Question
A three-year-old baby has had a cough for nearly half a month without any improvement, and the cough continues despite taking anti-inflammatory medication. The cough is occasional during the day but frequent and severe at night, sometimes accompanied by dry retching but no vomiting. Blood tests show no mycoplasma infection, but the red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels are low, while platelet count and platelet aggregation are high. Could this be due to the new renovation of the house? What medication should be taken?
Answer
Last year in early January, the child had taken azithromycin for mycoplasma infection and the condition improved temporarily. However, recently, the child’s cough has recurred, with frequent coughing during the day, persistent and severe coughing at night, sometimes even affecting sleep. Based on the provided information, the child may have a respiratory infection and it is recommended to undergo further urine tests to determine if there is a bacterial, viral, or mycoplasma infection, and to choose appropriate medication based on the test results. At the same time, a lung percussion or chest X-ray should be performed to rule out bronchitis or pneumonia. If diagnosed with pneumonia and oral medication is ineffective, intravenous fluid therapy may be required. Additionally, since the child may have an allergic constitution, consider whether it could be allergic coughing and conduct an allergen test to determine the allergen source, thus avoiding exposure. For frequent coughing, nebulizer treatment can be used to clear the lungs. It is recommended to have a light diet and consume seasonal vegetables and fruits.