Dr Oliver Bevington, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Dr Bevington said there was “a lot of conflicting advice” about their use which parents “understandably find confusing”.
“They may also contain paracetamol and parents may unintentionally find themselves overdosing their child with cough medicine and paracetamol while, as with any medicine, there remains a risk that any of the ingredients could cause an allergic reaction or other unwanted side effect,” he said.
Cough mixtures specifically marketed at children, such as Benylin’s Children’s Cough and Sore Throat Syrup, can be purchased in high street chemists for around £3.30.
In Australia, where a similar debate as to the benefits has raged, the head of the country’s professional medical body said last year it would take a generation to wean parents off resorting to the treatment.
While official NHS clinical guidelines do not instruct doctors to provide cough mixtures, the medicines were until this year available for free on the health service before being barred along with homeopathy, laxatives and sun cream lotion.
Cough mixture manufacturers have said their products are intended to relieve symptoms rather than cure illness.
Dr Bevington, who is a senior registrar in paediatrics at Southampton Children’s Hospital, said: “We are now heading into our busiest time of the year where hospitals and GPs will see hundreds of children a day with respiratory symptoms including coughing, colds and temperatures.
“Most coughs and colds in children will be caused by a viral infection which will get better without antibiotics and with rest, fluids and possibly paracetamol and or ibuprofen, though many parents worry persistent symptoms will be damaging and reach for cough syrups.”
“If symptoms persist beyond a few days or there are other worrying signs, consult a GP or pharmacist.” – The Telegraph