Useful Facts about Humidifier:

Why did the US Food and Drug Administration issue a warning on cold and cough medicine for children?
In October 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory strongly recommending that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children under two years old because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports this recommendation and urges parents to seek safer ways to soothe infants and young children suffering from colds and coughs by using a cool mist humidifier, saline nose drops and suctioning bulbs to thin and clear mucus from a baby’s nose.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in January 2008 that over-the-counter cold and cough drugs sent an estimated 7,000 U.S. children under the age of 12 to emergency rooms every year.

Studies have shown cough and cold products are ineffective in treating symptoms of children under six years old, and may pose serious risks. A variety of rare, serious health problems have been associated with use of these medications in children, including death, convulsions, rapid heart rates and decreased levels of consciousness.

While annoying, cough and cold symptoms are usually benign and self-limiting. Over-the-counter cough and cold medications will not cure these illnesses nor shorten their duration. Parents are advised to seek safer ways to nurse their children back to health.

What are the alternatives that Pediatricians recommend for a child with a cold or cough symptoms?
To make stuffy youngsters feel better and help them rest, pediatric specialists recommend:

1. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room during naptime and at bedtime will help relieve congestion and keep the nasal passages moisturized

2. Use a rubber bulb syringe, found at your local drugstore, to gently loosen mucus and unclog stuffy noses.

3. Use saline nose drops, found at your local drugstore, to loosen mucus in the nose to allow the nose to drain more easily. Gently squirt a couple of drops of saline solution into the nasal passages.

4. Plenty of liquids, from water to even chicken soup. Avoid dehydration. Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids.

However, more serious problems can start out as a cold. Contact your doctor if your child shows any of the following signs:

* Earache
* Fever lasting more than 72 hours, or, any fever in a child less than 6 months of age
* Excessive sleepiness, crankiness or fussiness
* Skin rash
* Has trouble breathing
* Is urinating (peeing) less
* Coughing that won't go away (lasts more than a week) or is causing choking or vomiting

Did you know your humidifier may also be a tax deduction?
If your physician recommends that a cool mist humidifier is primarily for and essential to medical care, the humidifier could be an itemized deduction for medical expenses under IRS Federal Tax deductions (1040, Schedule A). Consult your physician for details.