How to treat cough caused by food stagnation in a three-year-old child

Patient's question:

Detailed medical condition and purpose of consultation: To understand the cause of the illness and provide nursing care
Duration of the current illness and persistence: Over a month
Current general condition: Occasional coughing during the day, mostly at night, poor appetite, short stature, and yellow hair
Medical history: Previously had fever due to indigestion and frequently suffered from colds
Previous diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes: The hospital diagnosed it as lung heat cough, while traditional Chinese medicine diagnosed it as (stomach and intestines not absorbing well, calcium deficiency)
Auxiliary tests: No inflammation detected

Doctor's answer:

Hello: Accumulated food stagnation can be treated with some Jianwei Xiaoshi Pian (Digestive Aid Tablets). It is also recommended to supplement with calcium and cod liver oil.
Coughing itself is not an independent disease but a defensive reflex to clear foreign substances from the respiratory tract. Mild coughing is harmless to the body and can be treated by addressing the cause without the need for cough suppressants. However, when severe coughing causes significant discomfort to the patient, cough suppressants may be cautiously used. There are many causes of coughing, 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, a comprehensive analysis of the condition is necessary to identify the cause. Based on the treatment of the underlying cause, appropriate cough suppressants should be selected for symptomatic relief.
Medications for treating cough are primarily divided into three major categories: antitussives, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Antitussives mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, phenergan, licorice syrup, etc. These medications are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and (irritating dry cough), but certain anesthetic-class drugs in this category must be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Expectorants include: juniper oil, ammonium chloride, potassium iodide, acetylcysteine, rhododendron, Xiaoke Ning syrup, etc. These medications 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 spasm, which facilitates mucus expulsion. When using these medications, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and that are safe and reliable for children.