Emory Reyes
The following research is done in part in order to show parents that giving
their children cough medicine when their kids are sick is not the most effective
method in alleviating cold symptoms. Studies have shown that there were no
significant changes in the children who took cough medicine over those who did,
and that the active ingredient in the syrup, dextromethorphan, was not effective in
its advertised usage. This review of cough medicine not only debunks cough
medicine as an effective alleviant, but also offers alternatives for parents such as a
teaspoon of honey of cough syrup or gargling with salt water. Possible sources of
conflict include pharmaceutical companies who promote the use of cough medicines
and other scientists supporting its usage.
Bedridden and miserable, I laid in bed sucking in haggard breaths as an
occasional cough forced me to turn over. I clutched at a stuffed animal in my small
arms, letting the coughs rack my body until salvation appeared in the form of my
mother. Armed with a bowl of soup and a bottle of Dimetapp, my mother pushed the
liquids into me Like many children who blissfully ignored the principles of hand
washing and willingly rolled around in dirt during recess, I often got sick from
recess games or from touching germy surfaces. With a previously unexposed
immune system, I found myself sick for many days at a time with a horrible cough,
stuffy nose, a sore throat and eye sockets that seemed to radiate pain so badly it felt
like my eyes were popping out, though I was pretty pleased I did not have to go to
school. One of the first things my parents did when I was sick besides put me
straight to bed was give me a spoonful of Dimetapp cough medicine and a glass of
water, hoping that I would feel better. However, being the rebellious child, the cough
medicine had the opposite effect on me, and I subsequently threw it back up.
Like my mother who insisted on spooning dosages of purple liquid into me,
many parents similarly spooned children’s cough medicine to alleviate the
symptoms of the cold. Acting with good intentions, parents almost always reach for
cough medicine at the first complaints of a runny nose or a cough, hoping that the
symptoms will subside as quickly as possible or go away. Dimetapp, Tylenol, and
Pediacare have all become household names as a seemingly cure-all for most
complaints. Despite the heavy advertising promising relief and generations of
household usage, products such as Children’s Tylenol or Children’s Dimetapp for
Cold or Cough, may not be as effective as they seem.
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of cough medicine by giving
children varying dosages of dextromethorphan, an active ingredient in cough
medicine and did not show any significant changes in the symptoms of the children.
Researchers first administered dosages based on the children’s age rather than their
weight, adding to the amount of subjectivity of the drugs’ effectiveness. Factors such
as the duration of the illness, the frequency of the cough, and the child’s ability to
sleep stayed consistent throughout the study despite the varying dosages,
suggesting that the cough medicine was not a huge factor in alleviating the
symptoms. Side effects such as nausea and dizziness became more prevalent in
children who received higher dosages, also suggesting that the cough medicine
actually had a more adverse effect rather than the intended purpose.
Previous research also agreed that cough medication is ineffective.
Researchers in another clinical trial from 1985, found no clear advantages in
children who took the actual medication over children who took a false dosage.
Furthermore, they have shown that the dosages that were created for children had
no consideration of the differing airway size, sinus development or chest wall size in
comparison to adults.
Several health risks also pose a problem when giving children cough
medicines, despite the active ingredients supposedly being safe and effective for
children. Parents especially struggle with the varying dosages from one kind of
medication to another. Too many dosages of the medicine, multi-drug use without
knowing the active ingredients, and using an adult formulation for a child could
potentially cause nausea, vomiting, hospitalizations, or worse complications.
Researchers at the Food and Drug Administration also showed that 54 fatal cases
have been linked to cough medicine usage, many of these cases rooted in parents
who accidentally overdose their children with the medicine, many of the children 2
years or younger.
Alternatives besides using cold medicine for treating the common cold exist.
Gargling a mug of warm salt water for 30 seconds can easily alleviate the sore throat
that children get while coughing can be alleviated with throat sprays or cough
drops. Drinking plenty of fluids such as water is very essential to getting better as
well as eating foods that are rich in vitamins. According to Dr. Michele Peterson
from HealthEast Woodbury Pediatric Clinic in Woodbury, Minnesota, children
should drink very warm or cold fluids such as ginger ale, diluted juice, or hot
chocolate. Citric juices such as orange juice should be avoided, as they may be too
acidic. Researchers also recommend giving children a spoonful of honey over cough
medicine. Citing another clinical trial in children showed that children who received
honey as opposed to those who received no treatment had a significant amount of
improvement in their symptoms.
Even as a college student, I still find myself occasionally subjected to
illnesses. However, when I report my illnesses to my mother over the phone, she
still tries to get me to take medications out of good intention. Yet with a newfound
knowledge of the current efficiency of cough medicines, I can tell my mother that I
have found alternative ways to get better in hopes that I can educate new parents on
how to care for their children. My mother still insists upon cough medicine, but I
suppose some habits die hard.