Patient's question:
My baby has been making a rattling sound in her throat since her last cold, as if there is phlegm. I have taken a lot of traditional Chinese medicine to help expel phlegm, but it hasn't worked. Some people say it's because the cartilage in her throat has become soft, which is a typical sign of calcium deficiency. Is that right? What should I do?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Considering it may be caused by a cold, the following treatment is recommended.For children with colds, in addition to common symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, most suffer from fever, are prone to coughing, and often experience digestive issues such as vomiting or diarrhea. The condition progresses rapidly after onset, so timely treatment is essential. Children with colds should not simply use adult cold medications in reduced doses; instead, they should take pediatric-specific cold remedies.
Common Western medications for children's colds include Children's Tylenol, which is specifically designed for pediatric cold treatment. It can relieve the main symptoms of colds in children, such as fever, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. Take 3–4 times daily: 5 mL per dose for children aged 2–5, and 10 mL per dose for children aged 6–11.
Common Chinese medications for children's colds include:
Children's Cold Relief Tablets: Made from ingredients such as mint, patchouli, Isatis root, large-leaved Isatis, dendrobium, and gypsum. It has the effects of expelling wind and heat. Suitable for general colds with fever in children, as well as influenza with fever. Take 3–6 g per dose, 3 times daily.
Children's Cough Pills: Have the effects of detoxifying, clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and relieving cough. Suitable for treating wind-cold colds, coughing with excessive phlegm, and other symptoms in children. Under 3 years old, take half a pill per dose, 2 times daily; over 3 years old, take 1 pill per dose, 2 times daily.
Children's Treasure Pills: Have the effects of expelling wind, resolving phlegm, aiding digestion, and calming fright. Suitable for wind-cold colds with fever, runny nose, coughing with excessive phlegm, vomiting, and diarrhea in children. Take 1 pill per dose, 2–3 times daily; under 3 years old, take half the dose.