Patient's question:
2-year-old girl only coughs, but does not cough at night, feels like there is phlegm in the throat. First question supplement: It may be due to eating sugar. Then, which medicine is effective for cough without side effects?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 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 coughing patient, it is essential to first comprehensively analyze the condition, identify the cause, and choose appropriate cough suppressants based on the underlying condition for symptomatic treatment while addressing the root cause.
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 drugs are effective for mild respiratory inflammation and irritating dry cough but certain anesthetic drugs in this category must be used under medical guidance.
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.