How should infants and young children with phlegm be treated?

Patient's question:

My son is less than four months old. He has phlegm, has no appetite for milk, likes to drink water, but immediately vomits after drinking, with sticky phlegm. He also doesn't sleep peacefully and often wakes up.

Doctor's answer:

1、Back-tapping method
When back-tapping, parents can have the baby lie face down on their thighs, positioning the baby in an arched-back posture. Using an empty-handed palm, tap from the bottom up and from the outside in. The force of the back-tapping should not be too strong, and each session should last at least 3-5 minutes. Perform the back-tapping 2-3 times daily. The back-tapping method not only helps to loosen mucus in the lungs and bronchi of the child, promoting drainage and expulsion into the larger airways, but also enhances blood circulation in the heart and lungs, which is beneficial for the absorption of bronchial inflammation and facilitates early recovery from the illness.
2、Warmth preservation method
Infants and young children have weaker immune systems and are more prone to catching colds and feeling cold compared to adults, which can lead to respiratory diseases such as tracheitis and bronchitis. Therefore, parents should take appropriate warmth-preserving measures to ensure the infant does not get cold.