Patient's question:
The baby is three years old. In late February, she started having a fever and coughing; after taking anti-inflammatory and lung-cleansing medicine, she only coughed a few times during the day. But in recent days, she has been coughing intermittently during the day, with longer-lasting coughing at night, sometimes to the point of almost vomiting, though she never actually vomits. Sometimes at night, she doesn’t cough at all. Blood tests showed no Mycoplasma infection. Blood tests revealed elevated levels of lymphocyte ratio, red blood cell count, red blood cell hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell distribution width variation, platelet count, and platelet hemoglobin concentration. However, red blood cell mean corpuscular volume, mean hemoglobin concentration, and mean platelet volume were low.Is this due to the new renovation of the house? What medication should she take?
Previous treatment history and effectiveness: Last year, before the New Year, she had a Mycoplasma infection, which improved after taking azithromycin. She didn’t cough for about a month.
What kind of assistance would you like: A worried mother desperately seeks your help.
Doctor's answer:
The most common cause of a child's cough is infection. If the cough is frequent or persists for less than three days, a urine test is needed to check for bacterial, viral, or mycoplasma infection. Based on the test results, medication should be administered accordingly.Have the doctor perform a lung auscultation or take a chest X-ray to check for bronchitis or even pneumonia. If pneumonia is present and oral medication is ineffective, intravenous fluids may be required for treatment. Also, pay attention if the cough lasts for a long time. If the child has a history of allergies, check for allergic cough and identify the allergens through thorough testing. It's important to avoid exposure to these allergens.
For frequent coughing, inhalation therapy can help clear the lungs. Maintain a light diet and consume more seasonal vegetables and fruits.