Question
The weather has been very hot recently, and our home has been running the air conditioner all the time. Unfortunately, our baby accidentally caught a cold and has been sneezing and running a nose. How should we handle this situation?
Answer
If the cough is severe with phlegm, it is necessary to use anti-inflammatory and expectorant medications. Cephalosporin antibiotics are one option. It is also helpful to pat the baby’s back regularly to assist in expectoration. You can also give the baby some expectorant medicine to aid in clearing the phlegm. It is beneficial for the baby to cough up phlegm, as expectorants cannot replace this process. It is recommended that the baby develop good living habits, maintain a regular routine, quit smoking and drinking, and increase daily exercise to boost immunity and prevent recurrence of the condition.