Question
When a child’s throat can be heard to have a phlegm sound, especially at night, what folk remedies can be used? What medications are more effective if medication is needed?
Answer
Parents can cup their hands and gently tap from the child’s lower back upwards, towards the inside, as this follows the path of the child’s lung lobes and bronchi, helping to promote expectoration. The mother can have the child lie on her forearm and use her other hand to pat the child’s back. The tapping should be firm; gentle tapping does not produce significant results. It is especially important to be careful when caring for a coughing child at night to avoid phlegm blocking the airways and affecting normal breathing.