Feb 17, 09 | Posted by: Kristin Bencik Boudreau, D.O.

Cough Medicines- Why Your Kids Should Not Use Them

Your six month old has a cold and cough and is miserable- you are miserable because he is and both of you were up all night.  You reach in your medicine cabinet and grab one of the child cough remedies and call one of us for dosing.  Our response- throw it in the garbage. Why do doctors no longer recommend over the counter cold regimens?  The truth is that they do not work (something anyone who has been with our practice has heard for years) and they may even cause harm.  Cough suppressants were never tested in children; adult studies were used and dosing was made by extrapolating down from adults.   Children are NOT small adults, and the way their bodies metabolize drugs are very different from adults.  The possible serious side effects of OTC (over the counter) cough medicines were revealed in a 2007 FDA Public Health Advisory, and therefore are not recommended for children under the age of six.  Some of these possible side effects include increased heart rate, seizures, somnolence (extreme drowsiness), and in rare cases, even death.

So what can you do as a parent?  Plain Tylenol or Motrin helps for the icky feeling we all get with a cold, and also controls the fever.  Saline and bulb suction for infants is very important, because they are unable to clear their secretions well.  Elevating the head of the bed helps with the coughing at night, as it decrease the amount of drainage in the back of the throat.  In addition, we recommend a humidifier in the bedroom.  Also, kids who are sick never eat, so making sure they stay hydrated is very important.  Small frequent fluids are the best for maintaining hydration.  Finally, kids can never have enough TLC from their loved ones when sick.

When does a cold become more than just a cold?  If your child has any fevers late into the illness, any increase work of breathing, an illness lasting more than two weeks, or acting sicker than one would expect for a cold.  Any questions, please call your doctor.

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