Patient's question:
Your child had a cold a week ago with sneezing, runny nose, and took some Aminophen Yellow Ganmin Granules. Two days ago, they suddenly started coughing with phlegm (white foam), but they don't cough at night. A nearby hospital prescribed Cefixime and Compound Licorice Tablets for antiviral treatment. Last night, they coughed multiple times with phlegm but couldn't expel it. This morning, they coughed out a tiny bit of white phlegm. There are no allergies. Could you please advise what medicine the doctor should take and how to treat it? Thank you.Doctor's answer:
If a child has a cough accompanied by white phlegm, it may indicate a cold causing pharyngitis. It is acceptable for the child to take cefixime orally as you mentioned, but the treatment duration should be at least five days. Additionally, it is recommended to give the child medications with a cooling effect, such as Chuanbei Xueling Gao, to promote phlegm expulsion. This will help reduce cough symptoms and aid in the healing of inflammation. If the cough is severe, short-term use of cough suppressants like benproperine can be considered. During treatment, it is essential to monitor the child's temperature and ensure adequate fluid intake.