A safe approach to treating kids' colds and flu - In responce to the recent Childrens Cold Medicine Recall

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A safe approach to treating kids' colds and flu - In responce to the recent Childrens Cold Medicine Recall

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With the recent FDA and Doctors' reports about Childrens' Cough and Cold Medicine, I was searching for information about what other options are out there to treat childrens colds or atleast help alleviate the symptoms.

I found this article by By Rx for Health , Dr. Susan Browne of the Eagle-Tribune
 which seemed to prove very imformative.

Concerns this fall by the Food and Drug Administration have led
the makers of several leading over-the-counter children's cold
medications to voluntarily withdraw from the market products designed
for infants.

At issue is whether these medicines are effective -
or even safe - in young children. Parents should familiarize themselves
with cold and flu symptoms and various treatment methods that are often
as effective, if not more so, than any medicine you can buy.

Here is some information to help care for children:

How do I know when it's a cold versus the flu (influenza)?

When
your child has a cold, he often has a runny or stuffy nose. He may also
have a fever, sore throat, cough or hoarseness. Viruses cause most
colds. You can expect a healthy child to get about six colds a year.

The
flu (influenza) is a "bad cold" caused by a virus that infects the
nose, throat and air passages to the lungs. The virus typically causes
a stuffy nose, sore throat and cough. Your child may have more muscle
pain, headache, fever and chills than colds usually cause.

How can I take care of my child?


* Runny nose: If your child has a lot of clear discharge from the nose,
he or she should avoid blowing it because this can make the infection
go into the ears or sinuses. A child's natural instinct of sniffling
and swallowing the mucus is probably better than blowing. For babies,
use a soft rubber suction bulb to take out the mucus.

* Stuffy
nose: Most stuffy noses are blocked by dry mucus. Nose drops of warm
tap water or saline can be as effective, if not better, than any
medication.

Use over-the-counter saline nose drops (such as Ocean) or make your own:

Mix
1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water. Put three drops in
each nostril. (For children younger than 1, use one drop.) Wait one
minute. Have the child blow or use the suction bulb. Use a wet cotton
swab to remove sticky mucus.

* Aches and fever: Give your child
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for fevers over 102
degrees (39 degree Celsius). Do not give aspirin.

* Cough or
hoarseness: Use cough drops for children over 4 years old. Use 1/2
teaspoon corn syrup as needed for children over 1 year old.

More 

For more information, Videos, Pictures, and recent news about the Childrens' Cold Medicine Recall you can visit these websites. 

Consumer News Weekly Article:
Infant childrens' nonprescription cough and cold medicines Recall  

Resource 4 the People Story (Will Legal Resources and Information)
Recall on Children's Cold & Cough Medicine

I will look for some other natural remedies for childrens' colds when I have more time, but if  anyone knows of a good article or website about natural remedies for childrens' colds, feel free to comment.