Question
The girl has been constantly coughing and running a fever, and it’s only been a few days. She’s started running a fever again. Every time she has a fever, it lasts for a long time, and she keeps coughing as well. It takes a long time for her to get better. This time is no different; the runny nose is gone, but she still coughs at night and in the morning. I’m very worried. I’m looking for assistance on how to handle this situation: What should I do if my child keeps coughing?
Answer
Coughing is a normal physiological defense mechanism, the only way for the body to thoroughly clear respiratory mucus. Children under 3 years old have poorer cough reflexes and phlegm is not easy to expel. If parents give strong cough suppressants to young children as soon as they start coughing, the cough may temporarily stop, but the phlegm cannot be expelled smoothly, leading to large accumulations in the trachea and urethra, which can cause tracheal obstruction. Additionally, a few light coughs when children go to bed in the morning are a physiological phenomenon; they are just clearing the mucus accumulated in the respiratory tract overnight. Parents should not worry about this.