| Children | Adults | Teachers | Medical |
Oklahoma City, OK -- Allergy season is upon us, and many consumers will reach for over-the-counter products to help ease symptoms of runny noses and watery eyes; however, some of these products can produce serious side effects in children.
"Antihistamines are commonly used to treat allergies as well as cough and cold symptoms. In addition to the possible side effects of the medications, there is a danger of unintentional overdose," said Scott Schaeffer, assistant managing director of the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. "Children may find the medicine on a table top and swallow it or a family member may give them a dose of a multisymptom cold medication along with allergy medication." If multiple medications need to be given, parents and caregivers should carefully read medication labels to make sure that ingredients aren’t duplicated. If there is any question, contact your pharmacist, physician or the Oklahoma Poison Control Center.
Serious side effects, such as seizures, are more likely to occur in younger children and could be of greater risk to infants than to older children or adults. In general, children are more sensitive to the effects of antihistamines. Also, nightmares, unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness or irritability are symptoms that are more likely to occur in children. In accordance with the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration, no OTC antihistamines or cough and cold medicine should be given to an infant or child under 2 years of age.
Only use the measuring spoons or cups that come with the medicine or those made specially for measuring drugs. Do not use common household spoons to measure medicines for children since household spoons come in different sizes and are not meant for measuring medicines.
Choose OTC cough and cold medicines with childproof safety caps when available, and store the medicines out of the reach of children. Do not use these products to make your child sleepy.
Call a physician, pharmacist or other health care professional if you have any questions about using cough or cold medicines in children 2 years of age and older.
Pharmacists and registered nurses at the poison center are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the Poison Helpline at (800) 222-1222. Do not e-mail the poison center or a member of the poison center staff, as poisoning emergencies are not handled through e-mail. The Oklahoma Poison Control Center is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center. For more information, please visit www.oklahomapoison.org.
The Oklahoma Poison Control Center web site is provided free of charge to the public as an informational and educational tool. This web site is NOT intended as a substitute for a consultation with the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. The center is a statewide program operated by The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in cooperation with Children's Hospital at the OU Medical Center. Our pharmacists and nurses are specially trained poison experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.