OTC COLD MEDS CARRY RISKS FOR SICK KIDS

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are the best way to help a child who has a cold feel better — right? Think again. Here’s advice from Dr. Jay L. Hoecker, an emeritus pediatrics specialist at Mayo Clinic.

Q:

What’s the concern

about cough and cold medicines for kids?

A:

Over-the-counter

cough and cold medicines are intended to treat the symptoms, not the underlying disease. Research suggests that these medicines haven’t been proved to work any better than inactive medicine (placebo). More important, these medications have potentially serious side effects, including fatal overdoses in children younger than 2.

Don’t use over-thecounter medicines, except for fever reducers and pain relievers, to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 6. Also, consider avoiding use of these medicines for children younger than 12.

Q:

What about antibiotics?

A:

Antibiotics can be used to combat bacterial infections but have no effect on viruses, which cause colds.

Q:

Can any medications help treat the common cold?

A:

An over-the-counter

pain reliever — such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Children’s Motrin, others) — can reduce a fever and ease the pain of a sore throat. However, fevers are generally harmless. The main purpose for treating them is to help your child feel comfortable. If you give your child a pain reliever, follow the dosing guidelines carefully.

For children younger than 3 months, don’t give acetaminophen until your baby has been seen by a doctor. Don’t give ibuprofen to a child younger than 6 months or to children who are vomiting constantly or are dehydrated. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flulike symptoms should never take aspirin. It has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.