Question
The child has a cough with mucus and nasal discharge, loves to cry, and has previously been treated but the results were not good. The doctor gave some medicine that didn’t work, but changing the cough medication seemed to help. What kind of help do you want? What should be done?
Answer
Children with mucus cough should initially undergo mucus-removing treatment, such as using drugs containing salbutamol or Chinese medicine containing licorice. Once the mucus is cleared, the cough will naturally diminish. If the cough is accompanied by wheezing, it should be treated with bronchodilation first before considering cough suppression. The best bronchodilator is a salbutamol-containing cough syrup, and it is not advisable to suppress the cough solely, as this could exacerbate or lead to airway obstruction. In summary, parents should not use medication blindly and should seek timely medical advice to prevent delaying the child’s condition. If the child coughs after a cold and fever, the parent should first distinguish whether it is a dry or wet cough. A dry cough may still have some throat inflammation and requires attention to drink more water, which may soon improve.