Know What To Give, and Not To Give, Children To Relieve a Wintertime Cold

Massillon Independent, Feb. 5, 2008
By ERIN PUSTAY, Erin.Pustay@IndeOnline.com

In the battle against cold and flu bugs, parents may feel defenseless without an arsenal of cold and cough medications. Truth is, they aren't.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning parents about administering over the counter (OTC) cold and cough medications to children under the age of 2. Some medications, FDA officials warned, may have serious side effects that include convulsions, rapid heart rates, and decreased levels of consciousness. They may even be fatal.

Michael McCabe, M.D., a pediatrician with Aultman, believes that even without the medications on their side, parents can still effectively treat cold symptoms and get the kids feeling better quickly. In fact, moving away from reliance on the medication may be healthier for children of all ages.

"(Over the counter medications) can give the care giver a false sense of security," McCabe said. "Often, they will administer the medication instead of seeking care when kids are sick."

The FDA is still examining the safety of OTC medications for older children. Meanwhile, McCabe encouraged parents to carefully follow the dosage recommendations on the box and contact pediatricians or family physicians if questions arise.

Part of the problem with OTC medications is that most were designed for adults, McCabe said. Over time, the dosages were altered for younger children. But studies are finding that infants, toddlers and sometimes older children metabolize medications differently than teens and adults. Thus, the medicine -- in the long run -- may be no more effective than chicken noodle soup, "Pedialyte" and some much-needed rest.

"I think it's going back to the supportive therapies -- holding the kids and nurturing them and keeping them hydrated," McCabe said. "And it goes back to grandma's chicken noodle soup. Warmer fluids can help soothe sore throats and lessen nasal congestion."

Surprisingly, one of the hardest cold symptoms for a infant to battle is a stuffy nose.

"One thing they can't do effectively is blow their noses (and)," McCabe said "an infant will breathe through their nose as much as possible."

Instead of using OTC medications that clear congestion, McCabe said it may be more effective if parents use salt water drops or suction balls to help clear the sinuses.

Another symptom that socks it to kids when they get sick is lack of sleep.

"If they have not been eating, their body doesn't store up energy and they get dehydrated," McCabe said. "Staying on top of all of that will get them through the illness with less trouble."

When it comes to taking care of the even the littlest cough and runny nose, a pediatrician may know best. According to McCabe, they will be able to identify symptoms or behaviors that would indicate a cold or flu may be something more serious. Children may have pneumonia or a significant respiratory infection, but they also have a secondary infection that may have developed because the parents treated what appeared to be cold symptoms without getting the proper medication or treatment for the illness.

"Treating children can be tricky," McCabe said, "... (because) the caregiver is often guessing as to what is going on."

Prevention, likewise, may be the best remedy of all.

"As parents we need to continually reevaluate our family lifestyles and how healthy we are," McCabe said. "Our society looks at illness as a big inconvenience, but sometimes it's a wake-up call. We may need to wash our hands a little more, slow down a little bit ... or live healthier lifestyles. Ultimately, the healthier our lifestyles are, the better we tolerate (symptoms) when we do get sick."