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Archive -Health

Cold medicines and children |06 October 2017

Photo credit: Baby Center

 

Over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines are those you can buy without a prescription and may help to relieve the symptoms of a cold, says the Pharmaceutical Department of the Seychelles Health Care Agency who shares some vital information about cold medicines and how to use them carefully with children.

 

About OTC cold medicines

Most cold medicines include acetaminophen (Panadol, paracetamol)) or Ibuprofen (Advil) to help relieve headaches, fever, aches and pains. Younger children are usually given liquid medicines using designated measuring devices while for infants, the same medicine may be available in a more concentrated form (drops).

It is important to remember that cold medicines do not cure or shorten a cold. Most colds go away in 1 to 2 weeks and often, children get better without needing these medicines.

However, such medicines can help to treat cold symptoms and make your child feel better. They may:

  • Shrink the swollen lining of the nose, throat, and sinuses
  • Relieve sneezing and an itchy, runny nose
  • Clear mucus from the airways (cough remedies)
  • Suppress coughs

 

Use OTC cold medicines with care

OTC cold medicines may cause serious side-effects, including:

  • Seizures
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Reduced consciousness
  • Reye syndrome (from aspirin)
  • Death

Certain medicines should not be given to children, or only after a certain age.

  • DO NOT give cold medicines to children under 4 years old
  • ONLY give cold medicines to children aged 4 to 6 years old, if your doctor recommends it
  • DO NOT give Ibuprofen to children younger than 6 months unless directed by a doctor
  • DO NOT give aspirin if your child is younger than 12 to 14 years old

Taking too many different medicines also may cause harm. Most OTC cold remedies contain more than one active ingredient.

  • Avoid giving more than one OTC cold medicine to your child. It may cause an overdose with severe side effects
  • Replacing one cold medicine with another may be ineffective or cause an overdose
  • Follow the dosage instructions strictly while giving an OTC medicine to your child.

When giving OTC cold medicines to your child:

  • Ask yourself if your child really needs it – often a cold will go away on its own without treatment
  • Read the label; check the active ingredients and strength
  • Stick to the right dose -- less could be ineffective; more could be unsafe
  • Follow instructions; be sure you know how to give the medicine and how often to give it in a day
  • Use the syringe or measuring cup provided with the liquid medicines; DO NOT use a household spoon
  • If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your pharmacist or health care provider
  • Store medicines in a cool, dry area; keep all medicines out of the reach of children

 

When to call the doctor

Call the doctor if your child has:

  • Fever
  • Earache
  • Yellow, green or gray mucus
  • Pain or swelling in the face
  • Breathing problems or chest pain
  • Symptoms that lasts longer than 10 days or that get worse over time

Talk to your doctor to learn more about colds and how you can help your child.

 

Home Care

You can also try some home care tips to help relieve cold symptoms in infants and younger children:

  • Raise the head of your child's bed by putting a pillow underneath the head of the mattress or place books/boards under the legs at the head of the bed
  • Older children may drink extra fluids, but those fluids should be sugar-free
  • You can try a cool-mist vaporizer, but avoid putting too much moisture in the room. Clean the vaporizer every day with bleach or Lysol
  • You can also steam up the bathroom shower and bring your child in there before bed
  • A nasal wash can help remove mucus from your child's nose
  • You can buy a saline spray at a drugstore or make one at home. To make one, use 1 cup (240 milliliters) of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) of salt, and a pinch of baking soda.Use gentle saline nasal sprays 3 to 4 times per day.Nasal sprays are not recommended for children under the age of 2. Do not use over-the-counter nasal sprays more often than 3 days on and 3 days off, unless told to by your provider.

If your child has allergies:

  • Your health care provider may also prescribe nasal sprays that treat allergy symptoms
  • Learn how to avoid triggers that make allergies worse

 

 

References:

Healthychildren.org

Feigin and Cherry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics

US Food and Drug Administration

 

 

 

 

 

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