Prudent use cough medicine for children

There are many causes such as children cough colds, bacterial infections, viral, allergic reaction to foreign objects... cough medicines only temporarily relieves cough that can not be cured cough. Only when children are using the correct medication, the cough causes coughing to clear. So check to find reasons to use specific medicines without prolonged cough medication.

Cough medicine may be used for children
Dextromethorphan: Drugs are often mixed syrup used as a means for young children, who also have low levels for older children. Do not use this medication for children under 2 years of age (for fear of causing respiratory insufficiency). This drug causes fewer side effects in the gastrointestinal tract, less toxic, but if high doses may cause central nervous system depressants, causing respiratory distress or behaving oddly, may have the phenomenon of fatigue, dizziness , tachycardia, nausea, skin flushing, urticaria.

Codeine: This medicine may be used but should be limited. Use a dry cough when mild or moderate insomnia, inability to reduce coughing with heavy coughs. On reducing cough, do not use this medication for children under 1 year of age (for fear of causing respiratory failure). Avoid in cases of cough and phlegm but has expressed difficulty breathing.

Codeine may impair breathing. Expression is decreased respiratory breathing, with Cheyne Stokes respiration rate type, cyanosis, drowsiness, leading to drowsiness or coma, body soft, cool and moist skin, and sometimes bradycardia and blood pressure, severe cases can be circuit failure, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest leading to death. When using the expression that saw this immediately and urgently stop taking the child to the emergency place.

OTC cold medications: These medications may be used but must be considered. On the market drug coordinate antipyretics, cough suppressant and anti-allergy medication relaxes muscles, bronchial antispasmodic, anti runny nose, stuffy nose... the dosage form of the drug called dual OTC cold medicines (medicines sold without single touch). When these drugs are used to reduce the symptoms so patients preferred.

However, to consider carefully when used in children for two reasons: First, the cytotoxic drug combinations: pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, propylpropanolamin apart toxicity can cause meningioma brain hemorrhage (many countries have banned the use). Second, in addition to the type used for children while adults form in which the levels of highly toxic if used wrong it is dangerous So whether eligible OTC drugs, but when you really need to use and physicians should ask carefully before use.

Illicit drug use in children under 2 years
Phenothiazine derivatives are often made ​​into single-formulary (Phenergan syrup, syrup alimimerazin) used to treat cough due to allergies. Phenothiazine derivatives have very dangerous side effects that impair breathing, apnea, sudden death sleeping children should not be used in children under 2 years of age. Children over 2 years old when needed can use but only to use the lowest effective dose for a short time.