It is now quite simple to choose a dry cough syrup for children, manufacturers offer different means. However, it should be borne in mind that they have different components, often they include chemicals. Sugar is also used for the manufacture of drugs of this type; it can also be harmful to babies. To make the right choice and not harm the child, you need to know all the features of the drug and the mechanism of its action.
Types of drugs
A dry cough can appear in a baby for various reasons. Most often, ARVI and inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract begin with it. However, there may be other causes of bronchospasm. It can be triggered by severe infections such as whooping cough. Often, coughing appears as one of the symptoms of allergies. Depending on the etiology of the disease, you need to choose the means that will most effectively act on the body. Dry cough syrups for children are:
- Antitussives. They inhibit the activity of the cough center located in the brain. They are prescribed very carefully, as they can give negative reactions.
- Mucolytics. They cut too viscous phlegm, which contributes to its active elimination from the respiratory tract.
- Antihistamines. They suppress the production of mediators by the body that react to allergens; they are prescribed for dry cough that arose against the background of personal intolerance.
The classification of syrups is still possible by their composition. You can buy completely natural products made from herbal ingredients. They may contain ingredients such as ivy extract, licorice root, marshmallow, plantain, etc.
There are synthetic drugs. They mainly block the cough center. The effectiveness of such drugs is provided by chemical compounds. There are also combined products on the market with herbal and chemical components.
Benefits of funds
The modern pharmacological market offers drugs for the relief of bronchospasm in various variations, it can be tablets, lozenges, lozenges.
However, dry cough syrup for children is the most convenient to use. Means of this type have a pleasant taste, so small patients do not have to be persuaded for a long time to take the medicine. They also have a number of other advantages:
- relatively low cost;
- convenient dispenser;
- wide range of;
- the possibility of using the mixture without preliminary preparation, it is completely ready for use;
- stable consistency of preparations;
- availability of sugar-free products on the market.
Features of funds
Give children for coughs only those syrups that will not cause them negative reactions. To do this, you need to carefully study the composition of the products on the market and recommendations for their use. It should also be borne in mind that not all medications can be used from birth, most of them are recommended for use only from 2 years old. An exception can only be a particularly difficult case.
Let's get acquainted with the most popular types of funds.
| Drug name | Mechanism of action | Age restrictions | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Sinekod" | Blocks the cough center in the brain. The active ingredient is butamirate. | Exclusively for children from 3 years old. | May cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea. |
| Stodal | Reduces coughing urges, soothes perspiration. | From 2 years old. | The drug belongs to the homeopathic group, but contains ethanol. |
| "Erespal" | It expands the bronchi, has an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect. | From 2 years old. | It is prescribed for allergic cough, quickly eliminates not only the symptoms, but also the cause of the disorder. |
| "Paxeladin" | It inhibits the activity of the cough center, the main active ingredient is oxeladin. | It is prescribed for children whose body weight exceeds 15 kg. | The course of treatment lasts a maximum of 3 days. |
| Omnitus | The active ingredient of the agent is butamirate, which acts on the cough center in the brain. | From 3 years old. | Causes negative reactions in the form of nausea, vomiting, indigestion. |
| "Erius" | An antihistamine drug that affects the body's production of neurotransmitters that react to foreign agents, the active ingredient is desloratadine, relieves swelling from the mucous membrane, eliminates inflammation and cough. | From 1 year. | Does not cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Fatty and acidic food does not reduce its pharmacological properties, does not have a sedative effect. |
| "Codelac" | Oppresses the cough center, contains thermopsis, licorice, sodium bicarbonate and codeine. | From 2 years old. | A powerful multicomponent drug that can cause allergic reactions, it is prescribed very carefully. |
| "Gedelix" | Relieves spasm, promotes phlegm excretion, eliminates inflammation, based on ivy extract. | From birth. | The preparation does not contain chemicals, alcohol or sugar, therefore it can be taken by children from birth. |
| "Eucabal" | The active substances are plantain and thyme extracts, relieves inflammation and promotes expectoration. | From birth. | Safe syrup for children that will not cause negative reactions. |
| "Gerbion" | Relieves inflammation, promotes the removal of phlegm from the respiratory tract. | From 1 year. | Produced in several variations: based on plantain, ivy and primrose. |
| "Doctor Theiss" | The active ingredient is plantain extract. Cuts mucus and promotes its excretion, relieves inflammation. | From 1 year. | Has a minimum of contraindications, rarely causes side effects. |
| "Licorice" | Clears phlegm and removes it from the respiratory tract. | From birth. | For children under 2 years of age, dosed in drops. |
| "Tussamag" | Made on the basis of thyme grains, it helps to thin mucus and eliminate it from the body. | From 1 year. | May cause nausea. |
| "Pertussin" | The combined agent, which contains potassium bromide and thyme extract, relieves irritation from the nerve endings in the bronchi. | From 3 years old. | The composition contains ethanol, therefore it is contraindicated in babies under 3 years old. |
| "Doctor Mom" | A multicomponent herbal syrup with bronchodilator and mucolytic effects. | From 3 years old. | May cause allergies, as it contains a lot of herbal ingredients. |
| "Lazolvan" | The active ingredient is ambroxol, which expands the bronchi, has an expectorant and mucolytic effect. | From 2 years old. | May cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes, dry throat and mouth. |
| "Jocet" | A multicomponent agent with a mucolytic, bronchodilator and expectorant effect. | From 1 year. | Safe for use, has a minimum of contraindications, is prohibited only for those persons who have a personal intolerance to the components of the drug. |
Caveats
Children's syrups are chosen based on the type of disorder and the age of the little patient. There are very few remedies that can be taken from birth. Even if the doctor prescribed them for you, there is a chance that the child will have negative reactions to the medication. After 1 year, the list of approved products becomes larger, but you need to make sure that they do not include synthetic dyes, stabilizers, fragrances and other components that can cause allergies.
For children who have chronic kidney, liver and gastrointestinal tract diseases or diabetes mellitus, the list of syrups is significantly narrowed. These should be neutral drugs that do not adversely affect organs and systems.Also, they should not contain sugar if its level in the baby's blood is too high. You can find syrups with natural sweeteners, so even this category of patients will be able to find the right treatment.
You can use any syrups only after consulting a doctor. The specialist will select the most suitable remedy for the baby, based on the characteristics of the disease and the patient's condition.
Self-medication is strictly prohibited, it is especially dangerous to give a child self-selected drugs if he is not yet 3 years old. In this case, severe allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema and even death are possible.
In conclusion
Choosing a syrup for your baby that will help fight dry cough is not a problem. A large number of products with different compositions and mechanisms of action are presented in pharmacies. However, it should be borne in mind that these drugs only help to alleviate the condition, they are taken until the cough turns from unproductive to productive. It is necessary to treat the main cause that provoked bronchospasm.
Only a doctor can choose an effective and safe therapy, do not ignore professional help.
