William Atkins
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 20:31
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 4
Within the article, which was published in the journal
Chest, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, the researchers say that Vicks VapoRub has been used by parents for generations to relieve symptoms of chest congestion, sniffles, and coughing in children and adults.
However, using Vicks VapoRub on children under the age of two years could be dangerous, as the researchers warned on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.
All packaging of Vicks VapoRub already contains cautions by Procter and Gamble from using the ointment on children under the age of two years.
However, Bruce K. Rubin, the lead author of the study stated,
"People don't read warnings on prescription medications, so to [read a warning for] a salve on the outside of the body that has been around for 100 years . . . I think it would be a rare parent who would do that.” [Los Angeles Times: “
Vicks VapoRub may put infants at risk, study finds”]
The researchers were first brought to the attention of Vicks VapoRub when they treated an apparently healthy 18-month old female infant, within the emergency room, with severe respiratory problems.
They found that her grandparents had applied Vicks VapoRub under her nose, at which time her symptoms became severe.
The Wake Forest doctors concluded that the application of Vicks VapoRub caused her body to produce more inflammation and cause more mucociliary function (production of mucus).
The doctors decided to see if this little girl's reaction is common. They decided to study it scientifically. Read page three for their results.
