Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: My child is now 7 months old. Two weeks ago, she developed symptoms of a cold, such as coughing and a runny nose. I gave her Xiao'er Ke Chuan Ling and Anqi. For a couple of days, she seemed to improve, but then the cough returned and became worse, sometimes accompanied by vomiting milk. When I took her to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed her with asthma-related bronchitis. She received intravenous saline for two days and was prescribed anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, and expectorant medications. Since returning home, I have been giving her the medication on schedule, but her cough has not improved, and I can still hear a sputtering sound in her throat. I am very worried and don’t know what to do. Please advise the doctor. Thank you!Duration and persistence of the current illness: 2 weeks
Doctor's answer:
Most cases of babies coughing and having a runny nose are due to wind-cold colds. Wind-cold colds are more common in winter and spring. The symptoms include nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, excessive phlegm that is thin and white, foamy in appearance, a rattling sound in the throat, and a thin white tongue coating. The treatment for wind-cold colds focuses on dispelling wind-cold and relieving coughing.Over-the-counter Chinese medicines: Qingxuan Zhike Granules, Xiaoqinglong Granules, Chaihu Yin Granules, etc.
Western medicines: Children's Paracetamol and Sulfamethoxazole, Chen Gong Zai Xin, Children's White Sugar Syrup, etc.
If the baby has a wind-heat cold, such as symptoms like aversion to wind, sweating or no sweating, headache, conjunctival congestion, nasal congestion with purulent discharge, sneezing and coughing, thick white or yellow phlegm, thirst, sore throat, red or swollen tonsils, red tongue, and thin white or yellow tongue coating, the treatment should focus on suppressing coughing and clearing lung heat.
Available medications include:
Over-the-counter Chinese medicines: Children's Cold Relief Syrup, Gulu Powder, Children's Baotai Kang Granules, Children's Resqing Oral Liquid, etc.
Western medicines: Tylenol Cold Syrup, Children's Benadryl, Motrin Syrup, etc.
If the baby does not have a fever, it is not recommended to give them medicine. Instead, they can be given more warm water and nutrients, which can also enhance their body's resistance to the illness. Extreme cold or heat can easily cause the baby to have a runny nose. It is recommended that mothers try to maintain the room temperature between 25℃~27℃ for the baby's comfort.