How to properly handle children's cough?

Patient's question:

Age
Detailed medical condition and purpose of consultation: Cough, no phlegm, no other discomfort. Only at bedtime and after waking up,
Duration of this illness and current status: Ten days
Current general condition:
Medical history: None
First follow-up question: No history of allergies

Doctor's answer:

Hello, cough itself is not an independent disease but a defensive response to clear foreign objects from the respiratory tract. A mild cough is harmless to the body and can be treated by addressing the cause without the need for cough suppressants. However, when a severe cough causes significant discomfort to the patient, cough suppressants can be cautiously used.
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 a 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 primarily divided into three major categories: cough suppressants, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Cough suppressants 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 Xiao Ke Ning syrup, etc. These medications are effective for clearing excessive and viscous 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 action of bronchodilators primarily involves relaxing bronchial smooth muscle, which facilitates mucus expulsion. When using these medications, it is important to choose those with minimal side effects and that are safe and reliable for children.