Patient's question:
My child has only been born for fifty days. Recently, he has been coughing in the mornings and also has a stuffy nose. I can hear a rough sound coming from his lungs and he spits up liquid. It might be a respiratory infection, right? Doctor, is there any special medicine for this? Also, what sleeping position would be most comfortable for him? Thank you, doctor, and all the netizens.First follow-up question: I am currently giving him Mucosolvan (Ambroxol Hydrochloride Oral Solution). Is that okay?
Doctor's answer:
Hello:Consider infantile cold.
The main symptoms of infantile cold include fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, and cough, sometimes accompanied by vomiting and mild diarrhea. Infants under one year old, in particular, often have severe systemic symptoms, such as high fever, poor appetite, and even convulsions. In treating this condition, the following points should be noted:
I. Do not rush to reduce fever
There are several reasons for not rushing to reduce an infant's fever: A temperature of 37.5℃– 38℃ is considered low-grade fever, 38℃– 39℃ is moderate fever, and anything above 39℃ is high fever. Low-grade or moderate fever is beneficial for the child's growth and development. Fever is the body's response to viral or bacterial invasion. This response helps eliminate the invading pathogens, which in turn supports the child's normal growth and development.
Do not use medication unless the fever is high. If the temperature reaches 39℃ or higher, medication is necessary and must be administered immediately. Prolonged high fever can disrupt many important bodily functions; it can increase the burden on the cardiovascular system due to high oxygen and nutrient consumption; it can lead to high fever convulsions due to excessive brain stimulation or excessive inhibition, resulting in drowsiness; it can disrupt digestive function; and it can weaken the immune system, potentially leading to complications such as pneumonia.
Antipyretic drugs have significant side effects and should only be used when absolutely necessary. Whether it's acetaminophen, compound aspirin, or other various antipyretic drugs, they are all synthesized from aspirin, caffeine, and phenacetin. Therefore, these drugs have considerable side effects: they can irritate the gastric mucosa, suppress appetite, worsen gastric ulcers, and even