One in Ten Children Using Cough, Cold Medications

Researchers from Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center have found that approximately one in ten U.S. children uses one or more cough and cold medications during a given week. These findings were presented at the 2008 Pediatric Academic Societies’ & Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pediatric cough and cold medications are widely marketed in the U.S. but surprisingly little is known about just how often they are used in children. This information is especially important in light of recent revelations that cough and cold medications are responsible for serious adverse events and even deaths among children.

In terms of active ingredients contained in these medications, exposure was highest to decongestants and antihistamines (6.3 percent each), followed by anti-cough ingredients (4.1 percent) and expectorants (1.5 percent). Exposures to cough and cold medications was highest among 2 to 5 year olds, but was also high among children under 2 years of age.

According to the researchers the especially common use of cough and cold medications among young children is noteworthy. “Given concerns about potential harmful effects and lack of evidence proving that these medications are effective in young children, the fact that one in ten U.S. children is using one of these medications is striking,” said lead author Louis Vernacchio, MD, MSc, an assistant professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine.

Bonnie - you really need to think twice before using these meds on young children. There have been too many instances where I have heard about adverse effects, some of them catastrophic. Our good intentions to reduce the suffering of our sick young ones can sometimes backfire. There are many safe remedies one can use to mitigate the symptoms while allowing the immune system to do the job it was intended to.