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 Popular Articles: |
by Dr. Michael Mitchell, Pediatrician
Dangerous or Safe?: Which Foods, Medicines, and Chemicals Really Put Your Kids at Risk |
Harsh chemicals have found their way into many of the household and medical products we come into contact with on a daily basis. In addition to destroying our protective ozone layer, these chemicals can cause skin irritations, rashes, swollen eyes and severe allergic reactions.
In particular, we know that children, and especially infants, demonstrate greater susceptibility to the active and in active ingredients contained in over-the-counter remedies because of their higher skin surface to body weight ratio.
☐ 1. Artificial Sweeteners - Given in large doses, aspartame, saccharin and NutraSweet® have caused caused cancer in lab animals. Many companies use artificial sweeteners to inexpensively sweeten a variety of products, including cough medicines and teething ointments.
☐ 2. Synthetic Colours - These are used in most commercial brands of infant and children's vitamins, non-aspirin elixirs, insect and tick repellents and sunscreens. Parents should use products made with natural colourings and avoid those that contain Blue Dye #1, Red Dye #40, Yellow Dye #10 and #11.
☐ 3. Aspirin - This is contraindicated for children under the age of 18 years. Aspirin, which has been associated with a life-threatening illness called Reyes Syndrome, should not be taken by children without specific instructions from your pediatrician.
☐ 4. Antihistamines - These are used to ease breathing and the swelling and itching that may accompany an allergic reaction, cold or symptoms of motion sickness. Although every child's metabolism is different, antihistamines make many children hyperactive. If this happens, call your physician and consider avoiding any medication containing antihistamine.
☐ 5. DEET - This is a particularly harsh chemical which is found in insecticides and can cause severe nausea and headaches in both children and adults. Certain states recommend avoiding any repellents with DEET concentration of more than 25%. Many commercial brands contain DEET well in excess of 25%. In fact, most well-known repellents are so potent, they can only be applied to a child's clothing, NOT directly on skin.
Worry Proof: A Pediatrician (and Mom) Explains Which Foods, Medicines, and Chemicals to Avoid |
☐ 6. Codeine - A narcotic used for suppressing pain and relieving coughs, codeine can be habit-forming! It can also cause constipation and in some cases, instead of calming the child, can trigger irritability and hyperactivity sometimes lasting for days.
☐ 7. Ephedrine - This is found in many cough medications because it effectively loosens mucous congestion. However, ephedrine can also result in hyperactivity and irritability making a cough worse - an unpleasant situation for parent and child.
☐ 8. Petroleum and Mineral Oil - For years, these ingredients have been used in diaper rash ointments, baby lotions and creams. It has been found that they not only clog sweat ducts so the skin can't breathe, but also deplete the skin's nutrients. What's more, petroleum-based products are not good for the environment.
☐ 9. Rehydration Solution - This is used in children that are dehydrated from repeated diarrhea or vomiting. Rehydration solutions are recommended for the first 24 hours. After that, the solution does more harm than good as prolonged use throws off the child's electrolyte balance.
☐ 10. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) - Prescribed to relieve toothaches, teething and sore gums, lidocaine alleviates the pain by temporarily deadening the sensations in nerve endings. The drawback here is that if lidocaine is given in too large a dose, it can cause an arrhythmic heartbeat.
(Copyright © 1992) Natural Child Care Company, Inc., Armonk, N.Y. - reprinted with permission.
This article compliments of Born to Love.
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Last updated - April 5, 2024
