PITTSBURGH -- Parents are getting new guidelines to follow in treating their child's colds and coughs.

The Food and Drug Administration says if your child is under age 4 do not use cough and cold medicines.

Pediatricians have long criticized the drug companies for marketing over-the-counter cough and cold remedies for children under age 6 because there's no evidence they work, and they may even be dangerous. Apparently, with a little push from the FDA the industry finally got the message.

Drug companies voluntarily made changes less than a week after federal health officials found little evidence the remedies work, and expressed fear parents might give kids adult medicines if children's products are pulled from store shelves.

Pediatricians are happy with the changes. Dr. William Keough said the medicines don't work and they don't have appropriate doses

"Why would any of us want to recommend something unsafe and why would parents want to take something that's potentially unsafe and that doesn't have any benefit to their child," Keough said.

Cough and cold remedies send roughly 7,000 children to hospital emergency rooms every year with hives, drowsiness, and unsteady walking. More than 125 children have died from taking cold medicine, and most of those victims were under the age of three.

The industry's new instructions - if followed by parents - should help. The key word here is "if"

"I even have parents come in when with the Tylenol dosing (saying) 'The box says this.' I say the box also says underneath there, 'unless otherwise directed by' me," said Keough.

Pediatricians still want the medicines recalled for children under age 6. The FDA may take it to children under 12. A final decision could take a year or more. Meanwhile, when the kids get a cold, use an over the counter bulb suction and nasal saline spray.

"If you actually use that prior to suctioning, it kind of loosens a lot of the junk up do some nice suctioning and do that as often as you need to," said Keough.

The drug industry is also adding product warning labels to parents not to give kids antihistamines to make them sleepy. Keep all medicines out-of-sight and out-of-reach and consult their doctor if they have any questions.

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