If your child is coughing DON'T reach for the cough medicine. Parents are being advised about giving cough and cold medicines to children with concerns about their effectiveness and safety. The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) advice about cough and cold medicines for children has changed from 15 August 2012.
- Cough and cold medicines should not be given to children younger than 6 years old.
- Ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for advice before giving cough and cold medicines to children aged 6 to 11 years.
Cough medicines can also sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or constipation.
NPS MedicineWise Head of Programs Ms Karen Kaye says that the new advice reflects that the potential for harm from cough and cold medicines in young children outweighs the potential benefits. “It can be distressing to have a child who has a cough, cold or flu but we have known for some time that there is little evidence for the effectiveness of cough and cold medicines,” says Ms Kaye.
“Parents often think that a medicine is required when their child has a cough or cold, but there are many simple remedies that can help to relieve their symptoms, including making sure your child gets plenty of rest, ensuring they drink plenty of water and avoiding exposing your child to cigarette smoke".
“You can supervise your child while they breathe in steam from a hot bath or shower in a closed room, a drink made with hot water, honey and lemon is a simple and effective home remedy, and for older children an ice cube or a throat lozenge can soothe a sore throat. If your child has a fever (a temperature higher than 38.5°C) and this is making your child uncomfortable or miserable, paracetamol can be given to help ease any discomfort.” says Ms Kaye.
Cough medicines can also sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or constipation.
Reproduced with permission. Visit http://www.nps.org.au
Cough medicines can also sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or constipation.
| Type of medicine | About the medicine | Active ingredient in medicine |
| Demulcents | Demulcents are cough syrups (or cough linctus) that may suppress coughing by forming a protective layer over the throat (pharynx). These can be given to children. | Sugar (sucrose) and glycerol |
| Mucolytics | Mucolytics are cough medicines that make it easier to cough up mucus. They may help your symptoms if you have long-term (chronic) bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Medicines containing bromhexine should not be given to children younger than 6 years old. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for advice before giving to children aged 6 to 11 years. | Bromhexine or acetylcysteine |
| Cough expectorants | Cough expectorants loosen mucus in the respiratory tract, and can be used for coughs that produce mucus (productive coughs). There is little or no information from good quality trials that they are effective for treating coughs in children. Cough expectorants should not be given to children younger than 6 years old. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for advice before giving to children aged 6 to 11 years. | Guaifenesin, ammonium chloride, ammonia, senega, sodium citrate or ipecacuanha |
| Cough suppressants | Cough suppressants suppress the body's urge to cough. There is little or no information from good quality trials that cough suppressants are effective for treating coughs in children, but they can cause side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or constipation. Cough suppressants containing opioids:
| Codeine, dextromethorphan, dihydrocodeine, pholcodine, or pentoxyverine |
