OTC Child cold Medicine Potentially Unsafe
Falon Perez
Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: News
When children get sick, typically the first thing parents do is give the child cold medicine. Yet cold medicine for children may be off the shelves, and parent will have to find alternative means to care for their sick children.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are petitioning the government to ban the use of cold medicine for kids under age six.
This drastic measure is due to the death of Devin Alvarez. According to various media reports, Alvarez's mother noticed his coughing and that his chest was congested. She called their doctor and asked him what they should do. The doctor told them to give the child the cold medicine. Doctors now say that the cold medicine is what killed little Alvarez.
After the death of Alvarez, doctors began a review and found out that decongestant and antihistamines have been linked to 123 infant deaths since 1969.
Doctors have also estimated that children receive 3.8 billion doses of medicine a year, medicine that has never been tested for effects on children since 1972. Some of these cold medicines include Dimetapp, Pediacare, Robitussin and Triaminic products.
Assistant Professor Dr. Christina Costa, Division of Natural Sciences and Co-Director of Honors Program, said, "Cold medicine can be very harmful if not given correctly. Many times the harm is from parents overdosing their children or mixing medications. Parents need to make sure they are giving infant medication to infants and children's medicine to children, the concentration and dose are completely different."
Some parents, when their children are sick, want a 'quick fix' without going to the hospital because most can't afford the expense, said WebMD. With cold medicine taken off the shelves, parents would then have to take their children to the doctor.
"In my opinion, this will lead to increased doctors visits for prescriptions, which will adversely effect the economy due to parents missing work to take the children to the doctor. What is needed is increased education and warning inserts that are written in so people without medical training can understand them," said Costa. "Too many words and people tend to stop reading."
Instead of bringing children with a cold to the hospital, other measures should be taken first.
"It depends on the symptoms. Be sure to drink lots of fluids. If the child has a high fever, they must be treated with Tylenol. High fevers are not to be ignored. For babies if there is a fever, do not treat but go to doctor or hospital if the fever is over 100.2," she said. "For a stuffy nose, use steam and saline drops."
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are petitioning the government to ban the use of cold medicine for kids under age six.
This drastic measure is due to the death of Devin Alvarez. According to various media reports, Alvarez's mother noticed his coughing and that his chest was congested. She called their doctor and asked him what they should do. The doctor told them to give the child the cold medicine. Doctors now say that the cold medicine is what killed little Alvarez.
After the death of Alvarez, doctors began a review and found out that decongestant and antihistamines have been linked to 123 infant deaths since 1969.
Doctors have also estimated that children receive 3.8 billion doses of medicine a year, medicine that has never been tested for effects on children since 1972. Some of these cold medicines include Dimetapp, Pediacare, Robitussin and Triaminic products.
Assistant Professor Dr. Christina Costa, Division of Natural Sciences and Co-Director of Honors Program, said, "Cold medicine can be very harmful if not given correctly. Many times the harm is from parents overdosing their children or mixing medications. Parents need to make sure they are giving infant medication to infants and children's medicine to children, the concentration and dose are completely different."
Some parents, when their children are sick, want a 'quick fix' without going to the hospital because most can't afford the expense, said WebMD. With cold medicine taken off the shelves, parents would then have to take their children to the doctor.
"In my opinion, this will lead to increased doctors visits for prescriptions, which will adversely effect the economy due to parents missing work to take the children to the doctor. What is needed is increased education and warning inserts that are written in so people without medical training can understand them," said Costa. "Too many words and people tend to stop reading."
Instead of bringing children with a cold to the hospital, other measures should be taken first.
"It depends on the symptoms. Be sure to drink lots of fluids. If the child has a high fever, they must be treated with Tylenol. High fevers are not to be ignored. For babies if there is a fever, do not treat but go to doctor or hospital if the fever is over 100.2," she said. "For a stuffy nose, use steam and saline drops."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
brebdonera
posted 3/22/10 @ 1:41 PM EST
Good scene, interesting post, thanks.
Post a Comment