Question
My baby has been experiencing a dry cough, increased appetite, and longer nap times than usual during the day, while sleeping at night as normal. After taking cough suppressants and anti-inflammatory medication, they have developed diarrhea and are passing yellow, watery stools. The cough is accompanied by a small amount of phlegm, and their eyes are a bit red when coughing. Initially, the cough started after a runny nose, possibly due to catching a cold at night and being exposed to cold wind. What has been the past treatment…
Answer
Coughing is a self-protective mechanism of the body that is beneficial to humans and is a normal physiological protective behavior. It can clean the respiratory tract and keep it unobstructed. It’s like cleaning up garbage: the cilia in the respiratory tract continuously remove inhaled dust, foreign objects, and microorganisms to the throat, and then these “garbage” inside the body need to be expelled through coughing. This is the positive effect of coughing. Firstly, consider the difference between coughs with phlegm and those without. For coughs with phlegm, it’s advisable to increase fluid intake and consider using cool blood Chinese medicine. It is suggested that the baby drink some saccharose syrup, which has been effective. A folk remedy: boil celery leaves in water and try drinking 1 to 2 bowls before bedtime.