Child has a cough with no phlegm. No cold, no fever. How to treat?

Patient's question:

Patient Age: Three years old
Detailed Condition and Purpose of Consultation: Coughing without phlegm. No cold or fever; possibly due to inhaling cold air.
Duration of Current Illness: Lasted for about four or five days.
Current General Condition: Severe at bedtime and upon waking up in the morning.
Medical History: Previously, coughing would be triggered by inhaling cold air or sudden temperature changes.
Previous Diagnoses, Treatments, and Outcomes: Took medication, but the effect was slow.

Doctor's answer:

Hello: First and foremost, it is important to prioritize warmth and minimize exposure to cold drafts.
Coughing itself is not an independent disease but rather 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 essential to identify the underlying cause. On the basis of treating the root cause, appropriate cough suppressants should be selected for symptomatic treatment.
Medications for treating cough are primarily divided into three major categories: antitussives, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Antitussives mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, fenoterol, licorice syrup, etc. These medications are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and irritative dry cough. However, certain anesthetic drugs in this category must be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Expectorants include: juniper oil, ammonium chloride, potassium iodide, acetylcysteine, rhododendron, and little cough syrup, etc. These medications are effective for clearing excessive and thick respiratory mucus.
Bronchodilators include: ephedrine, salbutamol, theophylline, and vitamin K1, etc. Asthma is often caused by allergies or inflammation stimulating bronchial smooth muscle spasm. The pharmacological effects of bronchodilators primarily involve relaxing bronchial smooth muscle, which facilitates mucus expulsion. When using these medications, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and those that are safe and reliable for children.