Question
A 9-month-old baby has white nasal discharge, is in good condition overall, but has a phlegmy sound in the throat while drinking water or sleeping. Starting yesterday, there has been slight coughing. What medication should the expert recommend for the child?
Answer
Hello: Based on the symptoms, this may be a case of pediatric cold. During a pediatric cold, it is recommended to have the child rest in bed, consume fluids or soft foods, and for infants, temporarily reduce milk intake; maintain a stable indoor temperature, neither too high nor too low; keep the indoor relative humidity between 50% to 60%. In recent years, using 10% ribavirin (virazole) for upper respiratory regional nasal drops is effective for children under 2 years old, with 2 drops in each nostril; for children over 2 years old, 3 drops in each nostril. During high fever, drop every 15 minutes for a total of four times, and after fever subsides, four times a day. Nasal congestion can be treated with Xin Ke Ma Mixture (containing 10 mg of neomycin, 5 mg of hydrocortisone, and 10 mg of ephedrine, plus physiological saline to make up to 10 milliliters). Administer before meals or at bedtime, four to six times a day, two drops in each nostril per time. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, aspirin can be given at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight, taken every 4 to 6 hours, or physical cooling measures can be taken. If complications occur, consider using antibiotics.