Should you give your children cold medicine? Why doctors are saying no
June 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Colds and Flu
Do you know someone who is sick? Maybe you are sick yourself. When cold and flu season is here it seems like everyone is sick. It is a rippling effect that goes from person to person. And in the process of everyone getting sick, the sales of cold medicine rise substantially. But is this really the right thing to do when you get sick? Should you go to the local market and get the best over the counter drug to treat your symptoms? Maybe. But what about when it comes to your child?
The American Academy of Pediatrics claims that giving children cold medicine is not the right thing to do. A claim that definitely makes you wonder, do they just want our patient fees so that they can prescribe us a prescription? Or, are they genuinely concerned about our children. When you read why Doctors are saying no to cough medicine for kids it makes sense. Apparently, they contain dextromethorpan and diphenhyddramine, as well as antihistamine, suppressants and decongestants. Several studies indicate these are ineffective on children and can cause serious side effects. Instead, parents should avoid all medications and make sure their child drinks lots of fluids. Other alternatives are vaporizers and salt water nose drops. Most importantly, try to prevent the illness by getting them vaccinated.
