Why did the US Food and Drug Administration issue a warning on cold and cough medicine for children?
In October 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory strongly recommending that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children under two years old because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports this recommendation and urges parents to seek safer ways to soothe infants and young children suffering from colds and coughs by using a cool mist humidifier, saline nose drops and suctioning bulbs to thin and clear mucus from a baby’s nose. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in January 2008 that over-the-counter cold and cough drugs sent an estimated 7,000 U.S. children under the age of 12 to emergency rooms every year. Studies have shown cough and cold products are ineffective in treating symptoms of children under six years old, and may pose serious risks. A variety of rare, serious health problems have been associated with use of these medications in children
In October 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory strongly recommending that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children under two years old because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports this recommendation and urges parents to seek safer ways to soothe infants and young children suffering from colds and coughs by using a cool mist humidifier, saline nose drops and suctioning bulbs to thin and clear mucus from a baby’s nose. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in January 2008 that over-the-counter cold and cough drugs sent an estimated 7,000 U.S. children under the age of 12 to emergency rooms every year. Studies have shown cough and cold products are ineffective in treating symptoms of children under six years old, and may pose serious risks. A variety of rare, serious health problems have been associated with use of these medications in children
