Question
The child is 5 months and a half old. Initially, they had diarrhea, and after the Dinggui’er belly patch failed to work, they took two days of Haobao Er anti-inflammatory medicine. The diarrhea varied in severity, happening several times a day, and was normal at night but present at other times. After 5 days of diarrhea, they began to cough, initially mild, but later became more severe, sometimes accompanied by vomiting.
Answer
It is not advisable for young children to use central-acting cough suppressants such as codeine or Huaibaiqing. The respiratory systems of infants and young children are not fully developed, and their cough reflexes are poor. Using strong cough suppressants may inhibit phlegm excretion and affect breathing. It is better to choose cough medicines that have both expectorant and expectoration effects, with syrup being more effective. Vomiting is a common symptom in young children, which may be caused by gastrointestinal diseases or systemic diseases. It is important to carefully analyze the cause and handle it promptly.