Parents often wonder how to treat a child's cough when he is sick. Choosing the most suitable and safe way to eliminate the problem, you need to take into account that many drugs contain substances that can adversely affect the health of the baby. Now manufacturers offer remedies of different types with different composition and mechanism of action, therefore it will not be difficult to find an effective cough medicine for children. Therapy should be aimed at eliminating not only unpleasant symptoms, but also the disease itself, which caused the spasm of the respiratory tract.
Finding out the reason
To understand how to treat a child's cough, you need to find out its nature. You cannot give babies any medication, since each type of spasm lends itself to different therapy. In very small crumbs, coughing may not be associated with pathology. It's just that phlegm is collected in their not fully developed airways and is excreted by reflex bronchospasm. They can also cough while crying because they choke. However, if other symptoms appear, then it is likely that the child has one of these disorders:
- Viral respiratory tract infection. Most often it manifests itself in the first days by an obsessive unproductive cough, an increase in body temperature and general malaise, a deterioration in appetite.
- A bacterial infection that can manifest itself as wet or dry bronchospasm. It is also sometimes accompanied by fever, in severe cases it can lead to respiratory arrest.
- An allergic reaction in which a cough occurs with a slight release of transparent mucus, tearing, nasal congestion, the appearance of dermatitis are also characteristic of the violation, in such situations antitussive drugs for children with an antihistamine effect will be relevant for use.
- Psychological disorder in which a slight coughing appears. This is a reflex urge that occurs only under certain conditions of moral discomfort.
- A foreign body in the airways leads to the manifestation of a bitonal cough, when its tone is high at first and then becomes low.
- Esophageal problems, particularly reflux disease, irritate cough receptors and lead to bronchospasm.
Types of medicines
A good cough remedy for children must fulfill certain functions in order to alleviate the condition of the little patient. Children's medicines have different effects on the body, let's consider their types in more detail.
- Mucolytics. The drugs of this group thin out phlegm, increase its secretion and accelerate excretion. They are shown for coughing for children from 3 years old, since at an earlier age babies are not yet able to cough up a large amount of mucus on their own, it will stagnate in the respiratory tract and cause complications.
Antitussives. These cough drugs block the work of the cough center in the brain, they can also directly affect the nerve endings in the bronchi, relax their smooth muscles. This type of medication is not prescribed for babies or in cases where spasm is accompanied by sputum production. The course of treatment does not last long until the cough turns into a productive form.- Expectorants. Such remedies can be given to a child if the coughing up is accompanied by mucus. The drugs promote the discharge of phlegm, make it less viscous, and significantly accelerate recovery.
- Antibacterial. Antibiotics are prescribed to a child for coughing only by the attending physician. These are medicines that are aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, but also at combating infectious agents. When choosing them, the patient's age is taken into account, since not all drugs in this group are safe for babies.
- Combined. These are effective drugs that have a complex effect on the violation. They help eliminate cough in children, relieve inflammation and edema from the mucous membrane, give an expectorant effect, thin phlegm, fight viruses, bacteria and fungi, disinfect tissues and promote their regeneration.
Antitussives. These cough drugs block the work of the cough center in the brain, they can also directly affect the nerve endings in the bronchi, relax their smooth muscles. This type of medication is not prescribed for babies or in cases where spasm is accompanied by sputum production. The course of treatment does not last long until the cough turns into a productive form.Dry cough drugs
It is quite difficult to choose a child's medicine for a cough, which is accompanied by scanty or no viscous sputum. This condition is fraught with serious consequences if you do not purchase an effective drug to alleviate the patient's condition.
With an unproductive spasm, antitussives and combined ones are prescribed, most of them can be taken from 5 years old, but there are also medicines for children 3 years old. Consider what medicines for coughing a child can be given if the sputum is too thick or does not come off at all.
- Codelac. Contains codeine, therefore it is prescribed only if the child is already three years old, at an earlier age it is possible to use this drug in the form of drops and under the strict supervision of parents or doctors. Acts on suppressing the cough reflex at the level of the central nervous system, also contains active plant components (licorice and thermopsis extract), they facilitate sputum discharge and have a local anesthetic effect. This cough suppressant is very effective, but it can be addictive and has side effects.
- Libeksin. Acts on the peripheral nervous system by suppressing the activity of nerve endings in the bronchi. The receptors become insensitive to stimuli, which leads to a decrease in the spasm. Also, a cough medicine for children expands the bronchi, which improves breathing. With his help, treatment is carried out if a dry cough occurs in a 3-year-old child. Until this age is reached, use is possible only in extreme cases. The agent is dosed depending on the weight. If two children aged 4 and 5 years have the same body weight, then a single dose for them will be the same.
