Question
The baby has a mild case of bronchitis, and the inflammation during the physical examination has subsided. There is no lung sound on percussion, no inflammation in the throat, but there is coughing with phlegm, and it’s a persistent cough. I would like to ask how to assist: What is the cause of severe coughing with phlegm? Is it okay to only take cough suppressants and expectorants without antibiotics?
Answer
How long has the baby been coughing? How long has the antibiotic treatment been going on? It is suggested that it may be a mycoplasma pneumonia, with mild coughing in the early stage and severe coughing with phlegm in the later stage. The percussion is not obvious, and there are significant changes in the lung fields on the chest X-ray. Azithromycin treatment is more effective. Coughing occurs because of inflammation in the lungs that produces phlegm, and coughing helps expel the phlegm from the body. It is absolutely not advisable to use cough suppressants and hemostatic agents alone, as they only address the symptoms, not the root cause. Pay attention to the baby’s mental state; if there are obvious signs of shortness of breath or cyanosis during coughing, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately.