Experts were reportedly centering on the frequency children are given cold medicines without medical consultation about the drugs' nature, and their potential side effects on young children.
Officials of the FDA have reportedly been investigating the issue for some time, and the rate of public awareness generated by their findings are being doubted in terms of significance.
"We strongly recommend that over-the-counter cough and cold products should not be used in young children under 2, because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur from use of these products," said the FDA's director of the Office of Nonprescription Products Dr. Charles Ganley. "We have not come to a final decision on the use of cough and cold products in children aged 2 to 11 and continue to work within [the] FDA to arrive at a decision."
Catherine Tom-Revzon, a pediatric pharmacy manager at Children's Hospital in New York was quoted by HealthDay News, with her saying the advisory was "a good thing."
"A lot of health-care professionals, including myself, have always taken the approach of not giving medication to children where there isn't enough evidence to show that it's safe and actually works," she said. "This actually supports that idea, so it gives more credibility when we speak to patients about this."
The advisory was reportedly giving support to a previous warning made in October, with the FDA warning parents not to give cold medicine to children under 6 years of age.
"It reaffirms our voluntary recall in October," Wyeth spokesman Doug Petkus told CNN Money. "We felt this was a way to reduce dosing errors and overdosing in children, who we felt were the most vulnerable."
