What are medicines for colds, flu and COVID-19 for children?

If your child has a cold, the flu (influenza) or COVID-19, there are different types of medicines they can take to relieve their symptoms, prevent complications and help them recover.

Some medicines you can buy over the counter in pharmacies. For other medicines, you need a prescription from a doctor. It’s important to always follow the doctor’s or pharmacist's instructions when giving your children medicines.

Read more about:

• medicines for babies and children
• coughs and colds in children

What types of medicines might my child be prescribed?

If your child is otherwise healthy, they may not need prescription medicine to treat a cold, the flu or COVID-19.

Most children don’t need antiviral medicines, which are only available with a prescription. Your doctor will only prescribe them if your child meets certain eligibility criteria, for example, if they are at higher risk of severe illness.

If your child’s symptoms are making them feel unwell, your doctor or pharmacist can recommend medicines to ease their discomfort while their body fights the infection. If your child has pain or fever, you may choose to give them over-the-counter medicines, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

It is important not to give more than the recommended dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen. Giving too much — or giving it too often — can be harmful to them. Always check the label for the right dose for your child’s age and weight. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you’re not sure. Ibuprofen is only recommended for babies older than 3 months.

What medicines are not usually recommended for children?

Cough medicines and decongestants are generally not recommended to treat cold and flu symptoms in children. Over-the-counter products sold as ‘cold and flu medicines’ are generally not recommended for children younger than 4 years.

Steroid medicines, cough suppressants and antihistamines don’t treat cold viruses in children. They are not recommended.

Colds, the flu and COVID-19 are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Your doctor won’t usually prescribe them for a viral illness unless they think they also have a bacterial infection.

Read more about the differences between bacterial and viral infections.

How do medicines for colds, flu and COVID-19 for children work?

Medicines for colds, flu and COVID-19 work in different ways to help manage symptoms.

Pain and fever relievers

Your doctor may recommend your child use paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can buy them over the counter at pharmacies or supermarkets.

Paracetamol reduces pain and fever by blocking chemical messengers in your brain that control pain and fever.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen blocks inflammation at the site of injury or illness, as well as reducing pain and fever.

What are the side effects or risks of colds, flu and COVID-19 medicine for children?

Antiviral medicines

Most people don’t experience serious side effects with antivirals that are prescribed for the flu in children. More common side effects include nausea, vomiting or headaches.

Allergic reactions are uncommon but can include rash or severe skin reactions. Some children have experienced mental health symptoms like unusual behaviour, confusion or hallucinations while taking some antivirals.

If your child experiences moderate or severe side effects after taking an antiviral medicine, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Paracetamol

Side effects of paracetamol include changes in liver function (usually only seen in blood tests and don’t cause symptoms). Rare side effects of paracetamol include allergic reactions, such as skin rashes.

Side effects are not common when paracetamol is given at the right dose. Overdosing on paracetamol can cause serious and permanent damage to your child’s liver. It is very important that you give them the right dose for their weight. Read the label before giving medicine to your child. Follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice.

Paracetamol is often combined with other medicines, including pain relief medicines and cough and cold medicines. If you do give your child a cold medicine with paracetamol, don’t give them any more paracetamol until it’s safe to do so. If you’re not sure when it’s safe to do so, ask local pharmacist or doctor for advice or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak with a maternal child health nurse.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen can cause side effects including:

• nausea and diarrhoea
• stomach ulcers
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• elevated liver enzymes
• high blood pressure
• kidney damage

There are some risks associated with ibuprofen. Don’t give ibuprofen to your child before checking with their doctor if they:

• are aged 3 months or younger
• might be dehydrated, because ibuprofen can damage their kidneys
• live with liver disease, heart disease, asthma or a blood clotting disorder
• have a stomach ulcer or have ever had a gastrointestinal bleed

When should I take my child to see a doctor?

If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately, or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Take your child to the nearest hospital or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if they:

• are drowsy and not responding
• have difficulty breathing
• are having a seizure

Take your child to see a doctor if they have symptoms of a cold, the flu or COVID-19 and:

• you want to check for complications
• you want advice on safely managing symptoms
• they do not seem to be getting better with time, or are getting worse

Read more on how to tell if your child is sick.

Are there any alternatives to these medicines?

Preventing illness is the best alternative to getting sick and needing medicines.

Often you can’t prevent your children from getting sick, but here are some tips that can help keep them healthy:

• Ask your doctor if your child is due for a flu, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
• As soon as they’re old enough, teach your child about good hand hygiene and how to cough and sneeze properly.
• Social distancing can help prevent the spread of infection. Your child might need to stay home from school or childcare to keep others safe.

Here are some alternative treatments that you can try to relieve your child’s symptoms:

• Use nasal saline irrigation to flush out your child’s nasal passages, wash out sticky mucus and reduce congestion and irritation.
• Rub ointments with camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oils on your child’s chest and neck at bedtime to ease a blocked nose and help them sleep.
• Give your child half a teaspoon of honey to relieve their cough — don’t give honey to children younger than 12 months as it can put them at risk of botulism.
• Offer your child lozenges if they are older than 6 years and are not at risk of choking.
• Try using an air humidifier to add moisture to the air and help unblock your child’s nose — clean your humidifier each time after using it to prevent infection.

Research shows that echinacea, steam and vitamin D supplements are not effective in reducing cold symptoms in children.

Resources and support

• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has a fact sheet about the flu in children.
• The Sydney Children’s Health Network has advice on how to care for your child if they have COVID-19.
• The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby service allows you to speak face-to-face with a maternal child health nurse. Video call is a free service and is available from 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week (including public holidays).
• Watch the No Germs on Me video on hand washing by Menzies School of Health Research.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has translated fact sheets on fever in children in different community languages.