United States warns about drugs for cough and cold .The medicines too risky for toddlers.Parents should not give sniffling babies and toddlers over- the- counter cough and cold medicines – they’ re too risky for tots so small.
The FDA is issuing a public health advisory to warn parents to avoid these drugs for children under age two “because serious and potentially life –threatening side effects can occur.”
It not the first warning about cold remedies and tots: Drugs companies last October quit selling dozens of visions targeted specifically to babies and toddlers.
The same month, the FDA'S own scientific advisers voted that the drugs don’t even work in small children and shouldn’t be used in preschoolers, either –anyone under age six.
They may still have infant-targeted drugs at home, or they may buy drugs meant for older children to give to hacking tots instead, said Dr Charles Ganley, FDA’s non-prescription drugs chief.“We still have a concern.” Ganley Said.”It falls out of people’s consciousness. We’re still in the middle of cold season right now.”Ganley added that he is particularly concerned by recent surveys that suggest many parents don’t believe OTC cold remedies could pose a problem, especially if they’ve used them with an older child who seemed to get better.
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Excerpted from the Star by AP, January 18,2008
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