| You're probably wondering why you can't find | | | | while, you don't have to suppress it. Cough |
| over-the-counter cold and cough medications | | | | is beneficial to the healing process because |
| for your children lately. You're not alone! | | | | it clears the respiratory system from mucus. |
| Recently the Food and Drug Administration | | | | It only needs treatment when it becomes |
| (FDA) voted that over-the-counter (OTC) cold | | | | excessive. |
| and cough medications should not be used for | | | | |
| children under 6 years of age. This is | | | | While you watch the progression of your |
| because there is not enough evidence to prove | | | | child's cold, there are steps that you can |
| effectiveness of these medications in young | | | | take to improve her odds of improvement: |
| children. Moreover, single-ingredient or | | | | |
| combination cold and cough medications do not | | | | 1. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Clear |
| relieve cold and cough symptoms in children | | | | fluids such as warm tea, water, and soup will |
| under 6 years. | | | | help to thin out your respiratory secretions. |
| | | | Don't forget chicken soup as it works like an |
| Since efficacy of cold and cough medications | | | | expectorant. |
| was determined from data for adults, no | | | | |
| assumptions can be made about safety of the | | | | 2. To battle nasal congestion, use the |
| recommended doses for children. Before you | | | | old-fashioned saline nasal spray. The salty |
| treat your child with an over-the-counter | | | | water in saline nasal sprays is not addictive |
| cold and cough medication, consult with your | | | | like some of the decongestant nasal sprays |
| health care provider. | | | | available over-the-counter and it's very |
| | | | effective in moisturizing nasal mucosa and |
| But don't worry! Cough suppressants need only | | | | controlling congestion. Saline nasal sprays |
| be used when the cough keeps your child up at | | | | are very safe to use even in infants. They |
| night or she is constantly coughing during | | | | can be used even every hour if needed. |
| the day. If she is coughing only once in a | | | | |