Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Coughing during the day without coughing at night, with sticky phlegm; coughing after eating salty food; coughing after wearing too much; coughing in the morning, prone to dry coughing.Duration and persistence of the current illness: Over a year
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Cough itself is not an independent disease but a defensive response to clear foreign substances from the respiratory tract. Mild cough is harmless to the body and can be treated by addressing the cause without the need for cough suppressants. However, when severe cough causes suffering to the patient, cough suppressants can be used appropriately.There are many causes of cough, such as acute or chronic respiratory inflammation, respiratory foreign bodies, compression of the respiratory tract, allergic reactions, and pleural irritation, etc. Therefore, when a patient presents with cough, a comprehensive analysis of the condition is necessary to identify the cause. Based on treating the underlying cause, appropriate cough suppressants should be selected for symptomatic treatment.
Medications for treating cough are mainly divided into three categories: cough suppressants, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Cough suppressants mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, phenergan, licorice syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and irritative dry cough. However, certain anesthetic drugs in this category must be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Expectorants include: juniper oil, ammonium chloride, potassium iodide, acetylcysteine, rhododendron, and little cough syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for clearing excessive and thick respiratory mucus.
Bronchodilators include: ephedrine, salbutamol, theophylline, and vitamin K1, etc. Asthma is often caused by allergies or inflammation stimulating bronchial smooth muscle spasm. The pharmacological action of bronchodilators primarily involves relaxing bronchial smooth muscle, facilitating mucus expulsion. When using these drugs, it is important to select those with minimal side effects and are safe and reliable for children.