Patient's question:
A nearly eleven-month-old male baby (over 25 pounds) has previously had a cough. A stethoscope examination diagnosed him as having phlegm, but his lungs were found to be in good condition. However, he has coughed again this time, with the following symptoms:1. Starting from the 16th, he had a clear runny nose accompanied by sneezing.
2. On the 17th, he began coughing, and his nasal discharge became thicker. By the 18th, the cough worsened, and there was noticeable phlegm in his throat that he could not cough up.
3. In the evening, he was given "Children's Lung Moistening Granules" and "Children's Pseudoephedrine and Codeine Syrup," and by the 20th, his condition had largely improved.
4. From the 20th to the 28th, he remained in good condition.
5. (The nursing mother has had a cold and cough since the 20th), and the baby began showing symptoms similar to before on the 28th, with persistent coughing. His nose and throat started...
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 appropriately. There are many causes of cough, such as acute or chronic respiratory inflammation, respiratory foreign bodies, compression of the respiratory tract, allergic reactions, and pleural irritation, etc. Therefore, when a patient presents with cough, a comprehensive analysis of the condition is necessary to identify the cause. On the basis of treating the underlying cause, appropriate cough suppressants should be selected for symptomatic treatment.Medications for treating cough are mainly divided into three categories: antitussives, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Antitussives mainly include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, phenergan, licorice syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and (irritating 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 drugs 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 drugs, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and are safe and reliable for children.