Is relieving your child’s cough a big “no-no?”

No! No!

We have created this blog to address concerns about administering cough and cold medications to young children. We will delve into warnings issued by the FDA, tragedies that have occurred from overdosing, giving adult formulas to kids, safety tips, alternatives to cough and cold medications for children, and much more.  

What do you think of these concerns? Have you ever treated your young child with over-the-counter cough and cold medications? Have they worked with no ill effects, did they harm your child or did they just not work at all? Some say these medicines do not work any better than a spoonful of honey. We would love your opinion!   

For more about the the FDA’s warning, visit  

http://children.webmd.com/news/20070816/fda-warns-on-tots-cough-cold-drug-use

http://www.livescience.com/health/071203-honey-cough.html

Pediatric Medicine Safety.

Parents are advised not to tell children that medicine is candy. They should keep all medications away from the reach of children by keeping them in secured cupboard or cabinet. They should avoid taking their own medication in the presence of their children. Also parents should always read the label of all their medications, this will ensure that the proper dosage is given. It will also prevent parents from giving two medications that contain the same ingredients.

 

Sited Links  http://www.cdc.gov/features/pediatricColdMeds/

                        http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2007-3638v3

Cough and Cold Medicine Usage by Children in the U.S.

Information for parents

When children get cough, parents immediately think about OTC cough and cold medications. This is not the acceptable any more because many infants have been admitted to hospitals and some have died after taking such medications. As manufactures are working on changing the labels of the medications parents have to follow some safety guidelines to protect their children.

 

CDC recommendations:

-          Make sure the labels up-to-date.

-          Check the constituents of the medicine and don’t give children such medicines if you suspect that they have the same constituents.

-          Make sure children don’t have access to medicines.

-          Check manufactures’ recommended age to use the medicines, especially old medicines as the recommended ages have changed.

-          If you are in doubt consult doctors; never take a risk.

 

For more information for parents from CDC, visit

 

 http://www.cdc.gov/features/pediatricColdMeds/

 

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=7953