No need for children’s cough syrups

If a child enters the pediatrician’s office with a cough, it is very likely that they will come out with a prescription for a syrup. Many times it is the parents themselves who buy these products that are advertised on television and They are sold without a prescription.

However, the most appropriate treatment for uncomplicated cough from the common cold or flu in children is do not administer any drugs According to a study led by Dr. Mieke van Driel of the University of Queensland, published in the British Medical Journal.

Their study has been confirmed by a Cochrane research review, a reference for evidence-based medicine, which confirms that honey is a more effective treatment and with fewer side effects than over-the-counter cough medicines for children.

Cough medicines are not effective, but they are dangerous

Doctors and parents want to do something to relieve children, however, there is no evidence to show the efficacy of these drugs, but there are about its side effects. Due to them, they are not recommended for children under 2 years of age. Potential side effects include cardiac arrhythmias, decreased attention, and even hallucinations.

Van Driel recommends that pediatricians, instead of prescribing drugs for children under 6 years of age, which practically do not help and are potentially toxic, offer parents a simple natural treatment that consists of increase fluid intake, including warm infusions with diluted honey (Children under one year of age should not take honey because of the risk of it being contaminated with botulism bacteria).

The author of the study acknowledges that coming out with a prescription reassures parents, but it is the job of pediatricians to inform them that the products are not effective, that they have side effects, and that they must trust in the body’s ability to heal itself from an infection. mild viral.

Honey is more effective than dextromethorphan

Honey is safer and more effective than dextromethorphan, one of the active ingredients in cough syrups, according to a study led by Dr. Ian M. Paul and published in the Journal of the Medical Association. Honey is also good for reduce sleep disturbance.

Another natural and beneficial measure is application of nasal washes with a saline solution to decrease congestion. This application must always be carried out with sterilized solutions.

Although it is especially important that children are not overloaded with drugs, these They are also not recommended for adolescents and adults. Drugs are only needed if you have difficulty breathing or a medical examination of your lungs, ears, or throat reveals a bacterial infection that cannot be treated in any other way.

Scientific references: