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Can Children's Cold Medications Be Given To A Four Year Old?

Posted on Tue, 3 Oct 2017

Question: My four year old grand daughter has a cold and stuffed up. I want to give her something to relieve symptoms but the children's cold medicines say do not give to children under 6. Are they safe for a 4 year old?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cold medications are safe in this age of given in proper dose

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

I can understand your concern.
There are concerns regarding the use of cough and cold medication in children. But many studies have shown that most of the cough and cold medications are safe in children if given in proper dosing. Most of the side effects are due to inadvertent use or improper dosing.
I usually prefer combination of phenylephrine a decongestant and chlorpheniramine an antiallergic. Upto 1 mg of chlorpheniramine and 5 mg of phenylephrine(the usual combination in most of the syrups in each 5 ml) is safe in this age.
2.5 ml of syrup can be given three times a day for a duration of 3-5 days.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 minutes later)

Is there a brand you recommend? I was thinking of getting children's dimetapp

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dimetapp can be given

Detailed Answer:
Dimetapp contains phenylephrine and brompheniramine. This can be given for cough and cold.
Please get it prescribed by a physician.

Regards

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T