Cold medications proving deadly to infants: NewsTarget.com

Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines can injure or even kill children younger than 2, according to a new study appearing in the Jan. 12 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the CDC.

Three infants from 1 month old to 6 months old died in 2005 after being given either prescription or over-the-counter cough and cold medications -- or both -- while more than 1,500 children younger than 2 were treated in emergency rooms for health issues caused by such medicines between 2004 and 2005.

Autopsies of the three deceased infants revealed that cold medications were the cause of death. All three infants' medical examinations showed high levels of pseudoephedrine -- the nasal decongestant ingredient in cold medications that can be used to make meth and was recently removed from many cold products -- in amounts nine to 14 times the levels recommended for children 2 to 12 years old.

One baby had been given both a prescription cold medication and an over-the-counter medicine, both of which contained pseudoephedrine. Two children were also given prescription cold remedies that contained carbinoxamine -- an antihistamine the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned from production in September 2006, though some products containing carbinoxamine are likely still being distributed.

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Cold medications proving deadly to infants

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