Parents with children between the age of 0-2 should avoid applying or rubbing Vicks under nose. A little under the feet and on the chest, is fine. But doctors advise not to.
There have been several cases where infants developed severe respiratory distress after it was applied directly under the nose. The ingredients in Vicks which is a combination of camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oils can cause irritants, which causes the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway. The airway in infants and young children are much narrower than that of adults. So, any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely.
This may be of little physiologic consequence in older children and adults, but in infants and young children, this potentially can lead to respiratory distress.
Vicks might make you feel better, but it won't necessarily make you breathe better.
In addition, to it being a possible irritant, its overuse can be a cause of breast cancer. The main ingredient to Vicks is Petroleum. Petroleum jelly is used in 1 in every 14 products on the market and 40% of baby lotions and oils.
It is not just Vicks, but any decongestant is not recommended for young children. Mucus plays an important role in protecting air passages, and sometimes in small airways this can cause congestion. Cough and cold medicines and decongestants are said to be dangerous and neither effective nor safe for young children. In addition, medications to dry up nasal passages also have problems.
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