Patient's question:
Currently, in general situations: My son has been coughing a bit and having difficulty defecating recently. Is there any way to treat this????????First follow-up question: My son is only 27 days old!!!
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Please describe in detail the child's age and specific condition.Cough itself is not an independent disease but a defensive reflex to clear respiratory foreign bodies. 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 as appropriate. There are many causes of cough, such as acute or chronic respiratory inflammation, respiratory foreign bodies, compression of the respiratory tract, allergic reactions, pleural irritation, and so on. Therefore, when treating a coughing patient, it is essential to first comprehensively analyze the condition, identify the cause, and then select appropriate cough suppressants based on the underlying condition for symptomatic treatment.
Medications for treating cough are mainly divided into three categories: antitussives, expectorants, and bronchodilators:
- Antitussives mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, phenergan, glycyrrhiza syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and irritating dry cough but 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, little cough syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for clearing excessive and thick respiratory mucus.
- Bronchodilators include: ephedrine, salbutamol, theophylline, 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, which facilitates mucus expulsion. When using these drugs, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and that are safe and reliable for children.
Common treatments for constipation include:
(1) Training bowel habits to cultivate