Question
A three-year-old child developed cough symptoms after being exposed to cold wind on a chilly day, and the cough has persisted for seven days. The cough is dry, without fever, and occurs in spasms, lasting three to five times each time. The child does not cough during naptime but coughs upon waking up in the morning. Previous treatment involved self-administering lung-clearing traditional Chinese medicine, but there was no significant effect. Concerns include diagnosing the type of cough, treatment methods, and how to prevent the cough from worsening.
Answer
Based on the description, the child’s symptoms may be consistent with the characteristics of acute bronchitis. During treatment, it is important to maintain good indoor air circulation, drink plenty of water, and adopt a light, fluid diet to aid digestion. Oral combinations of licorice and other herbs can be considered, along with sensitive antibiotics such as cephalosporins or penicillins, to control infection. Nebulizer inhalation therapy may be effective if needed. I hope these suggestions are helpful to you, and wish you good health.