Leading experts do not recommend systemic decongestants (medicines for nasal congestion) in children due to their minor therapeutic effect and potentially serious side effects.

Decongestants are classified as topical (nasal drops and sprays) and systemic tablets, syrups, or sachets that contain phenylpropanolamine, phenylephrine, and pseudoephedrine..

Decongestants are less effective in treating cold symptoms and are best avoided in childhood, new study says.

Scientists say the very little relief from decongestants is not worth the dangers of potent sympathomimetics.

Details are reported by British Medical Journal.

Decongestants and combined preparations with decongestants in the composition (Antiflu, Theraflu, Pharmacitron) can cause dyspeptic symptoms, headaches, insomnia. In children under 2 years of age, drugs in this group are fraught with serious complications, including seizures and heart rhythm disturbances.

Study author Mieke van Driel of the University of Queensland in Australia urges parents to refrain from using systemic decongestants in children under 6 years of age, exercising increased caution until the age of 12. As a last resort, vasoconstrictor drops can be used..

“In most countries of the world, decongestants for children from 6 to 11 years old are prescribed by a doctor, and before that age they are not used.. Children over 12 years of age are now included in studies alongside adults and are not analyzed separately, ”says van Driel..

But some experts, based on their own practice, generally advise against using decongestants under 12 years of age.. According to Leonard Reeves, professor of family medicine at the Georgia College of Medicine (USA), we do not fully understand the effect of these drugs on the child's body..

“Don't give drugs that are limited to a couple of small studies.. On the other hand, their effectiveness in adults is low, so we do not expect other results from larger studies, ”says Dr. Reeves..

How a cold affects a child's body.

The common cold is, in most cases, a viral infection caused by rhinovirus and its " According to doctors, the classic symptoms of the common cold (runny nose, nasal congestion, fever) are the result of our immune system's response to the virus, not the virus itself..

“When you have a cold, the body tries to stop viruses at the entryways - the nasal passages and upper respiratory tract.. The inflammatory response is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membranes and heavy discharge, ”explains van Driel..

The idea of \u200b\u200bnature is to separate the affected cells, surround them with mucus and evacuate (blow your nose) along with millions of viral particles.

The second defense mechanism - heat increases the activity of immune reactions and significantly complicates the reproduction of the virus in the child's body. Therefore, such hated symptoms of a cold, which we are trying in every possible way to suppress with medicines, are to a certain extent necessary for recovery.. If taking ibuprofen or paracetamol with extreme heat and headache is quite acceptable, then oral decongestants are a rather controversial issue.

What can replace systemic decongestants for children?

Van Driel and his colleagues analyzed the results of studies that looked at a wide range of traditional medicines and folk remedies for the common cold, including eucalyptus oil, echinacea tincture, steam inhalation, decongestants, and more..

The conclusions are puzzling: the effectiveness of most of the listed funds could not be proven. It was only found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) and paracetamol significantly lower fever and relieve pain.

When mucus accumulates in the bronchi, it is advisable to take expectorants..

“If parents want to really help their child, saline washes and nasal drops can be used safely.. Young children and the elderly will benefit from treating mucus with an old-fashioned syringe, douche, or rinsing with an Ayurvedic neti pot, ”advises Dr. Reeves.

Despite warnings about decongestants, parents rarely pay attention to the composition of the combined cold medicine - this is a big mistake.. They're lulled into a false sense of security by marketers, but an over-the-counter drug doesn't mean completely safe..

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Finally, if the child's symptoms of a cold are localized (sore throat or runny nose), why give him systemic drugs and \? Better to be treated with targeted topical medications such as nose drops.

Immunity is the best weapon against colds.

Leading Western experts do not approve of the current tendency to give children a bunch of drugs at the same time at the first sneeze, blocking all possible symptoms and body defenses along with them. Instead, it is better to let the child rest and let his immune system do its job.. Only the most severe symptoms, such as a body temperature above 38C or completely blocked nasal breathing, can be treated with medication.

“Based on the scientific evidence available today, we are confident that self-healing of the common cold is the best way, although short-term prescription of decongestants for adult patients may be warranted for nasal congestion,” summarized the authors of the research project on the pages of BMJ.

In general, immunity is the best weapon against colds in adults and children, therefore our task is to maintain it by all available means.. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and avoid unnecessary stress..

“As old people say, if you treat a cold, it will go away in seven days. If it is not treated, it will go away in a week, "

medbe. ru.