Question
Why does my baby have phlegm in their throat? They have been crying more frequently lately, especially when feeding. Upon close observation, I’ve noticed excess white foam in their mouth, which has been going on for two days. Additionally, there’s a hiccoughing symptom. What medication does my baby need? What kind of assistance is required?…
Answer
When a child’s phlegm is thick and hard to cough up, the following methods can be used to help clear the phlegm:
- Nebulizer Inhalation: This involves adding drugs like trypsin and gentamicin to normal saline and then using a nebulizer to inhale the mixture into the respiratory tract. This achieves localized anti-inflammatory effects and dissolves the phlegm, making it easier to cough out. The procedure typically lasts for about 15 minutes, twice or thrice a day.
- Steam Inhalation: Suitable for older children, this method involves pouring hot water into a cup and having the child breathe in the steam through their mouth and nose, into the trachea, for about 20 minutes each time. Steam inhalation helps dissolve phlegm in the trachea and bronchi and can reduce mucosal congestion and edema in the respiratory tract, aiding in the resolution of inflammation and the expulsion of phlegm.
- Medication for Phlegm Removal: This is a commonly used and effective method. Western medicine often uses brown syrup containing ammonium chloride, which stimulates the gastric mucosa to reflexively increase respiratory mucosal secretion, making the phlegm more soluble and easier to cough out; Biseptol can reduce the viscosity of the phlegm, making it thinner and easier to cough out. Traditional Chinese medicine or patent medicines have good cooling effects but should be treated according to the syndrome type. If there is fever, yellow and sticky phlegm with a yellow greasy tongue coating indicates a heat syndrome, and Mung Bean Decoction is recommended; if there is no fever, sweet phlegm with a white greasy tongue coating indicates a cold syndrome,