Patient's question:
Cough at night in March; No feverDetailed medical condition and purpose of consultation:
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Cough itself is not an independent disease but a defensive response to clear foreign substances from the respiratory tract. Mild cough is harmless to the body and can be treated by addressing the cause without the need for cough suppressants. However, when severe cough causes suffering to the patient, cough suppressants can be used as appropriate. There are many causes of cough, 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 patient with cough, it is essential to first comprehensively analyze the condition, identify the cause, and then select appropriate cough suppressants based on the underlying condition for symptomatic treatment.Medications for treating cough are mainly divided into three major categories: cough suppressants, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Cough suppressants mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, butamirate, 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 small 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 spasm, which facilitates mucus expulsion. When using these medications, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and are safe and reliable for children.