Patient's question:
Patient Age: 7 years old (virtual age)Detailed Condition and Purpose of Consultation: Initially, the patient had a cold, but soon after recovering, they noticed a cough. It's mostly a dry cough without fever. The coughing only stops during sleep; otherwise, it doesn't stop! What could be going on here???
Duration and Onset of the Current Illness: About one month.
Current General Condition: X-rays revealed bronchial inflammation, and medication has been prescribed!
Medical History: The patient has been physically weak for a long time and has poor appetite!
Previous Diagnoses, Treatments, and Outcomes: The patient visited a hospital, and the doctor prescribed medication!
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Bronchitis is very common in children, mostly following upper respiratory tract infections. At the onset of the disease, symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection appear first, such as nasal congestion and runny nose, followed by gradual intermittent dry cough. In the early stages, respiratory secretions increase, and cough brings up phlegm, initially thin and soon becoming purulent. After 5–10 days, the phlegm becomes thinner, and cough gradually subsides. During the illness, there may be no fever or a low-grade fever of around 38.5°C, which usually subsides within 2–4 days.In infancy, there is a special type of bronchitis called asthma-like bronchitis, which is more common in underweight children under the age of 2, often with a history of eczema and allergies. Asthma symptoms appear shortly after onset and may recur. Generally, symptoms disappear by the time the child starts school, though a small number may develop bronchial asthma later in life. The cause may be an allergic reaction to infection, leading to bronchial spasm and wheezing.
Children with bronchitis should rest, maintain good air circulation in their bedrooms, and keep the room at a comfortable temperature and humidity. Easily digestible foods should be provided, along with plenty of warm water. A combination of vitamin B complex and vitamin C, each 1 tablet, should be taken three times daily. For chronic or recurrent cases, vitamin AD, 1 tablet per dose, should be administered 2–3 times daily. Young, frail children with mild symptoms may be treated with oral sulfonamide drugs or penicillin, combined with expectorants and cough suppressants for synergistic effects. Sulfonamide drugs such as compound sulfamethoxazole can be used at a dose of 20 mg per kilogram of body weight, taken twice daily. Since sulfonamide drugs are excreted slowly and may form crystals in the kidneys, they should be used with caution.