Cough syrup may harm toddlers; City pharmacist supports study

From the Peterborough (Ont.) Examiner:
Giving cough and cold medication to a child younger than two could do more harm than good, a Peterborough pharmacist says.

Marwah Younis, of Westmount Pharmacy on Charlotte Street, said the medicine in babies could lead to liver problems, over-stimulate the heart or cause an allergic reaction such as hives, itching and pronounced red spots on the skin.

The best way to treat babies with a cough is to use a dehumidifier for congested coughs, or a humidifier for dry coughs, and ensure the child is well-hydrated, she said.

Younis's comments followed news reports of a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found cough and cold medications send about 7,000 American children under the age of 11 to hospital emergency rooms each year. ...more