Question
My child has been coughing frequently lately, especially worse when lying down at night, sometimes even bringing up food. During the day, the cough is lighter. What are the times and causes of the symptoms? What treatments have been done? I want to understand the cause of my child’s cough and the appropriate medication.
Answer
When a child has a cough with phlegm, early treatment should focus on expectoration, which can include Western medicine containing ammonium bromide or Chinese medicine with Fritillaria thunbergii ingredients. Once the phlegm is expelled, the cough will naturally decrease. If the cough is accompanied by wheezing symptoms, it is advisable to first use medication containing glycopyrrolate to alleviate the wheezing before considering cough suppressants to avoid worsening the condition or causing airway obstruction. Parents should not administer medication to their children blindly and should follow medical advice to avoid delaying the illness. If a child develops a cough after a cold or fever, parents should first distinguish between dry cough and wet cough. Dry cough may be due to…