Question
My son has been a bit coughing and having difficulty with bowel movements recently. What treatment methods are available? He is 27 days old.
Answer
Coughing can be a defense mechanism to clear foreign objects from the respiratory tract, with mild inflammation causing a stimulating dry cough that can be treated with appropriate cough medicine. The causes of cough are varied, including acute or chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract, foreign objects in the respiratory tract, compression of the respiratory tract, and allergic reactions. It is important to comprehensively analyze the condition, identify the cause, and provide symptomatic treatment based on treating the root cause. Medications for treating cough mainly include cough suppressants, expectorants, and bronchodilators. Cough suppressants include codeine, morphine, and cough syrup, which are suitable for clearing excessive and thick phlegm from the respiratory tract. Bronchodilators are used to relieve spasm of the bronchial smooth muscles, facilitating the expulsion of phlegm. Common treatment methods for constipation include training bowel habits and increasing the fiber content in the diet. Newborn constipation may be related to diet, and it is recommended to consult a doctor to adjust feeding methods or add appropriate foods.