It is important for parents to avoid over the counter medications for their infants and toddlers.
This especially includes combination products such as cough medicines with acetaminophen and if you often go to a primary physician for help, ask how much to use.
Not many parents are aware that drug dosages are based on a child's weight rather than a child's age.
A primary physician usually will know that information but if you don't often go to one, it's important for you to have that information in mind when buying any type of OTC remedy for your child.
Giving a child an adult combination cold medication may injure or kill a small child.
Otherwise reputable companies often place adverse effects information in microprint, folded up in a one-inch square in a packaging insert that most people just throw away.
In addition, many parents ignore the instruction to see a physician before giving a child under two medications.
A typical co-pay for a visit to a primary care doctor or pediatrician maybe $15 to $20 or more.
The OTC medication may cost $5 or $6.
The typical child has 6-10 colds per year and these can last 10-14 days each.
During this time, a child will be uncomfortable and unable to sleep well for several days.
Few parents realize that viral upper respiratory infections don't require antibiotics; they just take time.
Coughs and runny noses are a natural defensive reaction of our bodies to rid itself of infections.
Coughing is a naturalreflex that keeps our airways and throat clear; runny noses protect our lower airways by trapping bacteria and viruses.
So what happens when we give something like a cough suppressant to a child (or anyone) because we are annoyed by the sounds of coughing or sniffling? We are preconditioned and have been subliminally trained through media advertising to expect fast results from most of our medications.
One only has to view the typical commercials on tv where a child has a cold or runny nose; the mother gives them a cold medicine and an image of a clock appears and runs off one hour and voila! the child magically appears healthier and even smiling.
The hidden message is that the medicine is safe.
Parents really want to help their children get over their colds.
Little do they know that the OTC medications they have grown up with can do serious damage to their children.
No research conducted anywhere has proven the effectiveness or safety of OTC medications on colds and flus in adult populations.
This despite what companies may claim or some 'everything is good' enthusiasts will claim.
In the end, the high prices drug manufacturers charge for these types of OTC medications and their limited effectiveness in combating colds makes them a waste of hard-earned money.
Most of the time, parents can make their children more comfortable by having on hand a nasal suction device, a humidifier and saline drops when they are congested.
Once you understand that, you should understand that there really is no need for decongestants.
Warm or cold showers may also help relieve congestion.
Parents cangive ibuprofen and acetiminophen to reduce fevers and control pain and may even give them alternately to control a high fever.
Ibuprofen is fine for children and infants near or over 18-20 pounds every six hours.
Acetaminophen is best administered every 4 hours.
If a child is under two,you should have a lower tolerance for signs and symptoms of illness and go to the healthcare system in your community earlier to make sure nothing is missed and to get help on safe support and management methods you can use...
One of the dangers some parents fall into is just assuming that if they give their child less of a cold medicine designed for older children, then every thing will be alright.
That's a big mistake.
In conclusion, prevention may be the best cure for most of us.
Be wary of drug manufacturer's claims.
Remember that your best interest is not their best interest.
OTC medications were created primarily to make money.
The more, the better.
Good habits like washing hands before eating go the furthest in preventing colds and coughs.
The best solution may be taking a spoonful of an immune-system enhancer and antibacterial solution like the new patented Silver Solution from Nutronix Internationaleach morning before school or work and making sure your children's diets are nourishing and well-balanced may be your best defense against common colds and flus.
In the end, we may all have been 'sold hard' by manufactuers of these concoctions on the idea that these medications will somehow help us shorten the length of a cold or flu or relieve the symptoms of the cold or flu.
Symptoms may be relieved somewhat for a short period of time but the ingredients used to do so may harm us.
Think prevention, prevention, prevention first.
Immune-system enhancing products like the New Silver Solution will shorten the time the cold or flu takes to run its course but will not do much to relieve the symptoms if you've already caught a cold or flu.
Used as a prophylactic - a preventive measure-each morning, there is nothing better.
Children are never bothered by the taste because it tastes like fresh water with a slight metallic taste but no after-taste.
The patented New Silver Solution is in this author's opinion an outstanding first line of defense against almost any harmful pathogen you or your family may ever encounter.
It will also save you money and time off work dealing with your child's emergencies.