Cough and Cold Medications May Be Lethal to Infants

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Cough and Cold Medications May Be Lethal to Infants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 11 - After investigating the deaths of three infants between 1 and 6 months of age linked to cough and cold medication use, officials with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are emphasizing that these drugs should be used only after talking with a physician.

Dr. A. Srinivasan and colleagues at the CDC note in the January 12th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that during 2004 and 2005, approximately 1500 children less than 2 years old were treated in US emergency departments for adverse events associated with cough and cold medications.

For each of the three dead infants, a medical examiner or coroner determined that the cough and cold medications were the underlying causes of death.

Blood levels of the decongestant pseudoephedrine at autopsy ranged from 4700 to 7100 ng/mL; that compares to plasma concentrations of 180-500 ng/mL expected after therapeutic dosing in children ages 2 to 12 years old.

"Because of the risks for toxicity, absence of dosing recommendations, and limited published evidence of effectiveness of these medications in children aged < 2 years, parents and other caregivers should not administer cough and cold medications to children in this age group without first consulting a health-care provider and should follow the provider's instructions precisely," the authors advise.

In an editorial note, the CDC says controlled trials indicate that cough and cold medications are no more effective than placebo in children younger than 2 years of age.

Furthermore, the American College of Chest Physicians in 2006 released clinical practice guidelines for management of cough, advising clinicians to refrain from recommending cough suppressants.

Safer and probably more effective treatments for young patients' symptoms include softening nasal secretions with saline nose drops or a cool-mist humidifier, then clearing nasal congestion with a rubber suction bulb.

Mor Mortal Wkly Rep CDC Surveill Summ 2007;56:1-4.

Claudia French RN, LPHAcfrench180 Assistant Director International Medical Veritas Associationhttp://imva.info/

Federation for Safe and Effective Medicinehttp://web.mac.com/medicalveritas/iWeb/FSEM/FSEM.html

MagnesiumForLifehttp://www.magnesiumforlife.com/ Diabetics International Foundationhttp://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/