[NFBP-BlindParents] Fwd: Use with Caution: Cough and Cold Medicine Safety Tips

Wed Feb 1 00:47:47 UTC 2023

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Stacie

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From: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia <news at health.chop.edu>
Date: Tue, Jan 31, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Subject: Use with Caution: Cough and Cold Medicine Safety Tips
To: <stacie.leap at gmail.com>

Care for the common cold begins with home remedies
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Use with Caution: Cough and Cold Medicine Safety Tips
*Contributed by:* Jeanette D. Trella, PharmD, BCPPS
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A Quick Look:

   - Time-tested home remedies
   - Tips for reading medicine labels
   - Avoiding accidental exposure to medication
   - What to do in a medication emergency

As parents, we want our kids to feel better as quickly as possible when
they’re sick. However, when it comes to giving your kids cough and cold
medicine, it’s important to proceed with caution.

“Remember that children are *not* small adults, especially when it comes to
medication,” says Jeanette Trella, PharmD, BCPPS
<https://click.health.chop.edu/?qs=b9ecaf8706eec2f9ac52ba31fb25cd7141ab0e70fd285cc44764e266dea5944bd9abb027395b190597620b08122f966a2096f7a3eae5a6ae>,
Poison Control Center
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Director at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “Their rapidly
growing minds and bodies have unique needs that can only be safely met by
medicine that is meant for their age group. *Many medicines used by adults
are not safe for children. * This is especially important to know right now
in face of some medication shortages, as parents may be looking for
alternatives to ease their child’s symptoms.”

In addition to being potentially harmful, most cough and cold medications
have not been proven to be effective in kids. “In many cases, the risk of
the medicine outweighs the potential benefits, and should be avoided for
young kids,” explains Trella.
Alternatives to cough and cold medication: Start here when treating young
children

Colds typically last a few days to a week. The safest and often most
effective treatments for a child’s cold are rest and drinking plenty of
fluids. Some time-tested home remedies really do work to relieve a child’s
discomfort. Here is a list of common cold
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symptoms and potential remedies you can consider before considering
medication:

   - *Fevers* (defined as a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher)
   are our body’s way to help fight off germs. It isn’t necessary to treat a
   fever with medication unless it’s causing discomfort for your
child. Also, make
   sure you know when to call the doctor by following these guidelines.
   <https://click.health.chop.edu/?qs=b9ecaf8706eec2f9d3beda562f6449381ce4cc1b8f3ead8ebeb0005da008b5b14d6390f4955fe99ad53d7040ba0464aa952488891ca1e03a>
   - *Coughs *are the body’s way of clearing mucus out of the airways. They
   don’t typically need to be suppressed with medicine unless they are
   interfering with sleep and daily activities. Use extra caution if your
   child has asthma — the approach to treating coughs is different for them.
   Talk to your doctor for advice and before giving any medications.
   - *Sore throats *are common with viral illnesses and can be very
   uncomfortable. A warm drink or a spoonful of honey (only for children over
   age 1) can soothe a sore throat and may reduce “tickly” coughs. An age-old
   favorite, gargling with warm salt water, works well too if your child is
   old enough!
   - *Congestion *can be challenging for all ages! A young child with a
   stuffy nose can be helped with saline drops or sprays to loosen the mucus,
   followed by clearing with a bulb syringe. A cool mist vaporizer is also
   helpful. It can help loosen congestion in the chest and nose.

Check medicine labels closelyIf you’ve tried to alleviate your child’s
illness without medication and feel medication is necessary, remember to
move forward carefully. Always read the medicine label closely
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to make sure the right person is receiving the right dose of the right
medication. Specifically:

   - *Verify the age range.* Always read the medication label carefully to
   see if it is intended for use in children of your child’s age. Some
   medications should not be given to young children.
   - *Know the dosage.* The medication label should also be reviewed to see
   what dose needs to be given to your child based on their age and weight.
   Medicines that have been deemed safe for children generally have lower,
   more precise weight- or age-based dosing. Be aware of dosing frequency and,
   if possible, keep a log of when a medication dose is given to avoid double
   dosing.
   - *Check the details.* It’s important to read the fine print on
   medication labels. Many cough and cold products have multiple ingredients.
   Be sure you aren’t giving multiple products with the same active
   ingredients.

When in doubt, follow the five “R’s” of medication safety!
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Protect your child from medication errors“Hundreds of children experience
scary effects from exposures of cough and cold medicine every year,” says
Trella. “In most cases, the exposures are caused by children finding the
medicine and taking it themselves. Some are caused by a parent or caregiver
misreading the dosage instructions.”

Here are some strategies to keep your child safe from accidental exposures
and medication errors:

   - Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the lid tightly
   after use. However, remember that this packaging is child “resistant,” not
   child “proof.”
   - Use slow-flow adapters for liquid medications to decrease the amount
   that a child may ingest if they remove the cap, and also to make it easier
   to fill oral dosing syringes (no more pouring medication out of bottle to
   measure).
   - Don’t use household teaspoons to measure the dose. Use the measuring
   device that comes with the product or an oral dosing syringe.
   - Double check the unit of measure. Doses are often specified in both
   teaspoons and milliliters, so be sure to use the corresponding number with
   the appropriate unit on the measuring device.
   - Keep the light on when giving or taking medicine to make sure you can
   clearly read the instructions, and check the dosage every time.
   - Never refer to medicine as candy when trying to convince your child it
   will taste good, and never leave a child unattended with a bottle of
   medicine.

How to handle an accidental exposure or incorrect use of medicine*Call the
Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if your child overdoses on any
cough or cold medication,* and keep the medicine bottle handy so you can
provide the poison information specialist with the exact ingredients. The
Poison Control Center is staffed 24/7 by nurses and pharmacists who are
experts in poison information, with physician toxicologist back-up. Calls
to the Poison Control Center are always free, and no question is too small
to ask. It is a wonderful resource to have saved in your phone!
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symptom checker]
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