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How Can I Safely Relieve My Child's Cold Symptoms?

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Special care needs to be taken when deciding what kind of medicine to give your children.

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By LORI BOWERS, MD

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 17, 2008

The upper respiratory infection known as the common cold is one of the most common diagnoses I make as a pediatrician, second only to ear infections. More than 200 million colds are diagnosed every year in the United States, accounting for 26 million days of missed school, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children are most prone to catching a cold virus when they are exposed to other children in close quarters, such as at school or day care. The average child contracts this ailment three to nine times a year. Your child could potentially come down with cold symptoms every six weeks!

In an otherwise healthy child, this self-limited illness usually runs its course within seven to 10 days. However, your child (and therefore you) can feel miserable while suffering from a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a cough, a sore throat or other cold symptoms.

A year ago, after the Food and Drug Administration reviewed safety data for over-the-counter cough and cold medications, makers of these remedies for infants voluntarily pulled the products off the shelf. An FDA pediatric advisory panel then unanimously recommended that parents and caregivers not give OTC cough and cold medicines to children younger than 2 because of potentially dangerous side effects. In fact, the majority of panel members voted against their use in children younger than 6.

The FDA discovered that nearly 6 percent of all emergency room visits for children younger than 12 were related to adverse reactions from OTC cough and cold medications. Rare but serious side effects associated with antihistamines include dizziness, hallucinations and increased heart rate. Decongestants can cause irritability, heart palpitations, headache and hypertension. Cough suppressants may result in confusion, irritability and sedation. In addition, there is little or no evidence that these medications really even help children.

There are some safe ways to help your child cope with cold symptoms. To relieve a stuffy nose, purchase saline nose drops or make your own by mixing a half-teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of water. Place a few drops in your child's nose and let the saline sit for a minute to help loosen congestion before gently using bulb suction. You also can use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in your child's room to increase air moisture and help your child breathe easier. Don't forget to change the water and clean the machine frequently.

Coughs associated with colds help expel mucous secretions and protect the respiratory tract. If chronic coughing interferes with sleep and your child is older than 1, try giving him or her a teaspoon of buckwheat honey. Don't give honey to children younger than 1 because it may cause a severe and fatal illness known as botulism. In a recent study, buckwheat honey proved better at improving cough symptoms than dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant.
For fever and pain relief, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen sparingly, and only as directed for a child's age and/or body weight.

Remember that thorough and frequent hand washing can help prevent the spread of cold germs.

Contact your child's physician if the cold symptoms persist more than seven to 10 days, if a fever lasts more than 72 hours or if your child develops difficulty breathing.

Dr. Bowers is an assistant professor of pediatrics at USF Health.

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