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Decongestants should not be given to children under six 6 years because of their side effects and inability to clear congestion. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications don’t effectively alleviate stuffy and running nose in children. Some decongestants can have serious side-effects like hypertension, excitation and convulsions.
According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, no cough and cold product should be given to children younger than 2 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of OTC cough and cold remedies for children younger than 4 years.
Common cold is caused by viruses and symptoms usually clear in seven to 10 days, results of researches show that decongestants provide little to no relief for children. Decongestants or medicines containing antihistamines should not be given to children under 6, and used with caution in children aged 6 to 12.