Re: GPs told of cough mixture dangers

[Guest guest]

Sheri, I just got back from news.com.au and I can't find this article. I was

thinking about posting it on Mothering so I need the actual link (you know,

copyright issues). Anyway, I looked at all the various news categories and

even did a search for Patty and for the title - still nothing. Do you

recall where on the site this article is?

Kathleen

In a message dated 7/16/2001 7:51:00 AM Central Daylight Time,

vaccineinfo@... writes:

> How many

> other things that we have been told for years are " perfectly safe " will

> now

> be taken off of that list of safe treatments? And will there be any

> apologies or compensation for those affected?

>

>

>

>

> GPs told of cough mixture dangers

> By ANNA PATTY

> 16Jul01

>

> COUGH mixtures are at best useless and at worst dangerous for

> children, according to new practice guidelines for GPs.

>

> A health manual produced by The Children's Hospital, Westmead warns

> that, although GPs are under " considerable pressure " to prescribe cough

> medicines, cough suppression is potentially dangerous.

> " Cough suppression is an unphysiological response. It may be harmful

> in asthma and other chronic lung conditions, leading to retention of

> secretions, obstruction and secondary infection, " it says.

>

> The manual, edited by pediatrician Professor Kim Oates with Dr

>

> Currow and Dr Hu from the hospital's emergency department, suggests

> that, although cough suppressants such as codeine and dextromethorphan are

> effective in adults, the dose required to suppress coughing in children

> can

> cause side-effects.

>

> Decongestants such as pseudo-ephedrine can cause irritability,

> sleeplessness and hallucinations.

>

> Blacktown GP Fasher said the manual was a useful resource,

> and

> the reference to the benefits of allowing the natural process of coughing

> to

> proceed was particularly helpful.

>

> " There's such a raft of information out there, which can make

> parents

> feel that if they haven't got a medicine for their children, they're not

> doing enough, " Dr Fasher said.

>

> " I think relieving parents of that guilt is a useful thing. "

>

> Professor Oates, chief executive at The Children's Hospital,

> Westmead,

> said GPs were also discouraged from prescribing anti-vomiting drugs

> (called

> anti-emetics) to children because they could mask the cause of illness.

>

> He said drugs used to treat diarrhoea could actually prolong illness

> in children and do nothing to solve the underlying problem.

>

> " Up to 30 per cent of GP visits involve children, and it's often

> hard

> in a busy practice to be looking things up on the Internet or in

> textbooks. "

>

> This report appears on news.com.au.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------

> Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & UK

> 530-478-1242 Voicemail in US

> http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

> " All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men ( &

> women) do nothing " ...Edmund Burke

> ANY INFO OBTAINED HERE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE

> DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.

>

[Guest guest]

This was always one of my indicators of whether or not to stay with a

doctor. If they try to stop a cough just because it is there, I leave. After

asking them if they are doing so because they felt I wanted them to.

Love and Blessings,

Ellen

meharv84@...

I am secure in my Lord, Jesus Christ! He is my Saviour, my Protector, my

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