Patient's question:
My daughter is 3 years old. She had a cold at the beginning of the year and had high fever that didn't go down. She received injections for more than 10 days and recovered, but she still coughs and seems to have phlegm. Now she doesn't have a fever anymore, but she still coughs. How should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello: First, it is important to determine whether the underlying disease causing the cough is serious. During a cold, occasional coughs can often be treated by drinking white radish soup. If the cough is accompanied by thick, sticky phlegm, medications that thin secretions can be used, such as: Ammonium chloride 1/3 to 1/2 tablet, three times a day; Brown syrup 1ml per year of age per dose, three times a day; Fresh bamboo juice 5 to 10ml, three times a day; Qutanling: 5 to 10ml, three times a day. At the same time, anti-inflammatory drugs can be used, such as Amoxicillin powder 1 to 2 packets, three times a day; Relenza 0.5 to 1.5 packets, three times a day; Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate or tablets 30mg/kg per day, divided into three oral doses. However, for children with poor constitution and frequent loose stools, fresh bamboo juice and Qutanling should not be used.If the cough is accompanied by high fever, it is important to check for pneumonia and seek medical attention. If the cough lasts a long time with low-grade fever and weight loss, it is necessary to check for tuberculosis at the hospital. If the cough occurs during crying, laughing, or eating, accompanied by shortness of breath and bluish lips, immediately pat the child's chest and back and lower the head to help expel the inhaled foreign object. If it cannot be coughed up, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately for treatment.
The issue that parents need to pay attention to is that cough medicine should not be given to children casually, such as Antipyrine and cough syrups containing codeine, as these can make phlegm thicker and harder to cough up, and may easily lead to secondary bacterial infections, worsening the condition. Unless the cough is dry, frequent, without phlegm, and affects the child's sleep at night, non-narcotic antihistamines such as diphenhydramine 0.5 to 1mg/kg can be given temporarily to relieve cough.