If you're a parent, you may be confused as to what to give your child when he has a cold. Recently many children's cold medicines were removed from drugstore shelves after an FDA review showed concerns about the safety of these medications for use in children under the age of six. This leaves parents with few options for treating the irritating symptoms of a cold. It may surprise you to learn that over 700 different over the counter products have been developed for relief of the common cold. Unfortunately, most of these medications have not been shown to be beneficial in shortening the duration of cold in either children or adults or even particularly helpful in relieving the symptoms. Here are some of the types of children's cold medicine and their potential risks and benefits:

Antihistamines

Studies in adults have suggested that antihistamines can modestly reduce the symptoms of a cold. There have been few well designed studies looking at the benefits of antihistamines for relief of children's cold symptoms, although several small studies showed little symptom improvement. Some antihistamines used for cold treatment can have significant side effects including sedation, dizziness, blurred vision, and in some cases even respiratory depression and coma, particularly if taken in large doses. Children are more prone to developing these serious side effects than are adults.

Decongestants

Three of the most common ingredients found in nasal decongestants are pheylpropanolamine, phenylephrine, and pseuoephedrine. These ingredients are not without their side effects, particularly in children. These can include a rapid heart rate, irritability, heart rhythm irregularities, and seizures. Although studies have shown these medications can reduce symptoms of nasal congestion and sneezing in children, they have not been documented to be safe or effective in children or infants.
Topical Decongestants

Topical decongestants are decongestants applied directly to the nasal cavity. Although these medications have been shown to be effective in adults suffering from cold symptoms, a potential side effect is worsening of nasal congestion when these products are used for more than a few days. In infants, this rebound nasal congestion can cause respiratory obstruction since infants breathe primarily through their noses. Thus, topical decongestants are not considered safe for use in infants.

Nonprescription Treatments

A variety of nonprescription treatments have been used in an attempt to shorten the duration of cold symptoms. The herb Echinacea has shown mixed results in studies looking at its effectiveness. When several large studies were analyzed, results suggested that it may shorten the duration of a cold and even decrease the likelihood of getting a new one. Unfortunately, a more recent well controlled study showed no effect from this herb. Zinc lozenges have also been used in an attempt to decrease cold symptoms and shorten its duration. This has been met with some success, at least in adults, when started within twenty four hours of symptom onset. Unfortunately, many people can't tolerate the side effects which include a metallic taste in the mouth and nausea. Other nonprescription methods that have shown minimal effectiveness against children's colds include humidified air and menthol vapor therapy.

Unfortunately, this doesn't leave parents with many viable options for relieving their children's cold symptoms. Possibly the best solution is to give Tylenol or Advil to relieve the aches and reduce fever and two teaspoons of honey at bedtime to help relieve cough frequency. Fortunately, the cold virus tends to run its course within a week and your child will be back to normal.