Evaluation Children are usually prescribed cold remedies

Cold remedies are the most commonly prescribed medication for children
Although cold symptoms in children can usually be cured well with natural remedies, all too often medicines for coughs or antibiotics are resorted to. According to a recent study, most medicines prescribed for children are cold remedies.

Children often show a particular susceptibility to infections. When they become ill, parents and doctors often rely on medicines. As the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) explained in a recent press release, cold remedies in 2014 were the most commonly prescribed medication for children up to the age of twelve. This resulted in an evaluation of routine data of the health insurance. It is striking that physicians are particularly likely to prescribe anti- cough medicines containing the active substance noscapine, according to the TK. About 102,000 packs of the cough suppressant were reported to nearly 83,000 TK-insured children.

Colds are especially prescribed for children, although in many cases they are not required. (Image: Kaspars Grinvalds / fotolia.com)

Relieve cough naturally
Noscapine is considered to be better tolerated than codeine. Last year, a ban on codeine cough syrup for children and adolescents was issued. Among other things, such agents increase the risk of respiratory depression. In most cases, no medication would be needed anyway, because there are also many effective home remedies for cough - especially for children - available. According to TK, parents should only give cough suppressants to their children for a cough that is in the throat and unproductive. Productive, coughing cough that sits deep in the bronchi, according to the TK, should be promoted instead by mucus removers, which facilitate the coughing. As the cash register explains, this is important to get the pathogens out of the bronchi.

Cough suppressants only in exceptional cases
"Children should only get cough suppressants if they can really sleep badly," said the TK-drug expert Thomas Widmann. "In no case may they take a mucus remover and a cough suppressant at the same time or in a short time interval. This can cause a dangerous secretion of congestion in the bronchi and cause respiratory distress. This applies to adults as well as to children. "The cause of an acute cough is in many cases a viral infection that should subside by itself within a few days. Warm drinks and sufficiently humidified air can help against the coughing sensation, or even through the nose instead of breathing the mouth. The latter can be supported by decongestant nose drops, but "that nasal sprays and drops can make dependent if you use them for too long, is now widely known," said Widmann. "Also note: Because the vessel comes into contact with the nose and thus with the pathogens, only one person should ever use the remedy."

Antibiotics without effect
Furthermore, TK-explained that antibiotics have no effect on viral infections such as influenza. Nevertheless, parents often expect that they will be prescribed a drug when they go to the doctor. However, the unnecessary administration of antibiotics only promotes resistance and exposes the little ones to the risk of side effects. If an antibiotic is necessary, therapy must always be performed exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Above all, the revenue gaps and the avoidance of certain foods are important.

Medicines suitable for children
TK offers on its website the brochure "Children and Medicines" to order or to download. It provides information on how children's bodies react to medications and provides an overview of the appropriate forms of use of medicines. Parents can find out how medications can help with the most common childhood diseases and what sensible alternatives to juices and tablets are. In the question of which medicines are suitable for children, should always be in the foreground, whether their use is necessary at all or the symptoms can not be alleviated naturally. (Ad)