Kids' cold drugs pulled from shelves

After federal regulators and private doctors warned of potential health risks to children, drug companies said Thursday that they will voluntarily withdraw over-the-counter cough-and-cold medicines for infants and toddlers younger than 2. The withdrawal does not include the medicines for children older than 2, even though doctors have warned that the products could pose health risks to kids up to 6. President Linda Suydam of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), which represents the drugmakers, said the medicines are safe and effective when used as directed, and that "the vast majority of parents and caregivers" use them properly. But Suydam also said that researchers recently have identified "rare patterns of misuse leading