Parents Seek Solutions For Common Cold Symptoms
Over-The-Counter Cough & Cold Medicine Not Recommended For Young Children
POSTED: 3:04 pm EST November 24,
2008
UPDATED: 12:01 pm EST November 26,
2008
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BOSTON -- A local pediatrician is advising against giving cough and cold medicine to children younger than 6, and the warning has many parents wondering the best ways to relieve symptoms.As NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported, the warning has many parents wondering the best ways to relieve symptoms.
Parents Seek Solutions For Common Cold SymptomsAll the parents and kids were smiling during a class at Gymboree in Newton, Mass., on Tuesday. The music wasn't the only reason for the good moods. No one in the class is currently fighting a cold."He gets a cold every couple of months. He's always catching something," said Royce Weiner, Henry's mother."Tis the season," said Dr. Sean Palfrey, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center.Palfrey knows how tough it is to see your kids coughing, sneezing and running fever."Even though these are the things that annoy us the most, these are the body's way of getting rid of the virus," he said.But Palfrey wants to remind parents that parents should not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to kids younger than 6 to relieve symptoms."They don't work. And there have been cases where some of the ingredients are poisonous," he said.Palfrey says what works is lots of fluids, saline drops for the nose and a humidifier. He says acetaminophen and ibuprofen are OK as well. He insists a little common sense will get everyone through."They can wash their hands. They can cough into their elbow," Palfrey said.
Parents Seek Solutions For Common Cold SymptomsAll the parents and kids were smiling during a class at Gymboree in Newton, Mass., on Tuesday. The music wasn't the only reason for the good moods. No one in the class is currently fighting a cold."He gets a cold every couple of months. He's always catching something," said Royce Weiner, Henry's mother."Tis the season," said Dr. Sean Palfrey, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center.Palfrey knows how tough it is to see your kids coughing, sneezing and running fever."Even though these are the things that annoy us the most, these are the body's way of getting rid of the virus," he said.But Palfrey wants to remind parents that parents should not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to kids younger than 6 to relieve symptoms."They don't work. And there have been cases where some of the ingredients are poisonous," he said.Palfrey says what works is lots of fluids, saline drops for the nose and a humidifier. He says acetaminophen and ibuprofen are OK as well. He insists a little common sense will get everyone through."They can wash their hands. They can cough into their elbow," Palfrey said.Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
