- Flu season warnings
- Caution on ineffective remedies
- Recommendations for effective treatments
According to the CDC, the influenza season is underway, with a notable increase in severe cases, leading to 740 fatalities and 12,000 hospital admissions.
Those dealing with milder symptoms may struggle to choose effective remedies amid a warning from health officials about the ineffectiveness of commonly relied-upon products.
Emergency physician Dr Meghan Martin, a specialist in paediatric emergency medicine based in Florida, emphasises the potential hazards of specific “treatments” in a TikTok video.
In the video, viewed over 200,000 times, Dr. Martin advises against multi-symptom medications such as DayQuil, NyQuil, and Mucinex, highlighting their varied substances and potential side effects.
Despite claims of relieving congestion, headaches, body pains, and sore throats, these medications can lead to severe drowsiness and visual impairment, particularly when combined with alcohol or certain medicines.
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Dr. Martin discourages cough medication, stating that suppressing coughs is not advisable, especially for infants under six months, due to numerous side effects. Instead, she recommends honey as an adequate remedy.
However, Dr. Martin suggests valuable options, such as inexpensive analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, to reduce fever. She also endorses saline sprays and devices for nasal mucus removal.
Electrolyte solutions are recommended for keeping children hydrated, and she advises against expensive thermometers, recommending a standard digital thermometer for precision and cost-effectiveness.
In October, CVS removed oral medications with phenylephrine as the sole active ingredient from shelves, as studies showed it to be as ineffective as a placebo in treating congested noses. Drugs affected include Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, Sudafed PE, Tylenol Cold and Flu, and Severe Day & Night, commonly used by millions of Americans.
