Don’t give OTC meds to toddlers: Docs

Don’t give OTC meds to toddlers: Docs

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:26.10.2021

The prevalence of fever, cough and cold during this time of the year has led to increase in the use of over the counter (OTC) medicines. However, the use of OTC medicines which are unsuitable for kids has also seen parents rushing their toddlers to emergency wards.

In one instance, a fivemonth-old had to be taken to hospital after turning blue a day after being given an OTC cough syrup. The baby had choked on milk after becoming drowsy due to the cough syrup. A resuscitation was required to save the baby. In a similar incident, an eightmonth-old fell off the bed and received serious injuries after becoming drowsy due to a cough syrup.

“While it is not very common, we do need to be aware this is a possibility and that cough syrups, paracetamol and antibiotics are not harmless. Cough syrups contain dextromethorphan which has a potential for addiction and lot of teenagers are getting hooked on to these. In case of infants, they can even become unconscious, land in a coma and have a stroke as cough syrups have a vasoconstriction effect,” said Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospital.

Experts said it was also alarming that kids may be unknowingly developing antibiotic resistance. “In rare cases, it can lead to liver failure, unconsciousness, drowsiness and reduced attention. This can happen with overuse of cough syrups, paracetamol syrups and drops. Although very few kids land in emergency, some may experience unpleasant side-effects and develop antibiotic resistance early on in life,” said consultant for paediatrics and pulmonology at Ankura Hospitals, Dr Srinivas Jakka.

In case of cough and cold, some OTC medicines suppress secretions but can have a much severe rebound.

“There will be a reboundwith copious flow of secretions from the nose when you stop these medicines. Prolonged usage can result in something called rhinitis medicamentosa wherein the medicines themselves cause persistent cold. These medicines are definitely not recommended for toddlers,” explained Dr Shivranjani Santosh, chief paediatrician at Magna Centres.

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