CDC Issues Cold Medicine Warning for Parents

The findings of a recent CDC report show a link between cold medicines and emergency room visits -- even deaths -- in infants and toddlers. The CDC is warning that parents "should only administer cough and cold medications to children in this age group when following the exact advice of a clinician."

Even then, it's important to keep in mind that there are No FDA-approved dosing recommendations for these drugs, period. So even when you've gotten dosing information from a health care provider, according to the report, they frequently must come up with your child's dose based on dosing guidelines for adults and older children. The report continues saying, "Such extrapolation is based on the assumption that the pathophysiology of the disease and the effects of the drug are similar in adult and pediatric patients."

If you've ever seen the warning, "May cause excitability in children," then you know that drugs can definitely work differently for adults than they do for children.

The FDA, after review of clinical trials in children under 2, determined that these medications were not any more effective than placebo in reducing cough or symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections anyway. So it's wise to question whether your baby or toddler needs these medications at all when you consider the risks.

Talk to your doctor about other remedies to offer your child relief. For example, the CDC recommends that "as an alternative to pseudoephedrine and other nasal decongestants, caregivers might consider clearing nasal congestion in infants with a rubber suction bulb; secretions can be softened with saline nose drops or a cool-mist humidifier."

And always be sure to let your doctor know if your child has had any over-the-counter medication even if it seems insignificant. The report states that "dosages at which cough and cold medications can cause illness or death in children under 2 years are not known." That means even if you gave your baby 1/8 teaspoon of something, you should tell your doctor so that the same medicine with a different name or a drug that could cause an interaction won't be prescribed.