Vicks VapoRub A Hazard For Children Under Two: Study
Posted January 13, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A study out of the US has found that Vicks VapoRub is a hazard for children under the age of two, especially when it’s applied under a toddler’s nostrils.
The discovery likely comes as no surprise to the company, which labels its Vapo products with a warning that it should not be used in the nostrils. On its website, it describes the rub as “the number one-selling product for ages two and up in the cold category.”
The investigation began at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. A young girl was admitted to the hospital in severe respiratory distress.
Doctors later discovered Vicks VapoRub had been applied directly under her nose and wondered if that had caused the problem.
A study on ferrets appeared to confirm their hypothesis.
Dr Bruce K. Rubin wrote that the product stimulated the production of mucus, leading to clogged airways.
How to make salt-water nosedrops to help loosen mucus.
- Tips to manage your child’s cold.
Image credit: Vicks.com
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Vicks VapoRub Product Warnings:
For external use only; avoid contact with eyes.
Do not use:
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- By mouth
- With tight bandages
- In nostrils
- On wounds or damaged skin
Ask a doctor before use if you have:
- Cough that occurs with too much phlegm (mucus)
- Persistent or chronic cough such as occurs with smoking, asthma, or emphysema
When using this product, do not:
- Heat
- Microwave
- Add to hot water or any container where heating water. May cause splattering and result in burns.
Stop use and ask a doctor if:
- Muscle aches and pains persist more than 7 days or come back
- Cough lasts more than 7 days, comes back, or occurs with fever, rash, or persistent headache
These could be signs of a serious condition.
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.
Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Information courtesy Vicks.com
