Summary
The 2007–2008 FDA recommendations and voluntary actions taken by pharmaceutical manufacturers to prevent the use of OTC cough and cold products in children less than 4 years of age have produced only a modest effect. Parents continue to use these products in their young children, and the frequency of recommendations for these products by healthcare providers appears not to have changed substantially since the restrictions. It is promising, however, to see that the numbers of emergency department visits for adverse effects or unintentional ingestions of these agents appears to have declined significantly. Additional education for both parents and healthcare providers is needed to provide decision makers with the tools they need to make an informed decision about the use of these products in young children.