Kids With Colds: What Won't Hurt

Now we know what doesn't work for kids' colds: over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. An expert panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration agreed Friday that there is no good evidence that most popular remedies for ages 2 to 6 are effective. The panel's report followed the withdrawal of many infant cold products from stores earlier this month because of safety concerns.

Giving antibiotics -- useless against cold viruses -- can also harm by breeding drug-resistant germs.

On the eve of cold season, where does that leave parents of young kids?

With back-to-basic comforts -- at least for toddlers on up. Namely: rest, lots of liquid (tea, water, juice, soup), saline nose drops, a humidifier to relieve congestion, acetaminophen or ibuprofen (in kids' doses) to lower fever, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Avoid aspirin, which may increase risk of Reye's syndrome.

In young children who are congested, mucus can be removed by gently using a nasal bulb. Coughing helps clear mucus from a child's airways and shouldn't be suppressed. Fevers above 103 should be reported to a doctor.

For infants 3 months and younger, call your doctor "at the first sign of illness," advises the AAP. "With a young baby, symptoms can be misleading, and colds can quickly develop into more serious ailments, such as bronchiolitis, croup or pneumonia."

For more help:

http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_Colds.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/PR00038

http://www.noah-health.org/en/lung/conditions/cold/what/children.html

[Join Dr. Ian Paul at noon on Tues., Oct. 23 for a live discussion of children's cold medicines.]