“Is alternative medicine safe for kids when they're 4 years old?”
For the past year, my son has been getting a cold and cough frequently. We take him to the doctor every time, and he gets the same treatment. Because these cold are reoccurring, we want to try alternative medicine. However, he's 4 years old. Is he too young?
6 Answers
It would be best if you discussed this with your pediatrician. Do you have pets in the house? He might have allergies; post-nasal drip, which triggers coughing at night, sinus problems, family history of asthma...
Many of those medicines are plant extracts, with the higher chances of allergic reactions
I do not recommend alternative medication at 4 years old. He may have allergies or asthma and need daily therapy. Talk to your doctor about this.
No medicine is helpful for viral colds. Aggressive use of saline nose drops can help avoid problems with colds. Reducing your child’s exposure to other sick children will help ( no daycare)
It depends upon what kind of alternative treatment. Also, where you are getting it from. It's a vast field and you have to be careful.
Rubina Azam, MD, FAAP, ABOIM
Rubina Azam, MD, FAAP, ABOIM
The data is limited for alternative medicine, especially for young children. I have heard that a lot of alternative medical therapies have side effects. So I would not advise to give them to a child as young as 4. Unfortunately, children get sick, and most of the cases are due to viruses, that do not require antibiotics.
