Got Sick Kids?
Cold and flu season is a challenging time for any parent, especially those with a sick kid in-tow, but doctors at the University of Michigan are encouraging parents to skip over-the-counter cough and cold medications for children under the age of 6.
Esther Yoon, M.D., general pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, says findings by the Food and Drug Administration shows that such medications potentially can have serious side effects on the smallest of children – symptoms include hives, drowsiness, difficulty breathing and even death.
“Some 7,000 children end up in the emergency room each year because of problems associated with these medicines,” Yoon says.
Nearly two-thirds of these incidents arose when children drank medication while unsupervised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Many problems have also resulted from administering improper doses.So what’s a parent to do? According to Yoon, to lessen pain from productive coughs or throat pain, use over-the-counter acetaminophen and ibuprofen in age-appropriate doses.
To relieve symptoms, Yoon recommends the following:
• For blocked noses, parents should use nasal saline drops and a bulb suction to loosen up and remove mucus or have the child blow their nose.
• For coughs, the child should be given a teaspoon of honey or corn syrup if over the age of 1. Have the child drink warm fluids like water, apple juice and chicken broth to help with coughing.
• Take the child into the bathroom and run a hot shower. The steam relaxes the airways and helps with coughing spasms.
• Increase the humidity in the home to help reduce nasal congestion and coughing.
