It is very convenient to use cough lozenges for children, as they taste good, quickly relieve symptoms and bring relief. Initially, this type of drugs and nutritional supplements was developed exclusively for young patients who are difficult to persuade to take an unpalatable medicine. Now on the market there are not only children's but also adult products. Choosing for babies you need only such sucking cough tablets that will not have a negative effect on the body.
Types of coughs and lozenges
Only a doctor can select cough drops suitable for children after a detailed examination and study of all laboratory test results. Therapy by certain means is prescribed only when the nature of the disorder is clear.
Consider what forms of cough are:
- Excited by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. When the throat and tonsils are affected by an inflammatory process of a bacterial or viral nature, cough is a characteristic symptom of the disease. Pathogenic microorganisms secrete toxins that can spread to the lower respiratory system if the child does not receive treatment on time. The characteristic features of this type of cough are:
- severe sore throat;
- pain syndrome;
- lack of phlegm;
- frequent coughing urges.
Such a cough can be relieved with anti-inflammatory lozenges, which not only envelop the mucous membrane, protecting it from irritation, but also promote the discharge of phlegm. It is forbidden to combine antitussives with these drugs.
- Excited by inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. When the inflammation occurs in the lungs, bronchi or trachea, it causes what is called a chest cough. Spasm appears due to the fact that the respiratory system is trying to remove the mucus that has accumulated in it, and the waste products of pathogenic microorganisms present in the sputum. This type of cough cannot be suppressed, it has a paroxysmal character, brings relief to the patient, and is almost never accompanied by a sore throat. In this case, cough tablets for children should have mucolytic properties (cut phlegm and remove it from the respiratory system).
Excited by an allergic reaction. In such situations, the cough is hysterical, paroxysmal, accompanied by tearing of the eyes and a small release of transparent sputum. It often develops against the background of an inflammatory process in the airways. In this case, you can use the lozenges only as an adjunct to antihistamines. Lozenges can only be helpful in achieving one goal - moisturizing the mucous membranes by producing a lot of saliva.- Residual. This term is usually called post-inflammatory cough, which does not leave the patient for a long time even after his complete recovery. You can remove the residual phenomenon with the help of lozenges that contain folcodin or dextromethorphan. These substances are able to suppress the work of the cough center in the brain. However, remember that they should never be combined with mucolytics (Pectolvan, ACC, Fluditek, etc.).
Excited by an allergic reaction. In such situations, the cough is hysterical, paroxysmal, accompanied by tearing of the eyes and a small release of transparent sputum. It often develops against the background of an inflammatory process in the airways. In this case, you can use the lozenges only as an adjunct to antihistamines. Lozenges can only be helpful in achieving one goal - moisturizing the mucous membranes by producing a lot of saliva.Choosing pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement market is now offering a chic selection of toddler lozenges. It is not necessary to make cough lozenges for children with your own hands; you will find products designed for different purposes, having different compositions and age restrictions. Let's consider them in more detail.
