KristinasMama
How did she turn 2 so quickly?
Member since 10/07 8257 total posts
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Blessed Mama of Kristina Elena
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Cold medicines Risky for Children Under 6
A new investigation conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that giving cough or cold medicine to children under the age of six may be dangerous, or even deadly.
The recent discovery of the dangers with these over-the-counter medications, which can be purchased at any local drug store, comes on the heels of a study conducted by the CDC in 2005 revealing that 1,519 children 2 years and younger were treated in emergency situations for side affects connected to cough and cold medicine. An important question that rises from this new-found and terribly frightening information is: how were these medications approved in the first place?
Decades ago, scientists believed that whatever medications worked for adults would automatically work for children as well. After all, children are just smaller versions of adults. As technology developed, it became apparent that this theory was seriously flawed. Scientists discovered that a child’s body is extremely different from an adult’s. It also became clear that adult medications could not offer a quick fix to a child’s malady.
The American Academy of Pediatrics supported Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore’s health commissioner, when he approached the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) last year and petitioned to end use of nonprescription cold remedies to children under the age of six. His plea cited that these medications have not been proven effective in suppressing cold symptoms in children. Therefore, the side-effect risks to children in taking these medications far outweigh the unproven benefits.
Although side effects are rare, they do occur, and are largely related to the dosages given. Currently, there are no legal standards in place for dosage measuring cups for cough and cold medications - sizing varies per manufacturer and medication. For those medications that do not include a measuring cup, parents are forced to use implements of their own, most often spoons, which can lead to unintentional overmedicating. Many remedies often contain the same ingredients, so when parents mix multiple medications, it can put their child in danger.
The FDA is unsure if, and when, a law will be passed banning over-the-counter children’s cold medications. As a result, it is up to parents to decide if they should use them at all. The best advice for parents is to consult a physician on how to proceed if your child is ill to avoid serious danger.
By: Anthony Ripo
M&M Correspondant
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