Patient's question:
When the seasons change, the child always coughs. Please ask what is the reason for the child's frequent cough?Doctor's answer:
Do not blindly suppress coughing. Coughing is a natural protective reflex of the body that can prevent foreign objects from entering the trachea and bronchial system or prevent the accumulation of bronchial secretions. Coughing and wheezing are distinct; a cough is characterized by sound without phlegm, while wheezing is characterized by phlegm without sound. In disease conditions, coughing and wheezing often occur together, hence the term "cough" (). Coughing is generally not treated with cough suppressants because when the lower respiratory tract has secretions (i.e., phlegm), coughing is necessary to expel them. If cough suppressants are used, they will inhibit the cough reflex, leading to the retention of phlegm in the trachea and bronchi, which may worsen the condition or cause secondary infections.