Question
A 4-and-a-half-year-old child has been coughing continuously for two months. They have visited a pediatric hospital for internal medicine and otorhinolaryngology checks, but no pneumonia symptoms were found. Blood and urine tests were normal, and the tongue was slightly red. The child occasionally has dry coughs during the day, which worsen after exercise and sometimes tilts their head and grimaces. They have tried using therapies like pears, Fritillaria thunbergii, rock sugar, and loquat leaves, but these have been ineffective. The child sometimes says they have chest pain.
Answer
Given that the child’s cough has lasted for two months, and typical infectious coughs usually do not exceed one month, chronic cough is a possibility. The causes of chronic cough may include allergies, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, and more. In this case, the child’s symptoms are similar to those of asthma, such as coughing worsening after exercise and dry cough without sputum. It is recommended to conduct further allergy tests and pulmonary function tests to determine if asthma is the cause. If asthma is confirmed, inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators may be needed to control symptoms. Additionally, it is important to avoid potential allergens such as smoke, dust mites, and animal dander to reduce coughing episodes.