Question
My child has asthma and always has phlegm in their throat. They’ve been on medication for many days, but it’s not getting better. What should I do?
Answer
Consider the possibility of bronchitis. Maintain good air circulation, provide adequate vitamins and proteins, drink plenty of water, and eat in small, frequent meals. Keep the respiratory tract clear, promptly remove secretions from the upper respiratory tract, frequently change positions to reduce pulmonary congestion, and facilitate the absorption of inflammation and the expulsion of phlegm. Antibiotics are primarily used for bacterial pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydia pneumonia, and viral pneumonia with secondary bacterial infections. Before treatment, a throat secretion or blood culture should be performed, along with a drug sensitivity test to select effective medications appropriately. For those with coughs and phlegm, do not overuse cough suppressants as they can suppress coughing and hinder phlegm expulsion. To avoid phlegm blocking the bronchi, you can choose expectorants such as Compound Liquorice Compound, 10% ammonium chloride solution, ipecac syrup, and cough syrup. For thick phlegm, use 5mg of -chymotrypsin added to 15-20ml of normal saline for ultrasonic nebulizer inhalation.