VOA慢速英语 2007 0905a

This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

How safe and effective is the use of cough and cold medicines in children? An advisory¹ committee of the United States Food and Drug Administration² will meet in October to discuss this issue.

 
There are questions about the safety of cough and cold medicine use in children
Some doctors say cough and cold products do not work in children, and they worry about possible risks. F.D.A. officials say that some reports of problems appear to be the result of giving too much medicine to children. This may lead to serious and life-threatening side effects, especially in children age two and younger.

The products are sold without the need for a doctor's approval³. Yet cough and cold medicines can be harmful if people take them more often or in greater amounts than they should. There is a risk, for example, in taking more than one product containing the same active chemicals.

Too much cold medicine may affect the heart. Some medicines have also been linked to high blood pressure and strokes⁴.

Products for children may contain medicines that were approved many years ago based on studies in adults. The drug approval process has changed since then.

F.D.A. officials have this warning for parents: Do not use cough and cold products in children under two years of age unless a health care provider tells you to.

The officials also have other advice. For example, children should never be given medicines that are meant for adults. Cough and cold medicines are sold in different strengths. Ask a medical professional if you are not sure about the right product for a child.

If a child is being given other medicines, the child's health care provider should approve their combined use.

Read all the information and warnings provided⁵ with a drug and carefully follow the directions for use.

For liquid products, use the dropper or other measuring device⁶ that comes with the medicine or buy the correct one at a drug store. Do not use household spoons; they could provide the wrong amount of medicine.

The F.D.A points out that children get better with time and that cough and cold medicines only treat signs of the common cold. They are not a cure. If a child's condition gets worse or does not improve, stop using the product and have the child examined immediately.

And that's the VOA Special English Health Report, written by Brianna Blake. I'm Barbara Klein.

1 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

2 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。

3 approval   

n.赞成，同意；批准，认可

参考例句：

• The audience has expressed its approval.观众已经认可。
• The teacher signed his approval.老师做了手势表示同意。

4 strokes   

中风； a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.； （游泳或划船的）划( stroke的名词复数 )； 中风； （打、击等的）一下； （成功的）举动

参考例句：

• Apply the paint thickly in even strokes. 涂颜料要厚，笔画要匀。
• To improve your tennis strokes you try using a different grip. 为了提高你网球的击球法，你试试用另一种握拍方法。

5 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

6 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。