Question
My child has been coughing since the middle of November, and has taken many pediatric cough remedies. Now that the weather has turned cooler, there are still two to three coughs a day, but it’s not severe. I’m not sure if medication is still needed.
Answer
Coughing itself is not a disease but a defensive response to clear foreign bodies from the respiratory tract. Mild coughing is harmless to the body and can be treated by addressing the cause, so cough suppressants are not necessary. However, if severe coughing causes discomfort, cough suppressants can be considered. There are many causes of coughing, including acute and chronic respiratory inflammation, respiratory foreign bodies, respiratory compression, allergic reactions, and pleural irritation. When treating a cough, it is important to analyze the condition comprehensively, identify the cause, and then choose appropriate cough medicine for symptomatic treatment. Cough medications are mainly categorized into cough suppressants, expectorants, and bronchodilators. Cough suppressants include codeine, morphine, and codiene, which are effective for mild dry cough caused by mild respiratory inflammation. Expectorants help clear excessive and thick mucus from the respiratory tract. Bronchodilators are used to relieve bronchospasm, facilitating mucus excretion. When selecting medications, choose those with minimal side effects and safe for children.