Post #38 The Common Cold

It's been around for centuries, and there is no cure. Millions of people every year are miserable because of it, but there is no vaccine. It is the common cold.Back in the 16th century, folks dubbed it a "cold" because symptoms seemed to pop up in conjunction with exposure to cold weather.Today, science has identified more than 200 different types of cold viruses that are specific to humans.Most children will catch six to 12 colds per year, typically in rapid succession and usually in the wintertime – and this is actually quite normal.Kids with colds can be quite miserable, leaving parents desperate for relief and pediatricians quite frustrated at their inability to treat it. Since doctors can't treat the virus, parents are often eager to treat the symptoms.Unfortunately cough and cold medications do not work.You're probably surprised to hear that, especially since countless options line the aisles of pharmacies. But decades of research on cough and cold medications have shown a lack of effectiveness in children.More concerning is the fact that cough and cold medications can actually cause dangerous side effects in children, even to the point of death. In January 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory for parents and caregivers stating that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products should not be used to treat infants and children less than 2-years of age because of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.The American ...
Source: A Pediatrician's Blog - Category: Pediatricians Source Type: blogs