Warning after cough medicines kill toddlers

PARENTS were last night urged to ensure their children were given the right dosage of cough and cold medicines after five toddlers in Britain died from overdoses.

The alert came after authorities in Britain decided to impose restrictions on the sales of 117 popular cough and cold remedies aimed at under-twos.

The Irish Medicines Board said yesterday that children under two should never be given cough or cold medicines without advice from a doctor or chemist.

“Our advice for parents or childminders is to seek the advice of a pharmacist or doctor before giving any medication to a child under two years of age,” said Dr Joan Gilvarry, of the Irish Medicines Board.

“Before any medicine is administered to a child, parents should read the patient information leaflet carefully and strictly administer the correct dosage as dictated.

“Special attention should be given to reading the label and ensuring that parents do not exceed the maximum dosage level and frequency.”

In Britain, the 117 brands of cough and cold remedies will no longer be on open sale and will be kept under-the-counter and only sold to parents for children aged two and over.

Parents will also get explicit instructions on how much medicine their youngsters should take.

Packs of cough and cold remedies aimed at toddlers in Britain will be relabelled with strict dosage advice.

Medical authorities in Britain have linked cough and cold remedies to the deaths of five children accidentally given too much medicine by their parents.

The cough and cold syrups have also been linked to 107 suspected serious adverse reactions, it was reported yesterday.

Among the products now sold below-the-counter in Britain are Boots Chesty Cough Syrup One Year Plus as well as Boots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus One Year Plus.

The Irish Medicine Board, which regulates the sale of medicines, said cough syrups and cold remedies were never recommended for under-twos and were not on open sale.

“Parents of children who have symptoms of a cough or cold and an associated temperature should treat the child with the appropriate amount of paracetamol or ibuprofen,” said Dr Gilvarry.

Paracetamol could be used alongside natural cough syrups like those containing glycerol, honey or lemon, she said.

Dr Gilvarry said that cough syrups or cold remedies with active ingredients, such as those formerly on open sale in Britain, should not be used for under-twos.

“Most symptoms of a cough or cold should pass within a number of days and, while they may be uncomfortable for a child, they should improve within two to three days,” she said.

“If symptoms persist beyond this time, medical advice should be sought.”

The medicines board is also taking part in a review of the use of cough and cold syrups for older children.