Cold medicine that is safe and effective for children & bull; hello healthy

The flu can actually heal on its own. However, accompanying flu symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, aches and muscle aches can be really debilitating, especially when experienced by children. The good news is, there are a number of child flu medications that are safe and effective for young children.

Cold medicine for children at the pharmacy

The flu is a viral infection that can affect anyone at any age. However, children will catch the flu more often because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight off the virus.

Don't let your little one fuss so badly it drags on because of the flu. Give the medicine when the child has started showing flu symptoms. You can find these flu medicines in stalls, pharmacies, drug stores, to large supermarkets without having to redeem a doctor's prescription.

1. Paracetamol

Paracetamol is effective for relieving flu symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, muscle aches and aches. However, this drug should only be given to children over 3 months of age.

Even though it is sold over the counter without a doctor's prescription, use this drug in accordance with the rules of use stated on the drug packaging.

If your child has a history of certain diseases, you should consult before you give this cold medicine.

2. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is also on the list of cold medicines that are safe for children. Apart from reducing fever and relieving pain, this drug is also effective for treating inflammation in the body.

Unfortunately, not all children can take this drug. Especially if your little one has a history of chronic diseases, such as asthma and kidney or liver disease. Therefore, you should first consult a doctor before giving this drug to treat children's flu.

3. Saline liquid

For adults, nasal congestion due to flu can be uncomfortable. Can you imagine if this condition is experienced by children?

Fortunately, this condition can be relieved by using saline, aka nasal sprays. Saline is a salt water solution used to moisten the respiratory tract and soften mucus (mucus). Now, after the snot softens, suck the liquid on the baby's nose with a snot suction tool.

However, make sure you have consulted your doctor before doing this method.

Always check the list of drug ingredients

Never give aspirin or medicines containing aspirin to children. Use of aspirin in children can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious disease that affects the liver, brain and blood.

Therefore, if you want to give over-the-counter drugs without a doctor's prescription to relieve the symptoms of accompanying flu that your little one is experiencing, it's important to always check the composition label.

Currently, many over-the-counter children's flu medicines on the market are a combination of various kinds of symptom relievers, ranging from fever reducers, pain relievers, antihistamines, decongestants and so on. A number of combination drugs may contain drugs that are actually not safe if consumed by your little one.

Instead of choosing a combination drug, choose a single drug to treat one specific symptom. If you are worried about the composition of the drug or the safety of the medicine that you are going to give your little one, don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist or doctor directly.

Antivirus, the most effective cold medicine for children

Antivirus is included in the list of flu drugs that are effective and safe for children to drink. This medicine can help prevent, relieve flu symptoms, as well as make you quickly choose from getting sick.

Various studies have shown that treating the flu with antivirals can reduce the risk of ear infections and the use of antibiotics in children 1 to 12 years of age. Not only that, this drug is effective in preventing serious flu complications, pneumonia, bronchitis, and even death.

Antivirus works very effectively if taken at least 48 hours (2 days) after exposure to the influenza virus or when your little one starts experiencing flu symptoms. This drug works by fighting the influenza virus so that it does not multiply in the body.

Unfortunately, antiviral drugs can only be obtained by paying a doctor's prescription. Antivirus can not be purchased over the counter at any major pharmacy or supermarket. It is important to understand that antivirals are different from antibiotics.

Antiviral drugs are only effective against viral infections, so they will not work if they are used to fight bacterial infections. In fact, if the bacterial infection produces symptoms very similar to the flu.

If your doctor prescribes antiviral medication for your little one, don't hesitate to ask about potential side effects of the drug. Make sure that the benefits that your child feels outweigh any side effects.

Rules for taking antiviral drugs in children

Doctors will usually prescribe antiviral drugs for children who are at high risk of developing serious flu complications and have a history of chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease.

Quoting from the page of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are some types of antiviral drugs that can be safely used as a cold medicine for children.

1. Oseltamivir

Oseltamivir is available in generic versions or under the trade name Tamiflu®. Apart from children, babies aged 2 weeks are also safe to take this antiviral.

Doctors can prescribe this drug in pill or syrup form.

2. Zanamivir

Another antiviral that can be a cold medicine for children is zanamivir (Relenza®). This drug is safe to drink to treat colds in children from 7 years of age.

If your little one has a history of respiratory diseases such as asthma, this drug is generally not recommended. However, the doctor will prescribe other antiviral drugs that are safer according to your little one's condition.

Zanamivir is a powder, so it must be used by inhalation.

3. Peramivir

Another effective antiviral drug for treating flu in children is peramivir. This drug has the trade name Rapivab®. Usually, doctors prescribe this drug to children over 2 years of age and older.

In general, the rules, dosage, and length of time you take antiviral medications to treat the flu will vary from child to child. The administration of this drug will usually be adjusted to the age, type of disease, and the overall condition of the child.

It is important to note that although it is effective in overcoming the flu, this children's flu medicine also has the potential for side effects that should not be underestimated. Some of the most common side effects of using this antiviral are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and so on.

In addition, if you have certain complaints or concerns regarding the flu that your child experiences while taking this medicine, consult a doctor immediately.

Home-style children's flu medicine

Actually, the flu can be overcome without the use of drugs. Most experts think that getting plenty of rest and drinking water is the best home remedy for the flu for children.

If your child has trouble eating, make sure you feed him more breast milk or formula while he has a cold.

Meanwhile, for older children, give them a nutritious and highly nutritious food intake. Especially those rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system to make children recover from colds.

Avoid using the air conditioner for a while as cold temperatures can actually exacerbate flu symptoms. You can use a humudifier to keep the air moist in the room where the child is resting. Using a humidifier can also help relieve nasal congestion.

Also avoid dressing children with clothes that are too thick. We recommend that you wear thin clothes because this makes it easier for the heat from within the body to escape.

Warm compresses can also help reduce fever experienced by children. Compress warm water all over the folds and surface of the child's body.

Danelle Fisher, a chief pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center, United States on the MD Web page said that home remedies such as getting enough rest and drinking lots of water can actually relieve flu symptoms.

In fact, often home remedies are more effective for children than the cold medicine you buy at the pharmacy.