health and lives at risk by giving them

cough and cold medicine, a landmark

study out today shows.

Researchers surveyed 325 parents at

hospital outpatient clinics, maternal-and-

child health clinics and child-care

centres, gauging their use of over-the-

counter medications for children up to

two years of age.

The study a joint effort by the

University of Melbourne and Royal Children's

Hospital was described as the first

of its type in Australia.

University PhD researcher Misel Trajanovska

said almost half of the parents

had given their babies cough and cold

medicines containing antihistamines.

The parents' actions were contrary to

medical recommendations and could

have serious consequences for babies and

toddlers.

''I'm not a pharmacist. However, from

the research findings the side effects can

actually lead to poisoning, and then the

poisoning can also lead to death, so that's

the most significant side effect,'' she said.

''But the main thing with the cough and

cold medicines is that 43 per cent of

parents are using medicines and they

haven't actually been proven to be safe

and effective. So then the risks associated

with their potential use significantly

outweigh any benefits.'' From September

1 these medicines would be available on

prescription only for children under two.

Ms Trajanovska said the survey showed

98 per cent of parents bought an over-the-

counter medication in the past year.

Nearly all of them had used these drugs

to combat pain and fever, the survey

discovered.

The researchers found that paracetamol

was the most commonly used drug.

Almost half of the parents in the survey

had applied topical teething gels to their

children's sore gums, Ms Trajanovska said

the joint research study had revealed.

About 7 per cent of parents admitted to

giving their babies over-the-counter

drugs to ''induce sleep or settle their

child''.

She said, ''Even though parents

shouldn't be doing this at all, it's still

promising that only a small proportion of

parents did.

''So it does show that parents don't

want to harm their children; they do want

to do what's best.''

Only two parents had dosed their

children with paracetamol because the

babies were ''cranky''.

In stage two of the study, Ms Trajanovska

plans to investigate where the parents

received advice about over-the-counter

medications.

''We need to make sure pharmacists,

GPs and maternal-and-child health

nurses ... continue the education to

parents about safe non-prescription

medicine use.''

The Australian Research Council had

financed the research and Ms Trajanovska

is to present the findings at the

National Prescribing Service's medicines

symposium in Canberra today.