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Parents Urged To Shun OTC Cough Medicine

Pediatricians say remedies are still too dangerous for kids

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 9, 2008

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A growing number of pediatricians have joined the chorus warning about potential harmful effects to children of most over the counter cold medicines. Ken Haller, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University, is along the doctors taking that view.

"Cough and cold medicines were first approved many years ago under the assumption that children's bodies worked like adult ones, but on a smaller scale," Haller said. "They were never tested for safety and effectiveness in children. There are a lot of side effects associated with these medicines."

Last year, citing concerns over safety and effectiveness, experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that the agency ban all over-the-counter, multi-symptom cough and cold medicines for children under six. The recommendation was long overdue, according to Haller.

While infant cough and cold medications were pulled off shelves last year, nearly 800 over-the-counter cough and cold medications still are available for children over 2 years old -- a decision with which Haller disagrees.

"I feel strongly that they should all be taken off the market," Haller said. "Numerous studies have shown that these do not make children with colds and sore throats feel better any quicker than doing nothing," he said. "And over the years, thousands of children have been hospitalized and scores of children have died as a result of taking these drugs because of their side effects and the fact that many of these drugs contain multiple active ingredients, which add up to a harmful dose."

In the first two years of life, it's normal for children to get an average of six significant upper respiratory infections per year. While nothing can cure a cold, Haller suggests safe ways to prevent and treat symptoms of colds and flu, including:

• Have children vaccinated for the flu.

• Use cool mist humidifiers whenever it's cold enough outside to turn on the heat indoors. When the weather is cold, the air is dry and will dry out the membranes in the nose, breaking down the child's natural barrier to infection in the nose.

• Use saline drops and sprays to moisturize the nasal membranes and loosen up mucus.

• Avoid smoking in the household to reduce environmental irritants.

• Wash your hands when taking care of children and teach kids to clean their hands before they eat.

• Make sure children drink fluids and get plenty of rest.

"Parents often feel powerless when their kids are sick and are desperate to help them feel better," Haller said. "But drugs are not the answer for every illness. Not only will these over-the-counter medicines not help your child feel better, but they can be very dangerous, too."

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