You all know how it is, they go down for a nap fine and wake up with a fever! Well it is that time of year when the cold and flu viruses will again begin to circulate through daycares, schools, and families. I am going to discuss with you a few things that you can do for a cold that might help! First, I know that all of you have seen the multitude of medications touted to treat colds over the counter, some of them even marketed for babies. Please use caution, the FDA made a strong push a couple of years ago to warn parents of the potential risks of over the counter cold medicines and children. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees.
"Studies have shown cough and cold products are ineffective in treating symptoms of children under six years old, and may pose serious risks. A variety of rare, serious health problems have been associated with use of these medications in children, including death, convulsions, rapid heart rates and decreased levels of consciousness. (A review by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of national emergency department visits due to adverse drug events from cough and cold medications will be published in the online version of Pediatrics Jan. 28.)
“It is critically important for parents to receive clear information about the risks and lack of benefit from these drugs, and ways to help take care of children suffering from colds and coughs,” said Renee Jenkins, M.D., FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We urge FDA to continue its analysis of the existing data on these medicines intended for children over age 2 and take appropriate action, including initiation of immediate, rigorous scientific studies as needed to determine the drugs’ safety and efficacy.”
Children metabolize and react to medications differently than adults, often in unanticipated ways. For more than 30 years the AAP has emphasized the importance of studying medicines in pediatric populations. As part of the FDA’s ongoing review of over-the-counter cough and cold medications, the AAP in October urged regulators to pursue further studies into whether these drugs have any benefit to children. The AAP also advised labeling that would inform parents that the products have been shown to be ineffective in children under 6 and could lead to serious adverse reactions."
So what can we do for our children when they have a cold? For a runny nose it is recommended to use saline nose drops, these can be purchased over the counter. You will want to use a couple of drops in each nostril followed by either using a bulb suction or having your child blow their nose to remove the mucus from the nasal cavity (think a childs version of netti pot, although a little less scary, same principle). Do this primarily when they are having difficulty eating or sleeping as over suctioning can cause the lining of the nasal mucosa to swell and make it more difficult to breathe. Another tip, especially when you are running heat in the house, use a humidifier in your childs room. This will moisten the air and help with dry nagging coughs. Warm apple juice or chicken broth can be used to help with a sore throat in younger children and suckers or hard candy can be helpful in older children (please monitor them for choking). Fevers will need to be treated any time they reach 102 rectally or if the child becomes uncomfortable. Dosage instructions can be found on the package insert. If at any time your child developed difficulty breathing, wheezing, decreased fluid intake, decreased urine output, you would need to notify your childs doctor.
Hope this information is helpful, but I hope that you won't need to use any of the tips!
