A new study has found that over-the-counter cold medications can be hazardous and even deadly to infants.
The government research found that more than 1,500 children under two years old were admitted to emergency rooms for problems caused by taking these medications. Three infants less than six months old died.
“Cough and cold medicines can be harmful, and even fatal, and should be used with caution in children under 2 years of age,” said the study’s author and officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Adam Cohen. “They are drugs, so they have risks as well as benefits.”
The study was published in the Jan. 12 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report .
These types of drugs are only FDA approved for use by children over two years old. Studies have concluded that they are not effective for children under two.
“Cold and cough medications, especially medications containing pseudoephedrine, have never been shown to have any beneficial effect on children less than 2 years of age, yet they clearly can have significant harmful effects,” said director of pediatric pulmonology, allergy and immunology at the Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital in New York City, Dr. Michael Marcus.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Chest Physicians, and other professional groups have recommended caution giving these medications to young children.
“Patients should absolutely avoid these medication sunless they are being supervised by a physician,” Marcus said. “Parents should realize that non-prescription medications may contain similar products to medications that the pediatrician is also prescribing, therefore, they should let the pediatrician know all treatments the children is receiving when discussing a child’s treatment.”
“Parents should never give medicine without consulting a health-care provider, even over-the-counter,” added Dr. Cohen. “Many over-the-counter medicines may be marketed for infants, and there are no approved dosing recommendations from the FDA for this age group. There’s very little evidence that they help in children under 2.”