How to Handle Coughs in Children with Cold

Question

What should be done when a child has a cold with fever and continues to cough?

Answer

The primary task for dealing with a child’s cough is to identify the cause. Generally, mild and infrequent coughs help expel phlegm, and the cough usually resolves naturally once the phlegm is cleared, so cough suppressants are not necessary. For severe and frequent coughs, cough suppressant medications like codeine syrup can be used for a short period to help relieve the cough. For children with coughs accompanied by large amounts of thick, difficult-to-cough-up phlegm, expectorants like Mucosolvan and Tylenol Cold & Cough syrup should be used, while ensuring the child has adequate fluid intake to thin out the phlegm and aid in its expulsion.