Question
The child, who is two weeks old, previously had tonsillitis and coughed. After taking Western medicine, the child switched to Chinese medicine. The cough stopped after two weeks of taking Chinese medicine and stopped medication for a week, but now the child coughs every evening during afternoon naps. The Western doctor’s examination of the lungs and throat was normal, suggesting no treatment is needed. However, the child coughs frequently during sleep but not during the day, and is in good spirits. Everything else seems normal. Please advise experienced doctors on what to do?
Answer
The child, who is two weeks old, previously had tonsillitis and coughed. After taking Western medicine, the child switched to Chinese medicine. The cough stopped after two weeks of taking Chinese medicine, but it started again every evening during afternoon naps. The Western doctor’s examination of the lungs and throat was normal, suggesting no treatment is needed. However, the child coughs frequently during sleep but not during the day, and is in good spirits. Other aspects are normal. Consider it as a cough caused by mycoplasma infection, characterized by mild cough at night with a long duration, with other symptoms being mild. It is recommended to use anti-mycoplasma drugs such as erythromycin, along with lung-clearing syrup or children’s cough medicine. Diet should be light and avoid greasy foods. Pay attention to keeping warm and prevent catching a cold at night.