Children’s Robitussin and Dimetapp cough medicines recalled due to potential overdose risks - KPRC Click2Houston

Children’s Robitussin and Dimetapp cough medicines recalled due to potential overdose risks - KPRC Click2Houston
Wet Cough vs. Dry Cough in Kids: Causes, Symptoms, and Home Remedies - Yahoo Lifestyle
Alternative approaches to dealing with coronavirus - Himalayan Times

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 09:48 PM PDT

(CNN) – Parents take note: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has voluntarily recalled three lots of its children's cough syrups — Children's Robitussin Honey Cough and Chest Congestion DM and Children's Dimetapp Cold and Cough — due to the products having incorrect dosing cups in their packaging.

That means parents might accidentally overdose a child by putting too much syrup in the cup.

Symptoms of overdose of either product may include impaired coordination, elevated blood pressure, dizziness, seizure, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hallucinations, among other concerns, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Adverse reactions can be reported to MedWatch, the FDA's Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. Consumers can also call GlaxoSmithKline at 1-800-762-4675, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The company discovered the error during a review of the products' packaging, the FDA announced on Thursday.

GlaxoSmithKline found that the cups for Children's Robitussin Honey cough syrup were missing lines for the 5-milliliter and 10-milliliter graduations and the cups for Children's Dimetapp were missing the 10-milliliter graduation. Cups for both products only had the 20-milliliter graduation.

"There is a potential risk of accidental overdose if caregivers dispensing the syrup do not notice the discrepancies between the graduations printed on the dosing cups and the indicated amounts to be administered," the FDA noted in its announcement.

"As of the date of the recall announcement, GSK Consumer Healthcare has not received any adverse events related to these products or consumer complaints regarding the incorrect dosing cups supplied with the product," according to the FDA.

The recalled lots were distributed across the United States between February 5, 2020, and June 3, 2020. They include:

Lots "02177" and "02178" for Children's Robitussin Honey Cough and Chest Congestion DM (4 ounces), expiring January 2022.
Lot "CL8292" for Children's Dimetapp Cold and Cough (8 ounces), expiring September 2021.

Warnings against certain medications

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and FDA have noted that studies show that many parents are mixing too many over-the-counter cough and cold medications and overdosing their children.

The FDA recommends that parents not give children under 2 any OTC medicines and no codeine-based medications for children under 12. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no OTC medications for children under 4, warning adults to carefully measure dosages.

Cough and Covid-19

A constant, powerful hacking cough is a key symptom of Covid-19 for adults. The cough is bothersome, a dry cough that you feel deep in your chest.

"It's not a tickle in your throat. You're not just clearing your throat. It's not just irritated," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, in April.

"It's coming from your breastbone or sternum, and you can tell that your bronchial tubes are inflamed or irritated.

However, in children, cough may not be the first symptom. Unless the child has an underlying disease such as diabetes, asthma, obesity or an immune or heart condition, to name a few, the first signs may well be digestive tract symptoms.

Parents should call their pediatricians immediately to get a medical opinion, especially if the child also has a fever or a history of exposure to this disease,

Some coughs might not require medicine

For other, more common coughs, you probably don't need cough medicine for children or yourself anyway.

"A majority of coughs actually resolve with just rest and home remedies," Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, an internist at the Emory Clinic in Atlanta, told CNN In 2018. "So that's the place to start unless there are warning signs of something more serious."

Warning signs include coughing up a great deal of phlegm or phlegm that is turning thicker and darker; blood-tinged phlegm; fever; shortness of breath; and wheezing.

"Those are all signs that the cause is more likely to be a bacterial than viral infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, or perhaps an underlying medical condition," Bergquist said. "But without those signs, it's usually OK to try home remedies for a few days."

Home remedies

The best thing to do for a cough is to stay hydrated, because liquids thin out mucus and make it less irritating to the throat and easier for the lungs to expel. A steamy hot shower, saline or salt water drops or spray are other options to moisten the nasal passages and thin out the mucus.

A cool-mist humidifier, also called a vaporizer, to your child's room can help hydrate the lungs, but clean it daily. Hot-water vaporizers can burn and so aren't recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Tea, chicken soup and honey (whether eaten alone or added to drinks) are also good home remedies.

"Chicken soup has a lot of value if you're sick in general," Bergquist said. "The warmth and spices open up the sinuses. For coughs, hot liquids ease the throat, and honey is quite effective. Studies have compared honey with some of the over-the-counter cough medicines and found it works just as well."

However, keep honey away from infants — it can lead to infant botulism due to a baby's immature digestive system. By age 1, a baby's bowels have matured enough to eat honey safely.

Your cough should improve over a few days, with mucus looking lighter and thinner, Bergquist said. If that doesn't happen, it might be time to check with a doctor.

