Cough and cold medicines can pose serious risks for young children. Know the facts and understand treatment alternatives.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are the best way to help a child who has a cold feel better — right? Think again. Cough and cold medicines aren't recommended for children younger than age 2, and the jury is still out on whether cough and cold medicines are appropriate for older kids. So how can you treat a child's cold?
What's the concern about cough and cold medicines for kids?
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines don't effectively treat the underlying cause of a child's cold, and won't cure a child's cold or make it go away any sooner. These medications also have potentially serious side effects, including rapid heart rate and convulsions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discourages use of cough and cold medicines for children younger than age 2.
Are cough and cold medicines a problem for children older than age 2?
FDA experts are studying the safety of cough and cold medicines for children older than age 2. In the meantime, remember that cough and cold medicines won't make a cold go away any sooner — and side effects are still possible. If you give cough or cold medicines to an older child, carefully follow the label directions. Don't give your child two medicines with the same active ingredient, such as an antihistamine, decongestant or pain reliever. Too much of a single ingredient could lead to an accidental overdose.
What about antibiotics?
Antibiotics may be used to combat bacterial infections but have no effect on viruses, which cause colds. If your child has a cold, antibiotics won't help. It's also important to remember that the more your child uses antibiotics, the more likely he or she is to get sick with an antibiotic-resistant infection in the future.
Can any medications help treat the common cold?
An over-the-counter pain reliever — such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) — can reduce a fever and ease the pain of a sore throat or headache. Remember, though, low-grade fevers help fight infection and don't necessarily need treatment.
If you give your child a pain reliever, follow the dosing guidelines carefully. Don't give ibuprofen to a child younger than age 6 months, and don't give aspirin to anyone age 18 or younger. Aspirin has been associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness.
If you want to give your child an herbal or alternative remedy, consult your child's doctor first.
How can I help my child feel better?
There's no cure for the common cold, but you can help your child feel better while he or she is toughing it out. Consider these tips:
Offer fluids. Liquids such as water, juice and broth can help loosen congestion. Chicken soup — which can have a mild anti-inflammatory effect — is another good choice.
Encourage coughing. Coughing can help clear mucus from your child's airway.
Use a suction bulb for a baby or young child. This device draws mucus out of the nose. Squeeze the bulb part of the syringe, gently place the tip inside one nostril and slowly release the bulb.
Moisten nasal passages. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room. To prevent mold growth, change the water daily and follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Steam from a hot shower may help, too.
Use saline nasal drops. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops — or saline spray, for an older child — can loosen thick nasal mucus and make it easier for your child to breathe. For babies, follow up with a suction bulb.
Soothe a sore throat. Ice cream or frozen fruit pops might feel good on a sore throat. Warm or cold beverages sometimes help, too. For an older child, gargling salt water or sucking on a piece of hard candy or a throat lozenge might offer additional relief. Remember that hard candy and lozenges — both choking hazards — aren't appropriate for younger children.
Encourage rest. Consider keeping your child home from child care, school and other activities.
When should I contact the doctor?
Most colds simply need to run their course — which generally takes about five to seven days. It's important to take your child's signs and symptoms seriously, however. If you suspect something isn't right, consult your child's doctor. It's especially important to seek medical attention if your child:
Has a high or persistent fever — or is younger than age 3 months and has any fever
Has trouble drinking
Isn't urinating as often as usual
Has trouble breathing
Has a persistent cough
Has yellow or green eye discharge
Has thick, green nasal discharge
Seems to have ear or sinus pain
What's the best way to prevent the common cold?
For parents and children alike, simple preventive measures can go a long way toward preventing the common cold. To help your child stay healthy:
Keep it clean. Teach your child to wash his or her hands thoroughly and often. When soap and water aren't available, provide an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hand wipes. Keep toys and common household surfaces clean, too.
Cover up. Teach everyone in the household to cough or sneeze into a tissue — and then toss it. If you can't reach a tissue in time, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
Don't share. Avoid sharing utensils, drinking glasses, washcloths, towels and other items that might harbor germs with anyone who has a cold or fever.
Steer clear of colds. Avoid close, prolonged contact with anyone who has a cold or other communicable infection.
It's also important for your child to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep and stay current on his or her vaccinations — including a yearly flu vaccine.
