Bronchospasm causes significant inconvenience to babies. Children's immunity is just being formed and still does not provide full protection against pathogenic microflora and infectious diseases. The kid is not able to take the so-called "adult" cough remedies in the form of tablets, aerosols and other dosage forms. However, pharmacists have developed safe cough medicines for babies that can be given to babies up to one year old. Before starting therapy, we advise you to consult a doctor in order to determine the root cause of cough attacks and choose the optimal course of treatment.
Causes and symptoms of cough
Babies in the first weeks and months of life do not yet have their own immunity. They are protected by nutrients and microelements obtained together with breast milk. It is also difficult to treat a cough in a newborn because his respiratory system continues to actively develop. And this makes the baby extremely vulnerable to various infectious and colds. In infants, cough appears for the same reasons as in adults: it is caused by bacterial agents, viruses and fungi.
Often, bronchospasm is the body's response to an irritant. In other words, we are talking about an allergy that can provoke:
- baby cosmetics;
- pollen;
- artificial milk mixture;
- pet hair and so on.
An allergic reaction is often accompanied by skin rashes. Fine dust can also cause intense coughing attacks. Moreover, they have a hysterical and painful character.
Remember that a cough in a child under one year old cannot be considered a separate disease and treated in isolation. It indicates a certain pathology, which is often accompanied by such signs:
- sleep disturbance;
- lack of appetite;
- cry;
- anxiety;
- rejection of the breast;
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
- vomiting (rarely) and so on.
What should be the starting point for treatment? What can you do first?
Primary objectives of therapy
Doctors recommend creating an optimal microclimate in the children's room. It is extremely important to minimize the influence of possible negative factors in order not to further aggravate the clinical picture.
For a regular supply of fresh air, you need to ventilate the room at least 2 times a day. Also, pay attention to the temperature setting. Maintain an optimum temperature between 20 and 22 degrees. Exceeding these values is fraught with active multiplication of viral agents. It also leads to excessive dryness of the nasal mucosa. When the temperature is lower, there is a high probability of hypothermia, which will also negatively affect the condition of the little patient.
Normalizing moisture levels can help a nursing baby. If you want to cure a baby, create all the necessary conditions for this. Provide a room humidity of at least 60-65 percent. To do this, we advise you to regularly wet clean and buy a household hygrometer.
Now we turn directly to drug treatment. Which cough remedy for children under one year old should be used? Pay attention to baby cough syrups. This is perhaps the only dosage form of drugs that can be used without fear of harming the little patient.
List of effective and safe syrups
Where the pill does not help, preparations in the form of syrups will come to the rescue. The following medications will quickly and accurately eliminate coughing attacks:
Ambrobene is one of the most effective syrups. This drug can be taken from the first day of a child's life. It quickly relieves dry cough. The dosage of the syrup should not exceed 2.5 milligrams at a time. When using this medication, you must drink a lot of warm liquid.- "Gedelix" is a good cough remedy for children under 1 year old, which should not be taken in pure form. It is recommended to mix it with clean drinking water. At the same time, do not forget about a plentiful warm drink.
- Ambroxol is a mucolytic drug that helps make sputum thinner. If you notice that your baby's cough is wet, use this remedy. According to experts, it can be given to children on the second day of life. The dosage should not exceed 2.5 milligrams.
- Lazolvan and similar cough medicines for children under one year old are also used for wet coughs. With their help, it is possible to quickly remove phlegm from the child's body. However, it is contraindicated in babies less than 5 months old. The syrup is consumed in half a teaspoon and washed down with warm liquid.
- At the heart of "Bronchicum" is thyme herb. Such a remedy is used from 6 months to treat dry cough attacks. The syrup is used twice a day, half a teaspoon. The duration of the rehabilitation course should not exceed two weeks.
- Another safe and effective syrup is Flavamed. It is assigned to children from the first day of life in half a measuring spoon (2 times a day). The treatment course lasts 4-5 days.
- "Prospan" is a drug for combating a wet productive cough. This syrup is good for babies up to one year old.
- Now you know how to treat a cough. However, do not forget about ointments - a great way to get rid of cough attacks in babies.
Ambrobene is one of the most effective syrups. This drug can be taken from the first day of a child's life. It quickly relieves dry cough. The dosage of the syrup should not exceed 2.5 milligrams at a time. When using this medication, you must drink a lot of warm liquid.Ointments
Preparations in the form of ointments must be carefully applied to the baby's chest. They warm well and have an antitussive effect. In addition, ointments contribute to the rapid disappearance of the common cold.
But not all of them are safe for babies. If ointments contain beeswax, petroleum jelly or eucalyptus, be sure to consult your pediatrician before using them to avoid allergic reactions. Cough medicine for babies in the form of ointments can be used only from three months.
But the ointment called "Doctor IOM" is shown even to newborns. It is favorably distinguished by speed and safety. Such a drug should be lightly rubbed into the baby's chest, feet, and also the back. The effect of its use is clearly visible the very next day after the start of therapy.
"Doctor IOM" is applied immediately before bedtime. The product contains active substances based on eucalyptus and menthol. The ointment has a sparing effect on the body.
In what cases should children not use cough ointments? The use of drugs is strictly prohibited when the child has signs of intolerance to their active ingredients. If, after rubbing, the baby's condition worsens, wash off the ointment from the body and contact your child's doctor.
Homeopathic medicines
Regardless of whether it is summer on the street or winter, cough must be fought carefully, but effectively. Newborn babies can be given one of the homeopathic remedies. In their composition, the proportion of the active substance is so small that many do not perceive them as medicines. But for newborns, such funds are ideal, since they do not have any negative effects on the body. The use of such drugs must also be coordinated with the pediatrician.
A cough in a 6-month-old child will help to quickly calm down "Phosphorus" - a homeopathic remedy for bronchospasm caused by sudden temperature changes.- "Kali Bichromikum" well liquefies excessively thick mucus and promotes its active evacuation from the body.At the same time, the drug perfectly cleans the bronchi and helps to eliminate even intense coughing attacks.
- Celia is a medicine with which you can get rid of a lingering cough, which provokes pain in the chest and in the abdomen.
A cough in a 6-month-old child will help to quickly calm down "Phosphorus" - a homeopathic remedy for bronchospasm caused by sudden temperature changes.Naturally, these are not all homeopathic remedies for cough. But the above means are suitable for babies and can be used without any negative consequences.
Unfortunately, we cannot always protect our children from diseases. But we have the opportunity to do the right thing at the first sign of coughing - see a doctor so that he can choose an effective and safe rehabilitation course.
