Cold: Some over-the-counter drugs can have serious side effects
Some over-the-counter drugs in adults are relatively harmless, can cause in children, often severe, side effects. Especially if the offspring is younger than six years old, parents should be at the doses of ordinary Cold medicine carefully. Simple remedies are often better.
Not to grab for colds the same drugs
In the autumn and Winter colds are widespread: – especially children-show a special susceptibility to infections. If you then create symptoms such as cough and runny nose, parents should not resort to drugs. Because some of the prescription drugs in adults are relatively harmless, can cause the Small and often severe side effects. Home remedies for cold complaints seem to often be better.
Dangerous side effects in children
Parents who want to relieve the suffering of their sick child, should do best to avoid over-the-counter medicines for Cold symptoms.
And children younger than six years of age, should, in principle, not receive any Decongestants such as decongestant nasal sprays, because there is no evidence that they do any Good.
According to a report published in the journal “BMJ”.
According to the Portal “Health Day”, said Dr. an De Sutter, University of Gent in Belgium, that this over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose effective, but potentially dangerous side effects in children.
Certain swelling agents “can have serious side effects such as high blood pressure, excitation and convulsions,” said De Sutter.
Risks outweigh the benefits
Health experts in the USA recommend that children under two years of age, in principle no remedy against cough or Cold symptoms to administer.
And in the case of older children, they should be used with caution.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is against the use of non-prescription drugs for cough and cold in children under four years of age, said Dr. Jeffrey Gerber from the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
“In General, the risks and Benefits are in adults, in the best case, is about the same. And in children the risks outweigh the benefits,“ said Gerber.
Some medications should not be administered to children
The common cold is usually caused by virus and is usually over in seven to ten days.
Children get six to eight colds per year, adults two to four.
According to the researchers, current evidence from clinical trials show that swelling medium for children to bring no or only a small facilitation.
The authors concluded that Decongestants or medicines that contain antihistamines should not be given to children under six years of age and in children between six and twelve years of age, caution should be applied.
“You can have grass interactions such as, for example, of the heart,” said Gerber.
“Certain underlying diseases, of which you know may still be nothing, could be aggravated and cause cardiac arrhythmia. This happens not so often, but it’s a possibility.“
Home remedies for Cold symptoms
In the study, it was also found that the examined over-the-counter drugs had even in adults, much better.
Nasal irrigation with salt, according to the researchers, the best way to get stuffy noses. You indicate that this is not at all functioning.
What helps for colds is to drink a lot. By increasing the fluid intake of stubborn mucus dissolves better, and the secretions be diluted in the nose.
In addition, the body gets more fluid, which is lost through excessive sweating due to the disease.
Experts advise to warm water or herbal teas, such as thyme or sage tea. This act also against annoying neck pain.
Ginger tea is also a popular home remedy for colds.
If the complaints, however, with such means not under control, parents should go with their child to the doctor. (ad)
