DEAR DR. GOTT:
My mother is old school in that I grew up slathered in Vicks and put to bed at the first sign of sniffles or a cough. The rub would allow me to breathe easier when she spread it on my chest and under my nose, but boy, did I smell bad!
Well, I’m now grown with a family of my own and can‘t believe how history repeats itself or that I am actually asking this question. Is it safe to use this same treatment on my own children?
DEAR READER:
It depends on the age of your children. All menthol products, including Vicks, have the capability of causing breathing problems, eye and lung inflammation, liver damage, airway constriction and allergic reactions in some infants and children. [Read more...]