Remedies for the treatment of wet cough in children

Many parents think about how to treat a wet cough in a child when he is sick. It is possible to facilitate the standing of a small patient with the help of medications, physiotherapy procedures and folk remedies. But it should be borne in mind that all methods have their own characteristics and contraindications. Only a doctor should prescribe treatment for children, otherwise you can harm the young body.

Signs of pathology

Coughing is a normal physiological process. In this way, the respiratory system is cleared of mucus produced by goblet cells and dust particles. If the baby coughs 10-15 times a day, then there is no reason for concern, but in the case when other symptoms join, we can talk about the presence of diseases. Fear should cause a cough with phlegm in a child, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• lack of appetite;
• a sharp increase in body temperature;
• unusual color of mucus (greenish, yellow, interspersed with blood);
• sleep disturbance;
• anxiety;
• specific sounds when coughing up;
• wheezing when breathing and coughing up;
• pain in the chest area.

Reasons for violation

It is possible to treat cough with sputum in small patients only after the cause of the disorder has been identified. Various diseases can lead to a similar condition, which the doctor should identify. Depending on the nature of the spasm, drug therapy and physiological procedures are prescribed. The causative agents can be such ailments:

• viral respiratory infections;
• pneumonia;
• bronchial asthma;
• allergic reactions;
• bacterial lesions of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract;
• fungal infections;
• heart failure;
• reflux disease, in which the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus.

When a child has a wet cough, how to treat it can be determined by the nature of the sputum. If the discharge is abundant and transparent, we are talking about tracheitis or bronchitis, when their color resembles rust, one can assume the presence of pneumonia.

Watery mucus indicates inflammation developing in the upper respiratory tract, if it is glassy and very viscous, most likely the baby has bronchial asthma. An admixture of blood indicates heart failure or tuberculosis, and pus indicates a lung abscess.

The funds are selected depending on what kind of violation caused the spasm. Therapy should eliminate not only the symptoms, but also the causative agents of the disease.

Medicines

Treatment of wet cough in children is carried out with medication only from 2 years old. Until this age, it is not recommended to use any pharmacological agents, since babies still do not know how to cough up properly, and sputum can accumulate in their respiratory tract.

For a wet cough for children, natural medicines or synthetic drugs may be prescribed. They are of two types:

• mucolytics - thin viscous phlegm, which contributes to its effective removal from the respiratory tract;
• expectorants - enhance the cough reflex so that the mucus moves outward faster and frees the bronchi.

Also, therapy can be carried out with the use of combination drugs. They have a complex effect on the respiratory tract and the entire body.

It should be borne in mind that expectorant and mucolytic drugs in no case can be combined with antitussives. This can lead to stagnation of phlegm in the bronchi and the formation of suppuration.

Consider what kinds of wet cough medicines are for children.

Medicinal inhalation

Inhalation will help cure a cough with sputum production. The procedures are highly effective, since during their implementation the active components of drugs are mixed with steam and quickly delivered directly to the site of the lesion.

This method can only be used by children who have reached the age of four. It should also be borne in mind that procedures are prohibited if the child has an increased body temperature.

You can use the old way for inhalation: pour the medicinal mixture into a saucepan or thick-walled bowl and let the child breathe over it. However, this method is unsafe, as the baby can burn mucous membranes with steam.

When it comes to treating children, it is best to use a nebulizer. This is a special device that automatically controls the supply of steam and its temperature.

For the preparation of solutions, you can use the following pharmaceutical preparations:

• "Lazolvan";
• "ACC";
• "Mukaltin";
• "Pertussin".

The use of alkaline mineral water ("Borjomi", "Essentuki") will also be effective. It relieves inflammation and edema from the mucous membrane, improves blood circulation in the respiratory organs, which will contribute to the elimination of sputum and improve its production.

You can also use decoctions of medicinal herbs to prepare solutions, but keep in mind that they sometimes cause allergic reactions.

Traditional methods

If you do not know how to treat a baby's cough, you can use alternative methods. They have a good effect on viral infections. Remember that the child may be allergic to some components, therefore it is best to test before treatment.

Consider what recipes for a wet cough are in the folk medicine cabinet.

1. Milk with mineral water. Warm milk should be diluted with Borjomi, the ingredients are taken in equal parts. It is best to drink the medicine before bedtime, it will eliminate the spasm, destroy phlegm and promote its gentle removal from the respiratory tract.
2. Milk with honey and butter. Add a small piece of butter and a teaspoon of liquid honey to a glass of warm milk. Sweet medicine is given to the child 2 times a day, always once before bedtime.It has a complex effect: it stimulates the production of mucus, reduces its viscosity, soothes irritation, envelops tissues and protects against damage, promotes their regeneration. Also, the tool actively fights microbes.
3. Radish with honey. To prepare the mixture, we need one root vegetable. Remove the top from it and remove the pulp in the center so that a hollow for honey is obtained, while the walls should not be thinner than 1.5 cm.Pour honey into the hollow by about 2/3, leave room for the juice that will stand out. You need to insist the remedy for 6-8 hours, after which the resulting syrup is given to the child 2 times a day, 1 teaspoon.
4. Medicinal decoctions. Many herbs have expectorant and mucolytic properties; coltsfoot, thyme, licorice and marshmallow root, ivan da maria, and pansies can be used to prepare medicines. To prepare the product, take 2 tablespoons of dried raw materials and pour a glass of boiling water. Simmer the mixture in a water bath for 15 minutes, then strain well. The ready-made broth should be taken warm, 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Other measures

When a wet cough occurs in a child, it is important not only to choose the right therapy, but also to provide him with comfortable conditions for recovery and good care. Very young patients need to be monitored around the clock, as spasms can cause respiratory arrest at any time. It will be easier with older children.

The following measures will help alleviate the condition:

• fortified diet;
• exclusion from the diet of too fatty, salty, spicy and spicy foods, carbonated drinks;
• regular airing of the room and wet cleaning;
• maintaining optimal humidity in the baby's room (60-70%);
• maintaining a comfortable temperature (18-20 ° C);
• regular walks in the fresh air during the warm season and in the absence of elevated body temperature;
• drinking plenty of fluids;
• correct organization of the daily routine;
• observance of personal hygiene, in particular, timely hand washing.

In conclusion

What remedies are best suited to relieve a child's condition with a wet cough, the attending physician decides. Since this form of spasm indicates the onset of improvement, it is necessary to stimulate the excretion of sputum, and not suppress the cough reflex. This can be done with the help of medications, physiological procedures, massages, folk remedies.

Parents must strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and properly care for the baby so that he recovers as quickly as possible.