Question

My four-month-old baby is coughing frequently with a lot of phlegm and wheezing. She has been coughing multiple times a day, mainly due to phlegm. She recently vomited the water she just drank, which seems to be a symptom of coughing. This has been her first time experiencing this.

Answer

  1. If the child suddenly has severe coughing accompanied by difficulty breathing, it may be due to a foreign object stuck in the airway. Commonly swallowed items include peanuts, pencil erasers, pills, buttons, and coins, which are very dangerous and should be taken to the hospital immediately.
  2. If fever, cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing are present, immediate medical attention is required.
  3. Babies are prone to bronchiolitis, a type of pneumonia. If the baby appears to have a poor complexion, frequently turns blue, breathes rapidly, and raises the shoulders while breathing, with the lower chest wall sinking in during inhalation, immediate hospital treatment should be sought.