![]() ![]() ibuprofen and how to administer both safely Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for children over six months old) are safe and effective in relieving pain or fever associated with a cold.Īcetaminophen vs.A humidifier is often helpful for decreasing congestion at night.A bulb syringe can be used for children too young to blow their noses.Saline drops or sprays can offer temporary relief of a stuffy nose.This will serve to thin mucous and keep him well hydrated. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.There is no cure for the common cold, but there are some things you can do while the virus runs its course. For children under 2 years of age, parents were instructed to ‘contact your doctor.’ These extrapolated doses are imprecise and potentially dangerous it puts children at much higher risk for adverse effects and accidental overdose. Pediatric dosing was extrapolated from adult dosing using a crude formula: half of the adult dose for children between 6 and 11 years of age and a quarter of the adult dose for children between 2 and 5 years of age. The FDA licensed the medications for children in 1976 without any studies establishing safe doses for children. When the original dosing studies for these over-the-counter cough and cold medications were performed, safe dosages were established only for adults. Even if the medications did work, they would only treat symptoms of a cold they do not cure or shorten the duration of the illness. Cough medications did not stop coughs, decongestants did not make children less congested, and expectorants did not make mucous any more manageable. In other words, each study showed that a sugar pill had the same effects as the cold medications. Of the studies performed, every study done since 1985 has shown no benefit to any of these medications compared to a placebo. There have been few studies that have actually looked at the effectiveness of cold and cough medications in alleviating cold symptoms in children. Why can’t I give my child cold and cough medicine? These are opioids and are not advised for children. Do not give medicines containing codeine or hydrocodone to anyone under 18 years old. For older children, consult your pediatrician or pharmacist before offering any over-the-counter medication. Food and Drug Administration do not recommend over-the-counter medicines for cough and cold in children under 2 years old. Unfortunately, we now know that these pediatric versions of adult medication may do more harm than good. Today, parents are inundated with countless over-the-counter products marketed as safe for kids. As a pediatrician and parent, I understand that frustration. When your child is sick, all you want to do as a parent is make them feel better. ![]()
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