But after a long overdue review by the Food and Drug Administration, that could be changing. An FDA advisory panel found that OTC cold medicines don’t really work in small children and have a small risk of serious side effects. As a result, the FDA issued a public health advisory recommending that OTC cold products not be used for children under 2 years of age.

Which children’s cold medicines are in question? They include medicines containing drugs such as dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and antihistamines. You might not recognize these drugs by name, but they are the active ingredients in many kids’ cough and cold medicines.

The FDA panel based its decision on two facts. First, multiple studies over the past 20 years have not shown any benefit from cold medicines in children under 12 years of age. In fact, they are no better than a sugar pill (placebo).

Secondly, there is growing evidence that these drugs may pose a small risk of serious side effects in young children. Cold medicines have been a potential cause of death in more than 100 children younger than 6 years of age in the past few decades. Other side effects have included heart problems, hallucinations and sedation.

Experts agree that the risks are low given the millions of kids taking these medicines. Many cases of dangerous side effects occurred from overdosing or inadvertent mistakes. But accidentally giving a child a dose that is too high can occur easily. Parents might use two different brands of cold medicines at the same time, not realizing they contain the same ingredients.

The current advisory applies to children under 2 years of age, and the FDA is currently looking at the safety of OTC cold medicines in children 2 through 11 years of age. But many experts and pediatricians feel that parents should not give cold medicines to children under 6 years of age.

So, what can the parents of a sick child do to offer comfort?

* Give children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) to control fever and pain.

* Make sure your child gets plenty of fluids and rest.

* Humidified air and nasal saline (salt water) sprays with gentle suctioning may ease discomfort.

* A recent study even showed a single dose of honey prior to bedtime may help in controlling night cough in children older than 2.

* Give flu vaccine for prevention in the fall.

* Take your child to a doctor if symptoms worsen or don’t improve within a few days.

Many parents may feel helpless not being able to give cold medicines to their young children. Keep in mind that children get better from colds just as quickly without these treatments. In the end, a little time and some chicken soup or even honey probably help more than cold medicines – without any risks.

Dr. Kazi is a pediatrician at the Kaiser Permanente West LA Medical Center. He is co-founder of the UMMA Clinic and serves on its advisory board.