Patient's question:
7 years old, coughing at night, poor sleep, difficulty breathing, needs treatment. How can I help my son with his severe cough?Doctor's answer:
Treatment Methods for Coughing in Children:1. Elevate the Baby’s Head at Night
If the baby coughs persistently while sleeping, you can elevate their head to alleviate the symptoms. Raising the head is helpful for most coughs caused by infections because when lying flat, secretions from the baby’s nose flow easily down to the throat, causing irritation and worsening nighttime coughing. Elevating the head reduces the backward drainage of nasal secretions. It’s also important to change the baby’s sleeping position frequently, preferably alternating between sides, which helps in the discharge of respiratory secretions.
2. Warm Drinks to Relieve Cough
Drinking warm fluids can make the baby’s mucus thinner, relieve tension in the respiratory tract lining, and promote the expulsion of phlegm. The best options are warm water, warm milk, or rice porridge. Fresh juices can also be given, but it’s better to choose less irritating ones like apple or pear juice, rather than citrus juices like orange or grapefruit juice.
3. External Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine
You can use some safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external application methods. Many infants and young children struggle with vomiting when taking medication at home due to their physiological reasons, making oral administration difficult. In such cases, using external (pastes) can enhance the effectiveness of treatment. Examples include Baicao Qiongjiang Yiqi (a TCM paste for boosting energy) and Sanfu (a TCM patch used during the summer).