What are the good methods for relieving cough and resolving phlegm in children

Children can relieve cough and phlegm by adjusting their diet, patting their backs to expel phlegm, inhaling steam, regulating traditional Chinese medicine, and following medical advice. Coughing and expectoration may be related to respiratory infections, allergic reactions, environmental stimuli, thick sputum, spleen and stomach weakness, and other factors.

1. Adjust diet

Drinking a moderate amount of warm honey water or pear soup helps to dilute sputum. snow pear, white radish and other foods have the effect of moistening the lungs and resolving phlegm. Avoid consuming cold drinks, sweet and greasy foods, and spicy irritants to avoid exacerbating respiratory mucosal congestion. Ginger jujube tea can be consumed for wind cold cough, while Sichuan scallop stewed pear is suitable for wind hot cough.

2. Patting the back to expel phlegm

Parents should keep their children sitting or lying on their side, with a hollow palm and gently tapping the back from bottom to top, focusing on tapping the scapular area, for 3-5 minutes each time. This method can promote the loosening of bronchial secretions and is suitable for situations where phlegm is difficult to cough up. Be careful to avoid the spine and waist, and do not operate within 1 hour after eating.

3. Steam inhalation

Under the guidance of a doctor, use physiological saline nebulization inhalation, or let children inhale water vapor at around 40 ℃ 2-3 times a day. Adding appropriate amounts of traditional Chinese medicine such as Platycodon grandiflorum and peppermint can increase the phlegm resolving effect. This method can moisten the airway and reduce sputum viscosity, but it is necessary to prevent burns and should not be used during asthma attacks.

4. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

For wind cold cough, Tongxuan Lifei Granules can be used, which contain ingredients such as perilla leaves and Campanula grandiflorum; Wind heat cough is suitable for children's lung heat cough asthma oral liquid, containing ephedra, bitter almonds, etc. The phlegm dampness type can be treated with Er Chen Wan, which contains medicinal herbs such as Pinellia ternata and Chenpi. It should be used after differentiation by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to avoid interaction with Western medicine.

5. Follow medical advice

amoxicillin granules can be used for bacterial infections, and azithromycin dry suspension can be used for mycoplasma infections. For patients with thick sputum, ambroxol oral solution can be used in combination. For allergic cough, Montelukast sodium chewable tablets are needed. All medications must be taken strictly according to the instructions, and parents are not allowed to adjust the medication plan on their own.

Maintain indoor humidity between 50% -60% and open windows for ventilation twice a day. Children with allergies should stay away from allergens such as dust mites and pollen, and avoid vigorous exercise during coughing. If symptoms such as shortness of breath, bloody sputum, persistent fever for more than 3 days, or mental fatigue occur, immediate medical examination should be conducted to check for pneumonia, bronchitis, and other diseases. Daily practice of abdominal breathing can enhance lung function. For those with weak spleen and stomach, it is appropriate to consume spleen strengthening ingredients such as yam and Poria cocos.