Current Debates

Have you seen this? 

http://health.yahoo.com/news/179885

"Recently FDA experts recommended that all infant cough and cold products be removed from the market.  ....

An FDA review of records filed with the agency between 1969 and September 2006 found 54 reports of deaths in children associated with decongestant medicines made with pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine or ephedrine. It also found 69 reports of deaths associated with antihistamine medicines containing diphenhydramine, brompheniramine or chlorpheniramine, the AP said.

Most of the deaths were children younger than 2."

So, pediatric cold medicines are no longer going to be over the counter?  So what will we do when small children get a cold? Take them to the doctor for every sneeze and cough?  And, look at the statistics...over 19 years 54 children (out of how many millions? - from 1969 to 2006) died from being given decongestants and 69 from being given antihistamines.  Most of them were under 2.   You aren't even supposed to give cold medicines to children under two - it says that right on the package. Also, I'd like to know how many of those that died were given overdoses.

Here are some other statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics:

1-4 years of age

Number of deaths: 4,775

Deaths per 100,000 population: 29.9

Number of deaths for leading causes of death

Accidents (unintentional injuries): 1,606

Congenital malformations: 630

Cancer: 388

Assault Homicide: 354

These statistics are per year. When you compare these numbers to the number that have died over the last 19 years (123) from cold medicines, it puts it into perspective. And, how many of those deaths were from little babies being given cold medicines or overdoses?  If you give a baby too many doses of vitamins it will kill them, so should we take vitamins off the shelf too because some people can't read the back of a box????  I would be willing to bet that more toddlers die from choking on grapes each year.  Maybe it should be required that all grapes sold have to be cut in half before they go to market.  How many lives would that save?

  So, because some people can't follow directions, the rest of us who do have to haul our cranky, sick toddler to the doctor every time he/she has a cold??? 

<<So, because some people can't follow directions, the rest of us who do have to haul our cranky, sick toddler to the doctor every time he/she has a cold???>>

Not really.  Since those cold medicines really don't work very well,  and pediatricians don't generally recommend using them, I imagine that we'll all be left doing what does work....saline nose drops, suction (for kids who are too young to blow,) Tylenol for fever and aches, humidifying the air, rest, etc. 

ITA Karin,

Remember when our Moms laid with us in dark rooms, made chicken broth, elevated our heads, suctioned our noses, flushed salt water in our noses and instituted "rest".

Kiera's Dr, Ped and Naturopath do not recommend any cold medications period stating they are very ineffective. And I tend to concur with that opinion.

"Remember when our Moms laid with us in dark rooms, made chicken broth, elevated our heads, suctioned our noses, flushed salt water in our noses and instituted "rest"."

This is what my mom did with me and its still what I do.  Cold medicine makes my heart race, makes me dizzy, tired, and awake all at the same time.  It also make me somewhat "high" feeling, but not in a good way.  Lol.  Since so many medicines are multi-symptom medicines, I usually can't find just the one that I need without the extra crap that makes me crazy so I do what mom did with me.  Although I no longer need help suctioning my nose ;)  One more thing, I take lots of vitamins like airborne, as soon as I start to feel sick. 

My mom was just telling my dh and I last weekend that when my older sister and I were little, the doctor would prescribe "coke syrup," as in cocaine. Imagine that!

As for cough syrups and the like, kids that are sick often sometimes have an underlying cause, ie, asthma, that remains undiagnosed if the child isn't taken to the doctor when they have been on these OTC products for weeks or on and off for months. All these products do is treat the symptoms. It doesn't cure the cold. Therefore, in most cases, they are unnecessary. Therefore, IMO, even one death is an unnecessary one.

I am unable to give legal or medical advice. My opinions are based on my experiences and my personal research.