Vicks VapoRub May Lead To Respiratory Distress In Babies And Toddlers
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It’s a solutions parents use all the time, and it turns out it could also be dangerous for your little one. A small girl was admitted to the hospital with signs of respiratory distress, after having some of the salve put on her upper lip, leading doctors to investigate the product.
“The ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway.”
“Infants and young children have airways that are much narrower than those of adults, so any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely,” he added.
Rubin said that the salve is used by many people seeking relief from cough and cold symptoms, but there is very little clinical evidence to support this. Instead, it has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, changes to mental states, inflammation in the lungs, damage to the liver, constriction of the airways and allergic reactions.
I know I for one have used this remedy both on myself and my daughter in the past. When she’s sick and coughing I’d put some Vicks on her feet (with the okay from the pediatrician. I’d also use this on myself, (I don’t like taking medicine). Could it actually have caused more harm than good?
Although it seems the jury is still out on weather or not Vicks actually works, I’ve personally used it with success in the past. Perhaps this is just another case of overreaction to an allergy, or maybe indeed Vicks can really do more harm than good.
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