People often make the mistake of thinking that because something is sold over the counter, it is also safe. However, many OTC medications have powerful effects that may be harmful if the medication is not taken exactly as prescribed on the label. One of the most critical things to pay attention to when reading labels is the dosages recommended per age level. In many cases, children's recommended dosages will be half or even less than half of what is prescribed for an adult. And in other cases, labels recommend that medications not be given to children at all, especially when they're under 2 years of age.
Unfortunately, children under 2 still get sick, and it can be difficult for parents to watch their infant or toddler struggling with an illness they can't comprehend. While this has led many to "bend the rules" and give their toddlers a tiny taste of cold medicine in the hopes of alleviating symptoms and making the child feel better, doctors say "don't!"
Children are still growing and developing, and their systems are not as strong as those of their adult counterparts. Medications that can be safely processed by adults may actually be toxic to children. In fact, cough and cold medicine in particular has been responsible for many infant and toddler trips to the emergency room, and has – in more than one case – resulted in fatal overdose.
What doctors are doing about it
In response to increasing episodes of infant ER visits, those in the medical field have ramped up their efforts to educate the public and regulate OTC manufacturers. In 2007, many over-the-counter cold and cough syrup manufacturers in the U.S. voluntarily withdrew their products from the shelves. The following year, these medications were reintroduced with revised packaging aimed at informing parents about the products' proper use. Among the changes were enlarged labels advising parents not to give OTC cough and cold medication to children under 4 years of age.
In November 2013, five years after the change, a study entitled "Cough and Cold Medication Adverse Events After Market Withdrawal and Labeling Revision" appeared in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics. The study, sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, showed that the relabeling and re-education efforts were having the desired effect. ER visits for children below 3 years of age had decreased across the country. Before the campaign to reduce OTC cold medication in infants, these episodes accounted for 4.1 percent of all adverse-drug events resulting in ER visits for children under the age of 2. At the time of the study, that number had declined to 2.4 percent. For children in the 2-3 age range, the number decreased from 9.5 percent to 6.5 percent.
Also important among the findings was that, of the number of current ER visits, growing amounts were caused by unsupervised ingestion. Study authors said that this indicates that the next step in the campaign to end OTC overdose in children may come in the form of improved packaging, such as enhanced child-safety mechanisms, as well as better education on safe storage practices of OTC medications.
What parents can do right now
Parents should always ensure that their medications are out of reach of young children. Placing them on high shelves or tucking them away in a cabinet with a child-safe lock is best. Parents of young children should also carefully read packaging to see whether a child-safe package is available. In addition, children should always be carefully monitored when taking oral medications such as cough and cold syrups.
FLAVORx makes medicinal flavorings that can make medicine time easier for children. Ask your pharmacist how you can get FLAVORx for your child.
