HOUSTON -- Doctors recommended that parents give their young children liquids and loving care to treat a cold instead of reaching for a bottle of medicine, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

---

Slideshow: Infant, Child Cold Meds Pulled From Market

---

The Food and Drug Administration said that over-the-counter medicines are too risky for babies and children under the age of 2.

Officials said the medications could cause serious side effects, some potentially deadly.

"Where parents and children will particularly get into trouble is that because they don't respond as quickly, there's a temptation to give more medicine," said Dr. Davis Persse, Houston's public health officer. "Then you get into the range where you get the side effects, and there have been some tragic consequences for that."

Drug companies stopped selling dozens of versions of child cold medications in October that were targeted specifically for babies and toddlers.

Government officials said they were worried that some parents may still have the medications in their cabinets.

"It's cold. It will go away," Persse said. "Parents are used to kids with colds. You need to take care of them and give them lots of liquids so they don't get dehydrated and lots of tender loving care. The cold will go away."

Doctors recommended using saline nose drops to treat congestion and a cool-mist humidifier.

Related Links:

FDA Recommendation About Over-The-Counter Cold Medicines
FDA Public Health Advisory About Cold Medications
FDA Questions, Answers