Question
A 3-year-10-month-old boy has been suffering from a persistent cough since November 2012, triggered by a fever. Although he experienced temporary relief with Western medicine, the cough soon recurred. He then switched to Chinese medicine treatment, which only maintained his condition for a week before the cough returned again. The cough persisted until April 2013, despite no further fevers. On April 1st, he went to the hospital for a detailed examination. The lung percussion was normal, with only a small amount of phlegm. The chest X-ray showed minimal pleural effusion on both sides. The effusion was very small, and the hospital recommended a week of intravenous anti-inflammatory treatment along with Chinese medicine. After one week, the chest X-ray showed that the effusion had basically disappeared, with only a mild urinary tract infection, and the pleural effusion was no longer visible, with the costophrenic angle becoming acute.
Answer
This may be due to inflammation caused by an upper respiratory tract infection leading to the cough. Consider using some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs along with Mucoangon (a kind of expectorant) for treatment. If the cough is severe, you can let the child inhale steam; moist air helps clear lung mucus and relieve coughing. I hope these suggestions are helpful to you, and wish you good health!