Question
My child has a cough due to a fever, and it is worse when he sleeps at night. He has phlegm. I would like to know if it is a cold cough or a heat cough.
Answer
Hello doctor, how should I infer this? The cough with fever has lasted for two weeks, and I am concerned about how to seek assistance: consultation, treatment… If it is just a light cough without phlegm, it is mainly a cold cough. For common upper respiratory tract infections, our clinical diagnosis often involves medication for many symptoms. In your child’s case, the treatment is based on stopping sneezing and clearing the lungs (which is good for the child). If there is high fever, medication such as ibuprofen (like Motrin) and acetaminophen (like Tylenol) can be taken orally; Chinese herbal cooling remedies include Pediatric Cold and Fever Relief and New Snow Danshen Tablets, but it is best to have antiviral drugs on hand. Safe medications include Double Yellow Qing Cough Liquid (which is effective for mild coughs, but the liquid must be warmed before giving it to the child to prevent the cold medicine from harming the stomach) and Antiviral Oral Liquid. Since the child’s liver and kidney functions are not fully developed yet, it is important to decide on appropriate antibiotics or antiviral drugs in the event of bacterial or viral infections or if there are signs of them. For example, if there is a fever, cough with phlegm, runny nose, etc. Overall, children are susceptible to viral or bacterial infections when they catch a cold or flu, so it’s best to prepare some antibiotics in advance. Decisions can be made on amoxicillin (penicillin group) or Ceftriaxone pediatric oral solution. I hope my explanation can give you some guidance.