Antihistamines Likely to be Given to Children for Treatment of Cold and Cough
Doctors are likely to prescribe anti-histamines instead of
cough and cold medicines to children up to age of 12 to treat respiratory
infections.
Researchers at Rutgers
University verified 3.1 billion pediatric ambulatory clinic and emergency
department visits in the United States from 2002 to 2015. It was found that
physicians ordered approximately 95.7 mn cough and cold medications, 12 percent
of which contianed opioids. Cough medications usually contain opioids such as
codeine and hydrocodone. There is no evidence about the efficacy of such
medications in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has
recommended avoiding cough and cold medicines in children under 6. |
The American Food and Drug
Administration had issued a directive in 2008 to decrease the use of cough and
cold medications. Ever since the prescriptions for such medicines have fallen
56% & for non-opioid and cold medicines for children under 2 and 68% for
opioid-containing medicines under 6.
At the same time, researchers
saw a 25 percent increase in doctor recommendations for antihistamines to treat
respiratory infections in children under 12. “Sedating antihistamines such
as diphenhydramine [Benadryl] may have a small effect on some cold symptoms in
adults,” said Horton. “However, there is little evidence that antihistamines
actually help children with colds feel better or recover faster. We do know
that these medicines can make kids sleepy and some kids quite hyper.”
“It is nice to see physicians
are heeding the advice to avoid cough and cold medications for children, but
switching them to antihistamines is not necessarily an improvement,” said
co-author Brian Strom, chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has various suggestions for treating
children with the cold or flu, including use of over-the-counter medicines for
pain or fever, honey to relieve cough in children over 1 year old, and plenty
of rest and hydration.
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