Cough is one of the most frequent and headache-inducing problems in the daily care of children, as there are many causes of coughing in children and treatment needs to be symptomatic, otherwise the cough will not be relieved but will lead to chronic cough or even asthma, and may cause other complications that will cause lifelong regrets for the child and the family. This is why it is especially important for parents to identify the symptoms of their child’s cough and treat them promptly.
Coughing is an act of the body to clear foreign bodies, mucus (phlegm) from the lungs or upper respiratory tract, or a response to external stimuli. In the case of a wet cough (with phlegm), coughing is beneficial in that it helps to remove mucus from the lungs, throat or sinuses, and this cough should not usually be suppressed.
Like fever, cough is not a disease in itself, but only a symptom of illness. Infections, acid reflux, allergies, sinusitis, and whooping cough can all cause a cough, although the most common cause is a cold, flu or cold.
I. How to treat
1. Menthol drops or hard candy
Drops containing menthol (such as Throat Opener) can slightly numb and suppress the pain in the throat, and also help relieve coughing. However, sucking (not chewing) hard candy can also achieve the same effect.
2. Honey
You can put a teaspoon of honey when feeding your child water, as honey can relieve sore throats and coughs. But be sure not to give honey to children under 1 year old.
3.Small sips of water
Drinking water in small sips can keep the throat moist and comfortable, thus relieving coughs caused by throat discomfort. Water can be plain water, milk, drinks, etc., but not wine or coffee, or orange juice, because they can aggravate the pain in the throat.
4.Drink some hot liquid
Drinking some hot water, chicken soup, etc. can not only relieve the sore throat, but also heat up the respiratory tract, thus crumbling the phlegm, which helps the phlegm to be expelled.
5.Cough medicine
Usually children need to cough to get rid of phlegm from the lungs and airways, but if the cough is so severe that they cannot sleep or rest, they need to suppress it. Some over-the-counter medications, such as phlegmolytics, can help cough up the phlegm (phlegmolytics do not “melt” the phlegm, but help cough up the phlegm); and cough suppressants can suppress the cough. But in the end, which drug to use, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
6. Hot bath and humidifier
Giving your child a hot bath or turning on a humidifier can make the airways more moist. This helps to relieve the dryness and itchiness of your baby’s throat and also helps to relieve breathing difficulties. Likewise it has the effect of diluting phlegm, which can help cough up the phlegm.
7.Avoid breathing polluted air
If the air is heavily polluted, you should keep your child at home and turn on the air purifier. This is because polluted air can irritate the airways and cause coughing. Of course, stop adults from smoking at home.
8. Rinse your baby’s mouth with salt water
Although this traditional method, which has not been proven yet, has been found effective by many who have used it, i.e. gargling with salt water several times a day can relieve sore throats and coughs.
II. When you should take your baby to the doctor
Usually coughs do not require medication, you just need to be patient and wait for your baby to recover. Most coughs are caused by viruses, and antibiotics are not effective at this time. However, if the cough is accompanied by the following symptoms, you should take your child to the doctor immediately
1. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
2. Blood in the sputum or sputum that is yellow, brown or green.
3. fever, cold tremors, or deep breathing accompanied by chest pain.
4. severe sore throat.
5. difficulty in swallowing.
6. white patches in the throat or tonsils.
7. The appearance of a rash.