Treating the common cold: Tips from the pediatrician

Cough and cold season drives many families to head to the store for supplies like tissues, fever-reducing medications and other remedies to help little ones feel better. But before parents shop the cough-and-cold aisle at the pharmacy, pediatricians suggest they may not need most of these products - and some can be harmful.

"Cough and cold medicines often have not been tested in children and some can have unintended and sometimes dangerous side effects," said Dr. Corinn Cross, a spokesperson for the Itasca-based American Academy of Pediatrics. "When I'm talking with families in my practice, I recommend other ways to help children feel better while they're fighting off a virus."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that from ages 4 to 6 years, cough medicine should be used only if recommended by your child's doctor. After age 6, the medicines are safe to use, but follow the dosage instructions on the package and pay special attention to multi-symptom products which have multiple medications in them, making it easier to give too much medication to a child.

Stuffiness, congestion and sore throats

A stuffy nose, congestion and a sore throat are common cold symptoms and can make a child miserable. The AAP suggests drug-free methods of relieving these symptoms in kids:

• Try a steamy bathroom. Turn the shower on and let the steam build up. Breathing in the warm, moist air can help loosen mucous. After a few minutes, have your child blow his nose.

• Use a cool mist vaporizer. These can also help create a moist environment and can be useful especially at night. Be sure to empty and clean it regularly to prevent buildup of bacteria.

• Use saline drops. These drops can break up thick or sticky mucous. After administering the drops, have your child blow her nose to clear nasal passages. Saline drops can be bought in the store or made at home by using 2mL of table salt to 240 mL of warm tap water.

• Try honey (in children over age 1). It has been shown to be better than cough and cold medicines with dextromethorphan for easing sore throats.

Fever

In some cases, a fever will make a child feel miserable, achy and tired. Using a fever-reducing medication can help the child feel better. Two types of medicines are recommended to treat fever in children: acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

• Acetaminophen is good for reducing fevers and easing headaches. Dosing instructions usually call for a dose no more than once every four to six hours.

• Ibuprofen works for reducing fever, and easing muscle aches. Dosing instructions recommend giving this medication no more than once every eight hours.

But according to Cross, fever doesn't always need to be treated.

"Fevers have a tendency to scare parents, but they are a natural part of fighting illness," Cross said. "If your child is feeling OK and the fever is under 101 degrees, it might be better to just let it run its course. Treat your child, not the number on the thermometer."

Medication safety

Anytime you are giving medication to a child, read all medication labels and know what active ingredients are in each product, Cross recommends.

How medication is given is just as important as what medication is given.

The AAP recommends that parents use only the dosing device that comes with the medication - not kitchen teaspoons or tablespoons. Find a way to keep track of when medication is given.

"When giving medication to a sick child, it's very important to write down how much is given and when," Cross said. "Often there are several people taking care of a sick child, and having a written history that everyone can see can prevent medication dosing errors."

A 2014 study published in the journal Pediatrics found that on average, every eight minutes a child in the United States receives the wrong medication or the wrong dosage. Cough and cold medicines and pain relievers were responsible for about 25 percent of errors. Although most of the mistakes didn't require medical treatment, there were still about 1,900 hospital admissions and 25 deaths.

Because cough and cold medications often contain more than one active ingredient, children are more likely to receive double doses.

Prevention counts

While there are treatment options, experts agree: avoiding getting sick should be the first line of defense.

The AAP recommends that all children older than 6 months of age receive a flu shot. The flu shot reduces the likelihood of getting the flu, and reduces the risk of complications from the flu.

Regular hand-washing, especially after using the bathroom and before eating, is important to limit the spread of viruses.

Talk with your pediatrician about preventing illnesses, and for specific guidance on treating colds and flu, including when a doctor visit may be warranted.

For more information on preventing and treating colds and viruses, visit www.HealthyChildren.org.

• Children's Health is a continuing series. This week's article is courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Itasca.