- "Teprinkod". An effective cough remedy, which contains several active ingredients at once: codeine, terpine hydrate, sodium bicarbonate. Acts overwhelmingly on the cough center, promotes sputum dilution and its excretion. Not suitable if the child is 7 years old, 4 years old or less. It is prescribed only after reaching 12 years of age.
- "Stopussin". An effective agent that inhibits the excitability of nerve endings in the bronchi. Also, the medicine stimulates the production of mucus and its passage. It will not be possible to cure a cough in a child 3 or 4 years old with Stoptussin, since it is indicated for use only from the age of 12.
Omnitus. A cough medicine for a child that acts at the level of the central nervous system. It not only stops spasm, but also relieves inflammation, dilates the bronchi and improves breathing. One tablet contains 20 mg of active substance, can be taken from 6 years old.- Tusuprex. A non-narcotic antitussive agent that acts on the cough center in the brain. Due to the absence of codeine in the composition, it does not lead to addiction after a certain period of regular use. Suitable for babies from the age of two, if the child is already 4 years old, the dosage of the drug is changed.
Omnitus. A cough medicine for a child that acts at the level of the central nervous system. It not only stops spasm, but also relieves inflammation, dilates the bronchi and improves breathing. One tablet contains 20 mg of active substance, can be taken from 6 years old.Wet cough remedies
It will be easier to choose the best remedy for a cough that is accompanied by sputum production. Only a doctor can decide what to give to a child. Depending on the type of spasm itself, its frequency, the amount and consistency of mucus, the age of the patient and the disease that caused the disorder, mucolytics or expectorant drugs may be prescribed.
The doctor will tell you which medicine will help your baby, we will consider only a few of the most popular positions and their features.
Mukaltin. The famous and beloved cough medicine, which is made on the basis of marshmallow root. It also contains sodium bicarbonate, promotes thinning and excretion of phlegm, relieves inflammation, gently envelops the mucous membrane, protecting it from further damage. It is indicated for children who are 4 years old, but in rare cases it can be used from 3 years old, only in this case the method of application will be special: the tablets are crushed into powder and diluted in boiled water, only after that the baby can drink them.- "Termopsol". A preparation based on thermopsis extract and sodium bicarbonate. It acts on the bronchi, stimulates the reflex production of secretions and their excretion from the respiratory tract. The duration of treatment and the dose of the drug is selected by the doctor, depending on the age of the particular patient.
- Ambroxol. Mucolytic, which not only thinns phlegm, but also promotes its excretion from the body. It is produced in the form of a syrup, it can be taken by babies who are four years old, there is also a tablet preparation, it is suitable for children from 12 years old.
- Bromhexine. Perhaps the safest remedy that thinns mucus, promotes its active production and removal from the respiratory tract. It has a minimum of contraindications, so it can be used even for children from 3 years old.
- Lazolvan and its analogues (Ambroxol, Flavamed, etc.). A product whose active ingredient is ambroxol. This substance helps to dilute phlegm and remove it from the body. Only older children from 12 years old can take the medicine.
- "Ascoril". A medicine that has a triple effect: it expands the lumen in the bronchi and eliminates spasm by relaxing the muscles, makes mucus less viscous, and promotes its active elimination from the respiratory tract. Allowed for use by children from 6 years old.
- "Pectusin". Available in the form of tablets and syrup. Contains natural ingredients: menthol and eucalyptus oil. These substances provide a distracting effect, as menthol cools, also relieves inflammation and reduces the urge to cough. The remedy is shown for children from 7 years old.
Mukaltin. The famous and beloved cough medicine, which is made on the basis of marshmallow root. It also contains sodium bicarbonate, promotes thinning and excretion of phlegm, relieves inflammation, gently envelops the mucous membrane, protecting it from further damage. It is indicated for children who are 4 years old, but in rare cases it can be used from 3 years old, only in this case the method of application will be special: the tablets are crushed into powder and diluted in boiled water, only after that the baby can drink them.Precautionary measures
If a child has a cough, how it can be treated is determined only by a specialist. It should be borne in mind that most drugs are approved for use only from the age of three, until that time it will not be easy to find an effective and safe remedy.
You also need to remember that each child has his own individual characteristics of the body, therefore the same remedies can act differently on small patients. For some, they help to cope with the problem, while for others, on the contrary, they can become the causative agents of serious complications.
To understand what can be given to the baby to alleviate the condition, you need to know the exact diagnosis. In no case should mucolytics be combined with antitussive drugs, as this will lead to stagnation of sputum in the bronchi.
Remember that not only chemical but also natural components of medicines can cause allergic reactions. Before starting therapy with a new agent, you need to test it.
Let's summarize
Choosing a cough remedy for a child is not a problem now. Pharmacies sell drugs with different ingredients and different mechanisms of action. However, it should be borne in mind that you cannot make a choice on your own, as you can harm the baby's health.
Trust the health of your children to professional doctors and only take medications that will be prescribed after diagnosis.
