Is It Safe for a Two-Month-Old Child to Take Long-Term Cough and Phlegm Syrups?

Question

Can a two-month-old child take cough and phlegm syrups long-term? The child has a lot of phlegm and occasionally coughs, and has been taking this kind of medicine for nearly two weeks. Will this affect the child’s physical development? Will stopping the medication lead to inflammation?

Answer

No. It is recommended to go to the hospital for a check-up to confirm the cause of the illness and receive symptomatic treatment. In terms of diet, spicy and irritating foods should be avoided, and attention should be paid to preventing colds and keeping warm. Generally speaking, when there is a lot of thick phlegm that is hard to cough up, one should ensure adequate hydration to dilute the phlegm. Throat lozenges (such as ThroatEase, Fresh Bamboo Clear) or nebulizer inhalation therapy can be used to help expel phlegm. For severe coughing, medications like Fenegan can be used for soothing and cough suppression. Additionally, it is important to ensure sufficient sleep, adequate hydration, eating more vegetables and fruits, and a diet that is light, easy to digest, and nutritious, avoiding greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods.