Dangerous home remedies: Warning for parents of young children

Dangerous home remedies: Warning for parents of young children

The Austrian Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (ÖGKJ) is sounding the alarm: Dangerous home remedies such as garlic and vinegar wraps can have serious health consequences for small children. There is a risk of chemical burns with blisters, particularly on the sensitive skin of babies, which can have devastating consequences if used improperly, the ÖGKJ reported on Wednesday. The direct use of these home remedies to combat fever or colds can cause serious damage, as Bernhard Jochum, board member of the ÖGKJ, also emphasizes.

Particular caution is required: menthol, mustard seeds, pepper, walnut shells, rosemary and various other plant components can also cause chemical burns when they come into contact with the skin. The sulfur-containing compounds in garlic and the acidity of vinegar have an irritating effect even in low concentrations. The ÖGKJ therefore strongly advises that you consult a pediatrician or adolescent doctor before using such products. This is especially true for babies before cooling wraps or other home remedies are used, as is the use of pot wraps for fever, cough or pneumonia, which should only be used under medical guidance.

Protection for the little ones

The ÖGKJ's recommendations are clear: cooling calf wraps should only be considered for children aged six months and over, and only for a short time so as not to shock the child with water that is too cold. It is crucial to know the right way to deal with fever and colds, because even supposedly natural remedies carry risks. In the current information situation, Jochum describes that parents should always keep the well-being of their children in mind in order to avoid dangerous mistakes. Particular caution is therefore essential for the little ones in order to prevent undesirable health consequences, she says sn.at.