How to properly handle children's cough?

Patient's question:

Age
Detailed medical condition and purpose of consultation: Cough, no phlegm, no other discomfort. It's just before going to bed and after waking up.
Duration of this illness: 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 severe coughing causes suffering to the patient, cough suppressants can be cautiously selected.
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 a patient presents with a cough, a comprehensive analysis of the condition is essential to identify the cause. On the basis of treating the underlying cause, appropriate cough suppressants should be selected to provide symptomatic treatment.
Medications for treating cough are mainly divided into three categories: antitussives, expectorants, and bronchodilators.
Antitussives primarily include: codeine, morphine, pholcodine, phenergan, licorice syrup, etc. These drugs are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and dry cough. However, certain 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 drugs are effective for clearing excessive respiratory mucus and reducing its viscosity.
Bronchodilators include: ephedrine, salbutamol, theophylline, 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, facilitating mucus expulsion. When using these drugs, it is important to select those with minimal side effects and are safe and reliable for children.