Question
A six-year-old boy has been dealing with an unending cough since birth, with symptoms particularly exacerbated during colds, at night, and upon waking. CT scans have come back normal, yet coughs and colds often occur simultaneously. He has consulted several local hospitals, with diagnoses including tonsillitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis. He has tried traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine, and even sought the help of experienced traditional Chinese physicians, but the cough remains incurable and worsens during colds. Symptoms are especially severe at night and upon waking, with colds and coughs occurring together. The cough may start as a dry cough and later produce phlegm.
Answer
Coughing is a common reason for illness in children. If a cough is frequent or persists for less than three days, a urine test is necessary to determine whether it is a bacterial infection, viral infection, or mycoplasma infection, and medication should be prescribed accordingly based on the test results. A doctor should perform a lung percussion or take a chest X-ray to determine if there is bronchitis or even pneumonia. If diagnosed with pneumonia and oral medications are ineffective, intravenous fluid therapy may be necessary. Additionally, if the child has an allergic constitution, check for allergic coughs and try to avoid contact with allergens. A detailed allergen test is needed to determine which substances the child is allergic to.