Wet Cough vs. Dry Cough in Kids: Causes, Symptoms, and Home Remedies - Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: 02 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Coughs come in many forms, but they generally fall into two categories: wet and dry. Both types have different causes and treatment options, so it's important to recognize the distinguishing factors when your child falls ill. Here's everything you need to know about dry coughs and wet coughs in kids, babies, and toddlers.

What's the Difference Between Wet and Dry Coughs?

Wet coughs, also known as productive coughs, bring up phlegm or mucus. This liquid comes from the respiratory tract, and it's usually caused by viral or bacterial infections like influenza, the common cold, and pneumonia. Other symptoms—such as runny nose, sore throat, and fatigue—commonly accompany a child or toddler wet cough. Your kid may also experience postnasal drip, which feels like mucus running down the throat or chest.

On the other hand, dry coughs, also called unproductive coughs, don't produce any mucus or phlegm, according to Hector de Leon, M.D., pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado. Tell-tale characteristics include a tickle in the throat and hacking sounds. Dry coughs are usually caused by irritation from the upper respiratory tract—either from temporary conditions (such as environmental irritants, allergies, croup, or whooping cough) or chronic conditions (like asthma or GERD). Children may also develop a dry cough from residual mucus after a cold or flu; this could stick around for weeks.

How to Get Rid of a Cough

The preferred treatment for a wet or dry cough depends on the underlying cause. Analyze your child's cough to determine the type and the reason behind it. Visit a doctor if you're unsure, or if your child has any worrisome symptoms (more on this below). Then test out the following home remedies to ease your child's coughing.

It's important to note, though, that you should never give cough suppressant or cough syrups to young children, whether they have a wet cough or a dry cough. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says they could have dangerous consequences to children younger than 4 years old. What's more, there's no evidence this medicine is effective for those under 6.

Home Remedies for a Wet Cough

Wet coughs may last for days or weeks—however long you're fighting the virus. It's also possible that your wet cough will turn into a dry cough as you get better. In the meantime, how to ease the coughing.

Wet coughs in babies can create discomfort, since little ones can't blow their noses. Parents can help clear the mucus with a bulb syringe and saline nasal drops.
Lift your child's bed or add an extra pillow. Sleeping with elevation decreases postnasal drip, which helps with coughing and throat irritation.
Place a humidifier in your child's room. The moisture keeps the throat moist and loosens phlegm, making it easier to get rid of. You can achieve the same results by taking a steamy shower (you can also sit in a steamy bathroom with a young child.)
Stay hydrated to prevent dryness in the throat. Very cold liquids and hot liquids (like chicken noodle soup or decaffeinated tea) are best for thinning out mucus.

Home Remedies for a Dry Cough

Dry coughs tend to stick around longer than wet ones. If it's caused by a chronic condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or asthma, they might turn into a persistent cough that never goes away. Here's how to help.

Set up a humidifier in your child's room, or encourage her to take a steamy shower. The added moisture can ease chest discomfort that can lead to dry cough.
Cough drops or throat lozenges contain throat-soothing ingredients like honey and menthol and honey. They're an effective dry cough treatment for children old enough to suck on them without swallowing.
If your kid is older than 1, consider serving honey, which coats the throat to relieve cough-causing irritation.
Similarly, your child can ease irritation by gargling salt water. A good ratio is one-half teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of water. Just make sure your child doesn't swallow it!
Avoid physical activity, which could exacerbate a dry cough.

When to See a Doctor

Most coughs don't indicate serious illness, and they often go away on their own. However, you should visit your child's doctor if he's under 4 months old, or if he has the following symptoms.

A cough that lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, which could indicate GERD, asthma, or another chronic condition that needs treatment
A cough that's getting progressively worse
A cough that produces blood, green mucus, or foul-smelling phlegm
High fever (or any fever in babies)
Making "whooping" or wheezing sounds
Irritability and extreme fatigue

Call 9-1-1 immediately in these cases.

Bluish or pale skin
Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath
Signs of dehydration
A sucking or retracting motion in the stomach
Choking or vomiting with coughing

Alternative approaches to dealing with coronavirus - Himalayan Times

Posted: 04 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT

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Kathmandu

Two weeks ago Sobha Rai's husband bought a few packets of medicine as "medicine for COVID-19". It turned out to be the homeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30C. And Rai has been consuming it as per the instructions on the label.

"This medicine boosts your immunity and helps in the prevention of COVID-19 infection," shares Rai. The 54-year-old treated her cough with the homeopathic medicine — "the cough that didn't go away even after visiting many hospitals was cured after opting for homeopathy. That is why I believe it (Arsenicum Album 30C) will also work to boost my immunity to help prevent COVID-19".

On May 11, the Department of Ayurveda & Alternative Medicine (DOAA) had issued a guideline 'Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine Guidelines of Preventive Measures and Management Protocol for COVID 19 in Nepal' recommending Arsenicum Album 30C as one of homeopathy's preventive measures for COVID-19 problems. The guideline also recommends preventive health measures, curative management and boosting immunity to fight COVID-19 — the recommendations are based on Ayurvedic literature and scientific publications' special reference to respiratory health in Ayurveda among others.

