Poll: Should cough and cold remedies be banned for the under-6s?

The Irish Medicines Board says over-the-counter cough and cold medicines do no good for smaller children and shouldn’t be given to them. What do you think?

THE Irish Medicines Board has released a declaration that children under the age of six should no longer be given over-the-counter cough and cold remedies.

The IMB says that there is no major evidence that antihistamines, expectorants, decongestants and cough mixtures – see the list here – work for children under six and that they have been associated with side effects in some small children.

What do you think? Should over-the-counter cough and cold medicines be forbidden to under-6s?

Poll Results:

Not entirely - pharmacists should be able to issue these meds at their discretion. (438)

Not at all - the decision should be the parents' to make. (250)

Yes. (217)

I don't know. (92)

Yes.
Not entirely - pharmacists should be able to issue these meds at their discretion.
Not at all - the decision should be the parents' to make.
I don't know.

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The Daily Poll

Author

Susan Daly

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