Question
My child is 3 years old and has been coughing continuously for three days, with a sensation of phlegm in the throat. However, when not coughing, it doesn’t seem to be there. What should I do?
Answer
Firstly, I do not recommend parents to purchase medication for their child without professional advice, as this may not only be ineffective but could also lead to adverse reactions and increase drug resistance. Based on my experience, I suspect this might be due to variant asthma, which is one of the main causes of childhood coughs, accounting for 40% of respiratory coughs in children. The clinical symptoms include cough without an obvious trigger, no phlegm, but a sensation of phlegm in the throat. Auscultation of the lungs may reveal wheezing sounds. As the condition improves, symptoms such as fever and difficulty breathing may reappear. The ineffectiveness of common expectorants and antibiotics is a characteristic feature. Additionally, the child may have recurrent rashes on their body.