With winter approaching, many parents are preparing for cold and flu season.Infants usually have at least 6 colds a year.
In previous generations, parents may have reached for cough syrup to relieve dry and chesty coughs.
But now cough syrup is known not very effective For treating cough in children.
and in it Growing Evidence of Harm Due to the risk of poisoning and death, many countries, including Australia, have restricted cough medicines and cannot administer cough medicines to children under the age of 6.
What’s in your cough medicine?
The active ingredients in cough syrups vary according to their claimed benefits. They may contain cough suppressants (which weaken the body’s cough reflex), expectorants, and mucolytics (both of which help clear phlegm).
Other over-the-counter cold and flu medicines often contain sedatives to relieve nasal congestion and sedative antihistamines to relieve sneezing, stop a runny nose, and help you sleep.
The most risky drugs are: Sedative, such as sedating antihistamines and opioid-based cough medicines. Although sedation may be a desirable effect for parents of sleepless children, young children are particularly at risk of serious harm and death. Sedatives can also cause agitation and hyperactivity.
Cough syrups that do not contain sedatives are considered safer, but there are few studies on the safety and effectiveness of these products in children.Adverse events, including agitation and psychosis Overuse has been reported.
Overuse can be caused by parents misreading labels, deliberately overdosing in hopes of better results, inadvertently overdosing, or using inaccurate measuring devices such as household spoons. It can be caused by doing
How are cough syrups restricted?
Small children under the age of 2 Highest risk of fatal overdose From cough syrup. However, Australia’s drug regulator recommend against Use cough syrup for people under 6 years old.
Therefore, there are no dosing instructions for children under the age of 6 on the label of these products.
Cough syrup is still available for older children and adults. The pharmacist may ask the person’s age and give advice on dosage and proper use.
Our research today Australian Journal of Medicinehave shown that limiting the use of cough and cold medicines in children significantly and sustainably reduces addiction.
Our study looked at medication errors, adverse events at the correct dose, and accidental ‘exploratory uptake’ such as when young children go to the medicine cabinet on their own.
The government mandated relabeling of these products in 2012 and 2020.
In 2012, medicated cough and cold medicine labels were no longer able to list instructions for administration to children under the age of 6 and had to carry additional warnings.
In 2020, a warning was issued that sedating antihistamines should not be used in children under the age of two. Any Reason (such as allergies or hay fever).
As a result, the call rate to the poison center has been halved, and the hospitalization rate has also been halved. Despite this, the Australian Poisons Center still receives hundreds of calls a year regarding these products for young children.
When can I use cough syrup?
Harm has been recorded mainly in younger children. This is probably due to their small size, which requires less drug to cause harm, and their well-developed brains, which are more susceptible to sedation.
Cough syrup can be used by children between the ages of 6 and 11 still need attention. Use these products only after consulting with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Several herbal products are available and marketed for children. hedera helix (ivy leaf extract).Unfortunately, there is no convincing evidence for these drugs Significantly improve cough symptoms. However, the risk of poisoning is low.
Simple syrups without drugs are also effective. Up to 85% effective The effect of cough medicine is believed to be due to the “placebo effect”.
This may be because the syrup coats the throat and soothes that pungent, tickling sensation.
So what can I do for my child?
The best thing you can do for your children is to give them rest and reassurance.
Antibiotics are needed only if a doctor makes a diagnosis of acute bacterial pneumonia Or with chronic cough due to bacterial infection, such as prolonged bacterial bronchitis, whooping cough, or whooping cough. lung abscess.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used if you have fever, pain, along with a cough. Please check the correct dosage indicated on the package according to your child’s weight and age.
Consider giving honey to children over 12 months of age if they have a wet cough (productive phlegm).Evidence is growing Honey can reduce mucus production Therefore, the amount of coughing also changes.
Rose Cairnspharmacy lecturer, University of Sydney and Nile WheatAssociate Professor, Sydney School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney.
This article is reprinted from conversation Under Creative Commons License.read Original work.
