Utah Valley Pediatrics strives to keep parents up to date on the latest health topics and advisories. Our newsletter covers medicine changes and news, pediatric news, seasonal and age specific topics and what’s new at Utah Valley Pediatrics.
Archives
November 2007
Vol. 1 Issue 1
Medicine Changes
and News
Cough and Cold Medication Targeted to Children Under Two Years of Age Pulled From Shelves
Pacifiers Help Reduce Risk of SIDS
Pediatric News
Seasonal and Age Specific
The Importance of Hand Washing
What's New
at UVP
Utah Valley Pediatrics Builds Upon Commitment to Quality Care Through Involvement With UPIQ
Utah Valley Pediatrics Opens an Office in Payson
Contacts
Kevin Moffitt
Administrator
801-373-8930
Allison Arnold
Manager
801-373-8930
Quick Links
Cough and Cold Medication Targeted to Children Under Two Years of Age Pulled From Shelves
As Utah Valley Pediatrics warned back in January 2007, children under the age of two should not be given cough and cold medicines. In response to pressure from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), manufacturers of cold and cough medicines targeted to children six months to two years of age have voluntarily pulled their products off store shelves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a warning that infants and children under two years old should not take decongestants. Also, your child's pediatrician feels there may be limited benefit to giving cough and cold medicines to children younger than six years old. Thus, if you desire to give these medications to your child who is under six years old, please consult your pediatrician first before giving them cough and cold medicines. However, these medications should not be given to children less than two years of age.
In 2005, there were three infants who died due to cough and cold medicine — all had high levels of pseudoephedrine (nasal decongestant) in their blood. In addition, the CDC found that from 2004 to 2005, more than 1,500 children under two years old were treated in U.S. emergency rooms after problems with cough and cold medications.
Along with the risk of toxicity, there are other reasons to steer clear of these medications. The Food and Drug Administration does not provide dosing recommendations for cough and cold medicine for young children, and there is limited evidence that these medications are effective for this age group.
Children uncomfortable from a cold can find some relief by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water, and putting petroleum jelly on a raw nose. Propping up the head of the bed can help reduce cough and congestion and using saline nose drops and running a cool-mist humidifier can help loosen mucous.
For More Information:
Public Health Advisory (FDA) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold.htm
Press Release on Infant Deaths Associated with Cough and Cold Medications (CDC) - http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/mmwrnews/2007/n070111.htm
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