Question
My child is 15 months old and has a cough without phlegm, and sometimes there are vomiting episodes. What medication should be taken? (I am currently taking the pediatric digestion and cough syrup; is this correct, please advise?)
Answer
A cough without phlegm or with very little phlegm is known as a dry cough, commonly seen in the early stages of acute pharyngitis and acute tracheitis. Currently available medications for treating dry cough include Cough Clear, Meikang Syrup, Cough Quick Good, and Compound Dried Herb Tablets, among others. Although they are all cough suppressants, their pharmacological effects are not identical, and the choice of medication varies with different diseases. Cough Clear contains the active ingredient hydrocodone, which is often used for dry coughs caused by upper respiratory infections and whooping cough. Meikang Syrup contains dextromethorphan, mainly used for allergic coughs or bronchitis caused by the common cold. Cough Quick Good contains benzonatate, suitable for acute bronchitis. Compound Dried Herb Tablets are generally used for common coughs.