| Drug name | Age restrictions | Mechanism of action | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strepsils (with honey and lemon, strawberry, with vitamin C). | From 5 years old. | Relieves inflammation, envelops the mucous membrane, which promotes effective expectoration. | 1 tablet every 3 hours, after use do not eat or drink for 30 minutes. |
| Strepsils Intensive. | From 12 years old. | The drug has anti-inflammatory properties, disinfects mucous membranes, soothes irritating coughs. | 1 tablet every 2-3 hours, no more than 5 pieces per day. |
| Angi Sept by Dr. Theiss (cherry, sea buckthorn, sage, honey, lemon). | From 6 years old. | Antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. | Dissolve 1 lozenge every 2-3 hours, the daily rate is no more than 6 pieces, the course of treatment lasts a maximum of 3 days. |
| "Anti-angina". | From 3 years old, there is also a form for children only from 6 years old. | Disinfects mucous membranes, fights fungi and bacteria, pacifies severe dry cough. | From 3 years old take 1 tablet once a day; from 6 years old - 1 tablet 3 times a day; from 14 years old - 1 tablet every 3 hours, no more than 6 pieces per day. |
| Septolet, Septolet D. | From 4 years old. | Disinfects mucous membranes, relieves swelling, fights cough. | From 4 to 10 years old - no more than 4 tablets per day; from 10 to 12 years old - no more than 6 lozenges per day; from 12 years old - no more than 8 days. |
| Septolete NEO, Septolete Plus. | Septolete NEO from 4 years old; Septolete Plus from 6 years old. | A powerful antiseptic, fights against pathogens, disinfects mucous membranes, promotes sputum discharge. | Septolete Neo children from 4 to 10 years old take 4 lozenges a day; from 10 to 12 years old - 6 lozenges a day; from 12 years old - 8. “Septolete Plus children from 6 to 12 years old take 4 tablets a day, and children from 12 years old - 8 tablets a day. |
| Faringosept (mint, lemon, with cinnamon, no taste). | From 3 years old. | Disinfects mucous membranes, fights microbes, eliminates severe attacks of dry cough. | From 3 to 7 years old - no more than 3 lozenges a day; from 7 years old and adults - no more than 5 lozenges per day. |
| Verbena by Dr. Theiss. | From 3 years old. | They fight against pathogens, envelop the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, relieve irritation. | Take 1 lozenge every 3 hours. |
Homemade lollipops
You can make cough drops for children yourself. Sweet and healthy candy will be not only an effective medicine for the child, but also a delicious treat. It is necessary to prepare funds from natural products that have antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Herbal raw materials, which give an expectorant effect, are also suitable.
Let's take a look at how to make homemade cough drops.
Honey + ginger + lemon juice
All of these ingredients, individually, have a great effect on the body, and together they give an amazing effect. Honey is a natural antiseptic, it relieves inflammation and irritation from the mucous membrane, disinfects it, protects against repeated injury, and promotes early healing. Ginger thinns and removes phlegm from the respiratory tract, lemon juice enhances the protective functions of the body and has bactericidal properties.
To make the medicine, take 300 g of liquid honey, 1 dessert spoon of ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. To get started, prepare the molds in which the candies will freeze. These can be silicone or metal molds that need to be treated well with sunflower oil. Next, pour the honey into a cast iron or any other non-stick dish, add ginger and lemon juice to it. You need to cook the mixture over low heat for 1-1.5 hours. During this time, the liquid will foam, this is a natural process.
To make sure that the raw materials for the sweets are ready, take a drop of syrup and put it on a plate, if after a few minutes it becomes tough, it's time to pour the liquid into the molds. It freezes for about 2 hours.
Herbs + honey
As herbs, you can use elderberry or sage, if you do not have such components, buy a ready-made breast collection at the pharmacy.Add 250 ml of water to the dried raw materials (a quarter of a glass), set to simmer on low heat, the broth to cook for 20 minutes. After that, strain the liquid through cheesecloth folded in several layers, add a pound of sugar and 2 tablespoons of honey to it. Stir everything thoroughly and send again to low heat.
Boil the mixture, stirring constantly, when it thickens, try to see if the product sticks to your teeth if you bite it. If not, then you can fill in the molds, previously oiled, if yes, then you need to boil the syrup for some time.
Precautionary measures
A homemade lollipop or one bought from a pharmacy can not only be powerless in the fight against a cough, but also harm your child. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose the right cough suppressants. For this, a consultation with a doctor is necessary, only after it can you start using lozenges.
It is worth remembering that products that include chemical dyes, flavorings and other harmful substances can cause allergies in the baby. This also applies to natural products such as honey and lemon.
Ginger should not be given to children who have severe digestive, kidney, and liver problems. And sugar will negatively affect the well-being of young patients who have diabetes.
Also, be careful when choosing herbal preparations. Multi-component lozenges can cause negative reactions in case of personal intolerance.
Let's summarize
It's easy for young patients to choose their ideal cough and sore throat medicine. Lollipops are available in a wide range, and any mother can prepare them on her own.
However, it should be borne in mind that these funds can cause allergic reactions if the baby is prone to them. Start treatment only after consulting a doctor, take care of yourself and your fidgets.
