In September the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a detailed study that recommended a complete ban of over-the-counter, oral cough and cold medications for babies and tots under the age of two, and recommended that they not be given to children under the age of 6.
This after incident reports of overdose and in some cases, infants have died. Petitions from various medical organizations, including the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, made the case that cold medicines and cough suppressants are ineffective in children under two, and they could also prove unsafe - especially given the ease by which unsafe, unhealthy dosages could be administered. The potential for overdose could prove lethal for some infants, and has.On Thursday, the makers of Dimetapp, Pediacare, Robitussin, Triaminic, Little Colds, and versions of Tylenol that contain cough and cold ingredients voluntarily agreed to stop selling their products.
CVS Caremark Corp. of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, weighed in that it would also end sales of CVS-brand equivalents of the above-named products.
Okay - so what now? My baby has a cold, and how am I supposed to deal with it?
FDA Pediatrician Dr. Dianne Murphy said in the New York Times this morning that parents and caregivers should consult their pediatrician, adding that cough and cold medicines only treat the symptoms of a cough and a cold--they play no role in making the viruses go away any faster.
Experts agree that most coughs should not be suppressed, as it is the body's natural way of clearing the lungs. A low-grade fever is a sign that the body is fighting an infection-- and the fever is one of the immune system's tools for fighting that infection.
Unless serious complications are present, many hold to the belief that a cough and a cold should just be allowed to play itself out in an infant or small child, with minimal medicinal intervention.
Rather than a product containing an antihistamine, suction bulbs can be used to carefully and gently clear an infant's clogged nasal passages. Saline nose drops can help to loosen the thick stuff, so that the nasal passages will drain more easily on their own.
Don't skimp on the fluids. More is better to fight off a cold.
You may recall your own mother rubbing Vick's Vapo-Rub, or some other fragrant cream on your chest as a child, to help with the stuffiness--and menthol chest creams still offer the potential for relief. However, check for age restrictions.
Always, always, read the label.
Try a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom, to keep the air moist and humid. Air that is too dry will only speed the process of nasal secretions getting crusty and hard, and clogging your child's nose.
Your doctor may recommend ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate discomfort. Read that label to ensure there are no additional medications or ingredients present, and always stick with what your doctor recommends.
Get some rest. Both of you. Your child needs to rest, to help rid himself of the cold sooner. You need the rest, too.
Beyond that, just wait it out. Remember that cough and cold medicines just treat the symptoms but they won't make the cold go away any faster.
While manufacturers have agreed to stop selling infant cold products, there is no word on whether or not refunds, or compensation for medication already on hand, will be offered.
Stay tuned to LawyersandSettlements for additional information.