In 2005, over 1500 children were treated in emergency rooms and three infants died as a result of taking cough and cold medications. All three infants who died appeared to have very high blood levels of pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant. Two of the three were taking both an OTC preparation and a prescription medication at the same time. 

There are no FDA-approved guidelines for giving cold and cough medications to children who are younger than two years old because the dosage at which cough and cold medications are safe for this age group is unknown. 

Which Medications Are Involved
Examples of cough and cold medications include products labeled as:

• Antihistamines
• Anti-pyretics and analgesics (fever reducing and pain relief medications)
• Cough suppressants or “antitussives”
• Expectorants, and
• Nasal decongestants. 

What You Can Do
The following guidelines may help prevent your child from having a serious or fatal reaction to cough or cold medications: 

• Do not give cough or cold preparations to children who are less than two years old without talking to your child’s doctor first. If the doctor recommends an OTC cough or cold preparation, follow the doctor’s instructions precisely. 
  
  
• Parents and care givers should always tell their doctor about any OTC medications being taken, to avoid overdose from other medications that may contain the same ingredient. 
  
  
• As a safer alternative to nasal decongestants for young children, consider using saline nose drops or a cool-mist humidifier.
  
  
• Keep all medications in secured cabinets and out of the reach of children.