Attention If you are giving cough syrup to children below 4 years then stop, government has issued new guidelines.

If you also have small children in your house and you run to the chemist’s shop to get cough syrup for their every cough and cold, then this news is very important for you. The Government of India has encouraged children, especially under 4 years of age A new and strict guideline has been issued regarding cough syrup used for the treatment of cough and cold in children.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given clear instructions to all doctors and pharmacists to stop using a particular type of cough syrup for small children.

What is the new rule?

the government has ‘Fixed-dose combination’ (FDC) It has been asked to ban the use of cough syrup.

• What is FDC syrup? These are cough syrups in which two or more medicines for cough, cold, fever and phlegm are combined into a single syrup (such as the combination of chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine). It is difficult for parents to know, so doctor’s advice is paramount.

Why was this big decision taken?

This decision has been taken after the recommendations of a committee of experts. The Committee found that:

1. No scientific evidence: There is no strong scientific evidence as to how effective these cocktail syrups are on young children.
2. Risk of overdose: Even a small amount of these syrups (overdose) can prove to be extremely dangerous for children, causing rapid heartbeat, dizziness and even serious side effects.
3. Banned at international level also: Such cocktail cough syrups are already banned for children below 4 years in many big countries like the US, UK and Australia.

So what should parents do now?

This new guideline is not to scare parents, but to make them aware. If your child is sick:

• Stop self-medication: Do not give any cough syrup to the child on your own by asking the chemist or looking at the old prescription.
• Consult a doctor: Always consult a pediatrician. The doctor will give the right and safe medicine based on your child’s symptoms.
• Adopt home remedies: For common cold and cough, doctors also often recommend home remedies like honey (for children above 1 year), lukewarm water, steam and turmeric milk, which are safer and effective.

This one step of yours can save your child from a major health risk.