Editor's Note: Last week, a tragedy beyond imagination occurred in Brooklyn, New York: a four-month-old nephew died after his well-meaning Aunt gave him over-the-counter cough syrup meant for older children.

This sad situation makes us here at Savvy Auntie want to do all we can to educate Aunts (and parents, too) on the truth about cough medication and kids. Here, Savvy Expert Dr. Stephanie Lichten shares her expertise:

Probably one of the most common questions I get asked at work is: “Please give me something to make the baby stop coughing.”  As well as: “But the cough is so strong! You don’t understand!”  Trust me; I’ve heard it all and understand the frustrations of the common cold.

Finally the FDA and the news media have come on board with pediatricians and recalled cough and cold medicines for children. The reason is simple; over-the-counter cough and cold medications do not work in children under the age of six years.

The Truth about Cold and Cough Medicines

What is a cough?  A cough is a reflex from some irritation (be it chemical, mechanical or inflammatory) to some part of the lungs. It serves to clear the airway or to protect against noxious irritants in the air. In some situations, it clears thick secretions that may be in the lungs. This is the exact reason why we do not want to suppress this helpful function.

If the cough is persistent, it may be a sign that a more serious infection is present, or that the child has allergies or asthma, or perhaps they are being exposed to some sort of irritant (e.g. tobacco); or has a foreign body in the lungs (peanut, popcorn kernel, toy etc) and needs additional medical attention.

Cough Suppressants Can Do More Harm Than Good

Most over-the-counter cough suppressants are a mixture of dextromethorphan or codeine with antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, and/or antipyretics (I know, lots of medical jumble here, sorry). Some non-prescription preparations substitute diphenhydramine or eucalyptus oil in place of codeine or dextromethorphan. The components of these given to children have been associated with irritability, restlessness, lethargy, hallucination, hypertension, dystonic reactions, respiratory compromise, shallow breathing, vomiting, itching and even death.

For more tips on how to care for young nieces and nephews with the common cold, visit Dr. Stephanie's original article.

Published: December 7, 2010