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Cold medicines for kids: What's the risk?
Cough and cold medicines aren't recommended for young children. A Mayo Clinic specialist explains why — and offers tips for treating your child's cold.
By Mayo Clinic staff
The common cold is a nuisance, but over-the-counter cough and cold medicines can help your child feel better — right? Think again. Cough and cold medicines aren't recommended for young children, and the jury is still out on whether cough and cold medicines are appropriate for older kids. So what's the best way to treat a child's cold? Here's practical advice from Jay Hoecker, M.D., a pediatrics specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
What's the concern about cough and cold medicines for kids?
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines won't cure a common cold or make it go away any sooner. In fact, cough and cold medicines haven't been proved effective for children. And there are serious risks to consider. For example, the sedating effects of antihistamines can be dangerous for kids already having trouble breathing. For young children, an accidental overdose of cough or cold medicine could be fatal.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly encourages parents to avoid cough and cold medicines for children younger than age 2. And in October 2008, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association — with the support of the FDA — went a step further. They volunteered to relabel products to indicate they shouldn't be used in children younger than age 4.
What if cough and cold medicines seemed to work for my child in the past?
Chances are, your child's signs and symptoms simply improved on their own — or the sedating effects of the medication made you think that your child was feeling better. Low-grade fevers don't need treatment and may actually help the body fight cold viruses. Research shows that cough and cold medicines for kids are no more effective than a placebo.
Are cough and cold medicines a problem for children older than age 4?
Older children aren't as likely as younger children to experience side effects from cough and cold medicines, but side effects are still possible. Some cough and cold medicines may make kids sleepy, while others may have the opposite effect. Even then, remember that cough and cold medicines can't make a cold go away any sooner.
Experts from the FDA are studying the safety and effectiveness of cough and cold medicines for older children. In the meantime, if you choose to give cough or cold medicines to an older child, carefully follow the label directions.
What about antibiotics?
Colds are caused by viruses, so antibiotics won't help. And the more your child uses antibiotics, the more likely he or she is to get sick with an antibiotic-resistant infection in the future.
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