Otolaryngologists recommend traditional treatments for colds in infants and young children. Nasal suction, room humidification and saline instillation are much safer than routinely used over-the-counter cold remedies by parents, warn American scientists in the pages of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
As reported by the authors of the study, over-the-counter cold remedies are commonly used in young children to relieve ailments associated with upper respiratory tract infections, such as acute otitis media, paranasal sinuses and the common cold.
On the basis of the questionnaires, it was found that parents and caregivers most often use such agents as paracetamol in combination with pseudoephedrine, various types of specificity for colds and fever (of unspecified composition) and antitussives (of unspecified composition). According to statistics, twice as many children take over-the-counter drugs than those prescribed by pediatricians.
Dr. David Tunkel explains that parents give these drugs to their children in good faith because they are healing themselves. Unfortunately, there are no data confirming the effectiveness of their use in children. It is known, however, that they can be very harmful to young children.
According to the authors of the study, pediatricians and pediatric ENT specialists should warn parents and guardians about the risk of using this type of drugs, and the labels should clearly indicate the age limits from which the use of a given drug is safe.
According to laryngologists, traditional methods such as moisturizing, anesthesia and rinsing should be standard methods of home treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, including chronic and acute otitis media.
The authors of the study emphasize that it is necessary to conduct further detailed studies of the effectiveness and harmfulness of over-the-counter drugs in the treatment of infants and young children. (PAP)