Encouraging small children to take cough and cold medicines can be a challenging experience  

New types of cold and flu remedies show that parents are ‘thinking outside the medicine cabinet’ when looking at winter cures. Dawn Gay reports on the latest developments

Parents are becoming more discerning than ever before when choosing winter remedies for their children. RB consumer research by Mumsview revealed that 91 per cent of mums rate ‘suitability’ as extremely important when choosing children's medicine.

Children suffer an average of eight to 12 colds a year during the winter season compared to two to four in adults, so stocking a few cold-combatting gadgets may prove to be a sustainable solution. Household brand Vicks recently launched its Sweet Dreams Cool Mist Humidifier with Image Projection, a dehumidifier which projects comforting sea life, safari and night sky images around the child's bedroom.

Vicks claims that humidification can reduce cold and flu virus survival and relieve children’s coughs and congestion. Associate brand manager Julien Charrière explains: “As a natural way to help prevent and help relieve cold and flu symptoms, a humidifier helps to maintain the correct consistency of nasal mucus and damps down an unproductive, tickly cough. Humidifiers can help maintain moisture levels between 40 to 60 per cent, which is the optimal level for reducing the survival of flu viruses on surfaces and in the air. When humidity levels are between these ranges, the survival of the virus drops from over 70 per cent in rooms with 20 per cent humidity, to just 15 per cent.”

The humidifier works with Vicks VapoPads (menthol, rosemary and lavender) which means customers will come back to restock if they are sold alongside the humidifier, adds Ms Charrière. “It would also be wise to have the humidifier for sale next to other Vicks products, for example, VapoRub so that they understand this is from the same brand that they both know and trust to help get their little ones through the cold and flu season.” Live demo units are available for pharmacists to showcase the product in store.

Stop and protect

Stérimar released its new Stop and Protect Cold And Sinus Relief seawater nasal spray this year, supported with PR activity, social media campaigns and partnerships with healthcare professionals. The nasal spray can fight the symptoms of colds, rhinitis or sinusitis and help prevent infection. The non-drowsy and preservative-free product is suitable for children over three years old. As well as natural seawater, the formula includes copper, known for its anti-infectious properties, manganese and eucalyptus.

Sunil Kochhar, Stérimar’s pharmacist spokesperson, says: “Stérimar is dedicated to educating the public as well as pharmacies on the side effects of regular use of decongestant sprays, especially rebound congestion. We have seen an increased number of patients coming in and asking for Stérimar for not only allergies, but also to relieve congestion.”

Pharmacists who have already stocked HayMax barrier balms for the hay fever season can reposition the product within the winter remedies category. According to producer HayMax, its barrier balms can also help prevent winter dust allergies.

Max Wiseberg, HayMax’s managing director, says: “Problems with indoor allergens are often attributed to coughs and colds. HayMax has been proven to trap all sorts of airborne allergens so it can help you through the winter as well as summer, if you or your children are allergic to dust, pets, mould spores and other allergens."

Winter health gadgets

Braun Healthcare launched two high precision thermometers in October 2014 – the ThermoScan 7 and No Touch +. The ThermoScan 7 ear thermometer lets parents set their child’s age to get accurate readings, while the No Touch + forehead thermometer is the only thermometer to offer both touch and no touch functions, meaning parents can take their child’s reading while they are asleep.

Andrea Halabrinova, marketing manager at Braun Healthcare, recommends that parents should own a thermometer, as fever is a very common symptom of the cold and flu virus. “Monitoring their child’s fever will allow parents to make an informed decision on the best way in which to treat their child’s illness,” she explains. “There are consumers who do not know how to select from the thermometry offered out there in the market and will want to have the advice of a credible health care professional. Parents are also able to ask for advice from the pharmacist as to which thermometer meets their requirements, while purchasing from a pharmacist also gives them a degree of reassurance that the product is reliable and accurate.” Braun thermometers are the number one recommended brand by doctors, according to an Ipsos survey.

Encouraging small children to take cough and cold medicines can be a challenging experience. Spilly Spoon, a novelty caterpillar-design non-spill spoon, can help parents make medication administration fun.

Spilly Spoon was designed in its original green colour by a parent in 2011 and was launched in pink in May this year. Says Katie Hilton, Spilly Spoon’s midwife and health visitor: “Not all children like taking medicine and the Spilly Spoon introduces a fun element with a caterpillar character. It is non-spill making the process easier for the caregiver. The Spilly Spoon also allows the child to self-administer their own medication, taking away that fear factor.”

RB for kids

RB launched an addition to its Bonjela cold sore range in August. New Bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream can be used by children aged over six years. It creates a protective film layer shielding the skin from stimuli such as UV rays and preventing the spread of cold sores.

Also in the RB winter remedies range, strawberry-flavoured Nurofen for Children Cold, Pain and Fever (100mg/5ml), can be used to treat cold and flu symptoms in children aged three months to nine years and over 5kg in weight. The sugar and colouring free suspension can relieve fever for up to eight hours.

Strepsils are currently the UK’s marker leader for soothing sore throats. As well as the popular core lozenge range, Strepsils medicated products for children include Strepsils Children 6+ Lozenges and Strepsils Sugar Free Lozenges.

Winter skincare

Heritage brand Sudocrem has been on the market since 1931. The medically licensed Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream can be used during winter months with its protective barrier and mild anaesthetic to protect and heal young, sensitive and eczema-prone skin exposed to the harsh winter elements. It can also be used to treat chilblains, as well as minor burns, sunburn, cuts and grazes.

Nick Lang, senior brand manager for Sudocrem, explains: “Since Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream is hypoallergenic and therefore suitable for babies and children, it can be used to calm, soothe and heal eczema and other skin conditions for youngsters who have sensitive skin and are susceptible to eczema during winter."

Vitamin D deficiency

Dr David Mantle, medical adviser to Pharma Nord UK, suggests that vitamin D deficiency puts children more at risk of catching cold and flu infections during the winter period: “Due to our northerly latitude, children in the UK are at particular risk of vitamin D deficiency during the winter months, especially those from darker-skinned ethnic minorities.”

A number of clinical studies have shown supplementation with vitamin D significantly reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections in children, says Dr Mantle. “Pharmacists can help by advising on vitamin D dosage, which can vary from 300IU to more than 1,000IU, depending on children’s individual circumstances.”

Pharma Nord currently produces the immune-boosting supplement, Bio-Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is suitable for children over 10 years old.