Giving cough medicines to kids do a lot worse than good, say experts

No doubt, this is what GPs have been trying to bark at parents since the end of time – at least that’s been my experience!

Children less than 12 years of age?should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines because they are ineffective and can be harmful, Britain?s medicines regulator will warn.

A simple homemade preparation of honey and lemon is likely to be just as effective as popular remedies such as Lemsip, Day Nurse and Sudafed, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will say this week.

A review concluded that there was ?no robust evidence that these medicines work? in children; it found that they could cause side effects including sleep disturbance, allergic reactions and hallucinations.

New, clearer advice will be published on packets for dosage of children between six and 12 and more research is being done to see what benefits, if any, the medicines have.

Joycellyn Akuffo

Founder and editor of www.motherswhowork.co.uk, a mother of two wonderful children, wife, entrepreneur (check out www.geekschool.co.uk) and journalist.

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