As a mom of two young children, I know how distressing it can be when little ones get sick. Luckily, my children have fared pretty well this winter, but a recent article stating that the flu season hasn’t quite peaked yet has made me worried all over again. Plus – in just this week alone – I have been sent home with two notes from my oldest son’s preschool regarding possible exposure to illnesses like the croup and strep throat. I know we are not in the clear yet, even with spring being right around the corner!
The truth is that sometimes it is really difficult to treat little ones’ symptoms, simply due to a lack of options. Many parents are like me and feel inclined to at least give something to help alleviate common symptoms like runny noses and coughs. In fact, a recent poll stated that more than 40% of caregivers had given their children younger than 4 at least one over-the-counter cough and cold medicine, and 25% had even given decongestants – even though many of these are not even recommended for this age group. It is ironic to think that our little ones catch the most colds but have the least remedies available.
Many products are marketed for nasal symptoms and coughs, but there is very little data that suggest these are effective. The FDA currently states that these products should be avoided in children younger than 2 – something I’ve always recommended and kept in mind for my own children. However, a recent review published last year has me leaning towards a higher cut-off. The British Medical Journal investigated several common decongestants and antihistamine-containing medications in young children, and the results indicated that these products should be avoided in children younger than 6. They found that the medications didn’t help to alleviate symptoms, but side effects like drowsiness and stomach upset were apparent. And – since these products are for symptomatic control only – they did nothing to shorten the duration of the common cold or other viruses.
You may be wondering about “natural” or homeopathic products instead. I have used a brand called Zarbee’s, mainly for the reason stated above – to feel like I was at least doing something to help. Many of the ingredients found in natural products – like honey, zinc, and vitamin C – are perfectly fine to give to children, however may not alleviate symptoms as well as we like them to. They still work as decent supplements to other standards of care, and judicious use of natural products is generally regarded as safe.
Homeopathic products are a little different, as homeopathic medicine follows a unique train of thought that differs from conventional medicine. Homeopathic medicine is not the same as “natural” medicine, herbal medicine, or even Eastern-based medicine. Homeopathic products still use ingredients found in nature, but these ingredients are actually thought to cause the same symptoms. You may be thinking, “Why would you want to give something that causes a runny nose to someone who actually has a runny nose?”
The theory of “like treating like” is that by introducing the body to an ingredient that is causing the same symptom, the body will use its own mechanisms to counteract the symptom. It is a somewhat confusing and interesting train of thought, but this is the basis of homeopathic medicine – in fact, the root word “homeo” refers to “like” or “same,” so it is easy to remember that the ingredient purported to treat is also thought to cause the same symptom.
This ingredient is then diluted down to an extremely small dose. You will always see an “X” in homeopathic ingredients – this refers to how many times the ingredient was diluted down. The theory of dilutions helps the drug to be safe and gentle.
Here is an example of the ingredient label found on a popular homeopathic brand for children’s cough and cold:
Antimonium Sulphuratem Aureum 12X
Kali Iodatum 12X
Senega Officinalix 8X
The “X” refers to the ingredient being diluted 12 times or 8 times. The side effects of these ingredients from homeopathic textbooks are the same as the symptoms they are trying to treat – such as increased mucus and cough – however the dilutions help the product to be void of anything dangerous.
You can see where homeopathic products in general can be a little shaky. There is no standardized dose, and no real way to know how much ingredient is actually in a product. Homeopathic medicine has been around for thousands of years, but never quite makes it to real, evidence-based standards of care. Many studies fail to prove that homeopathic products actually work, so they can’t be recommended as sole therapies, especially for acute or serious issues. My personal take on homeopathic products is this – they most likely don’t work, but they most likely aren’t causing harm either due to the dilution of ingredients. If you feel like something is working (or if you’re in a certain position in which last-ditch efforts are warranted) then I support the product and support people’s choice to use them.
While we don’t have a lot of options as far as medications for our children when it comes to colds and allergies, we can help our little ones in other ways. I like keeping a mentholated run on hand, like Vick’s or a generic brand, to rub on their chest and neck. I have also made my own concoction before by using a few drops of organic peppermint and eucalyptus oils mixed with Aquaphor. You can also rub Vick’s on the soles of the feet of babies to help, as well.
If a child is congested, you can try suctioning with a nasal syringe or bulb. I know firsthand how hard this can be, and although this practice is often recommended by our pediatricians, logistics make this very difficult to do. In fact, my nasal aspirator is probably buried in a bathroom drawer somewhere! My children are very adverse to it, and it has been so long since I’ve attempted to use it. My children do, however, like a nice warm bath right before bed, and the steam helps to loosen the mucus in their nasal passageways. Sometimes I use a few drops of peppermint oil or even a mentholated bubble bath to really enhance the process. Both Johnson’s and California Baby make a nice mentholated bubble bath to help calm symptoms. The use of a vaporizer or humidifier at night is also very helpful, and sometimes saline solution or nasal spray can help to loosen clogged noses.
For fevers or general aches and pains, I like to keep a bottle of children’s ibuprofen on hand. I tend to sway a little more towards ibuprofen then acetaminophen (Tylenol), because ibuprofen has more anti-inflammatory properties. You can use either/or, though, or even alternate between the two products for more severe fevers. Be sure to always be mindful of the product and dosing with fever-reducing agents. For instance, there are different concentrations and dosing between “infant” and “children’s” versions of both medications. Always double-check the dosing and follow package instructions.
A spoonful of honey is also a good remedy for sore throats and chest congestion. Some children don’t like pure honey, so this may not be a suitable option for everyone. If you do like to use natural products, honey is a good ingredient to look for. There are also some reports of honey being helpful in allergies.
It is important to remember that coughs, colds, and other viruses are self-limiting and usually go away after a week or so. Make sure your child goes to bed a little earlier and stays hydrated during this time. It is always a good practice to wash hands and limit time spent with other children when sick. If your child is experiencing severe symptoms or any of the following, be sure to call your doctor.
- A cough lasting longer than 3 weeks
- A fever higher than 102 degrees
- GI issues, like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Not eating or drinking
- Inner ear pain, or evidence of such, like persistent tugging of ear
- Any fever in a newborn less than 2 months of age
If your child suffers from allergies, there may be certain situations in which antihistamines are warranted. Your pediatrician can recommend the appropriate medication at the right dose, if this is the case. The symptoms of allergies can be treated much in the same way as colds. With allergies, other practices like washing bedding and towels in hot water and frequent vacuuming can help remove pollen and other irritants.
I hope these practices are helpful. In my household, we are all ready for warmer weather and less germs!
References
1. 40% of parents give young kids cough/cold medicine that they shouldn’t [news release]. Ann Arbor, MI: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital; April 19, 2013. mottchildren.org/news/archive/201304/40-percent-parents-give-young-kids-coughcold-medicine-they.
2. Nelson R. Do not use decongestants for colds in children younger than age 6. Medscape website. medscape.com/viewarticle/903384. Published October 12, 2018.
