Patient's question:
[Patient Age: 2.5 years old, baby. Recently, he has been coughing a lot. It was almost better a few days ago, but now the cough has started again. It's a dry cough without phlegm, and it's quite severe in bursts. I don't know what medicine to give him. Temperature is normal. Past Medical History and Treatment: He had pneumonia about 7.5 months ago, but it's now resolved. However, he frequently gets colds and coughs. What help is desired: The cause of the baby's cough and treatment methods]Doctor's answer:
Cough is a common symptom of pediatric diseases and can occur in all four seasons, being more prevalent during winter and spring. Changes in external climate, such as temperature fluctuations, are often triggers. This condition corresponds to bronchitis, bronchiectasis, colds, and some pneumonia cases primarily characterized by cough in modern medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the occurrence and development of this condition are related to the invasion of external pathogens such as wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, and fire, as well as the dysfunction of the lung, spleen, and kidney. Clinically, cough is generally divided into two major categories: external-wind cough and internal-injury cough, with the former being more common in children. Symptoms primarily involve cough, accompanied by fever, nasal congestion, chest tightness and shortness of breath, dry cough with little phlegm, or cough with excessive phlegm, fatigue, and other symptoms. Mild infections can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications. For cough or phlegm, Fresh Bamboo Juice Oral Liquid or Xiao'er Ma Gan Granules can be used. Additionally, it is recommended to drink plenty of plain water.