It is also easy to overdose children as medication is often given in the middle of the night to soothe an upset child.
What can you do to help your child feel better when they are sick? There are many things that are recommended that can help. Bring a child’s fever down with Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Use saline drops in their nose to loosen mucus. Give your child plenty of liquids to increase hydration and thin mucus. A humidifier in their room can also be helpful. In a child over 1 year old, honey can help soothe a sore throat. Elevate your child’s head while sleeping, as this can ease congestion.
Always contact your doctor if your child worsens, runs a fever for several days, or has any trouble breathing. Children have between 7-10 colds a year and they do recover from them fairly quickly. Cold Medicines do not lessen the duration of the cold, so why risk any potential side affects?