The initial distribution of Arsenicum by DOAA was followed by a rumour that it is the "medicine for COVID-19", though no cure for COVID-19 has been discovered yet.

The DOAA had to issue a notice to 'not' label this medicine as "remedy for COVID-19" pointing out it is to be used as a "measure to boost immunity to fight the disease and to prevent its symptoms", and as recommended by a homeopathic doctor or by the DOAA guideline.

A preventive measure

A cure for COVID-19 has not been found yet, and the only measure we have for now is prevention.

There are several ongoing clinical trialsf of both western and traditional medicines as per the World Health Organisation (WHO). It says it is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.

In such a situation, can alternative medicine or complementary medicine help in this fight?

Dr Vasudev Upadhyay, Director General of DOAA, stresses we have the medicine with us. "That is our immunity."

So, his department felt the need to highlight preventive and curative measures against COVID-19 and manage its complications.

A point from the DOAA guideline states, "In our context, we have Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy, and Sow-Rigpa, which is collectively known as Ayurveda and Alternative Medicines (AAM); ancient and traditional medicinal practices and compendia of huge medical knowledge including respiratory tract diseases can be tested to treat flu-like symptoms of the patients during this pandemic."

It also includes suggestions for using medicines and remedies that have herbs like tulsi, turmeric, garlic, ashwagandha to name a few, to follow a healthy lifestyle, and to practise yoga based on Ayurveda and some other alternative medicines.

"These medicines have properties that can work as immunity booster. We can use them as preventive measures," adds Dr Upadhyay and shares that Ayruveda's first priority is to prevent a disease.

Dr Ambika Prasad Gyawali, VicePresident, All Nepal Homeopathic Association says the root of homeopathy is that it doesn't just treat the disease, it treats the patients. "That means, it (homeopathic medicine) strengthens the immune system to fight off the disease in a human body — it helps to treat the disease during the process of strengthening of the body's immunity."

And Arsenicum Album, which according to him has been in use for more than 200 years, does the same — it is used to treat many diseases including asthma, cough, pain, swelling (inflammation), among others. The DOAA guideline has listed it as one of the homeopathic 'prevention' medicines that can be given according to the symptoms prevalent.

"These medicines boost the immune system and could work against corona problems," the guideline adds.

Holistic approach

Alternative medicine is a more holistic way of looking at human health. "It concentrates on lifestyle and other non-medical factors in addition to medical therapies. What kind of food you eat, how well do you sleep, exercise, how well is your state of mind, and your total environment matters a lot," explains Torakichi Akita, a Kai-therapist.

"Eating more vegetarian food and also working on boosting your immune system, and ensuring good blood circulation with requisite oxygenation, how well have you been detoxifying your body, and how well you are at maintaining your stress and anxiety levels — these are connected to the stability and vigour of your immune system. Then there is the pollution. If the environment is very bad, like in Kathmandu, then it can undermine the effects of an otherwise healthy lifestyle," Akita says.

Dr Upadhyay too believes in the benefits of incorporating time-tested herbs of Ayurveda or yoga practice like Pranayam into our lifestyle.

"Swine flu was new earlier. COVID-19 is new now. Another one will come in five years. Such viruses will keep on developing in our environment. What we have to do is strengthen our immunity — we can do that by adding herbal decoctions into our lifestyle," he shares.

Immunity is affected by physical, sensorial, mental or emotional issues, adds Director of Ayurveda Health Home Nepal Dr Rishi Ram

Alternative approaches to dealing with coronavirus Docs say our immunity is the best medicine to fight the virus, so boost it to the max Koirala. "So, there is a need for deeper counselling and lifestyle coaching, and this is possible."

By raising your body temperature, avoiding junk food, deep breathing, Pranayama and Sudarshankriya, sleeping 8-10 hours, reducing stress, being around positive people, being in nature, all help in boosting your immune system, according to who Akita.

"In this sense, there is no special cure for virus in alternative medicine. The danger of the virus is largely to elderly people whose immune systems are weak or people whose immune systems have been compromised by other diseases and by drugs used to treat these diseases as many drugs weaken the body and leave it vulnerable to various pathogens," reveals Akita.

He also points out that "viruses and other microbes have helped shape the body's immune system by enabling it to recognise pathogens and developing resistance. There are no effective preventive or curative remedies for many viruses in mainstream medicine. Historically it has been the body that has fought the virus through its immune system, which learns to recognise, identify and destroy the virus. So, it is very important to keep your immune system active at its highest level".

Dr Gyawali suggests an integrated approach. As per him, we can take allopathy and complementary or alternative medicine together using the specialities — be it for COVID-19 or any other disease. Even the guidelines for curative management doesn't claim confirmatory curative management of COVID-19, while its preventive measures include directives like regular cleaning of hands with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitiser, maintaining safe distance from others and the likes.

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