FDA cautions against OTC cough and cold medicines for toddlers
On Wednesday, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a statement saying that children under 2 should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicine unless it's because of specific instructions from a healthcare provider.
What is the reason for this public health advisory? The FDA does not say, confining itself to a vague assertion that cough and cold medications may cause "harm" to extremely young children.
However, the Baltimore City Health Department submitted a petition to the federal government asking for tighter regulation of marketing for such drugs on behalf of several Maryland physicians, pointing to studies suggesting that these drugs are neither effective nor safe in children under 2.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) also has some important information about the effects of such drugs on very young children. An interview of theirs with Dr. Adam Cohen, who investigated infant deaths to to cold and cough medicines, is a good resource for some general facts on this topic.
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