A cough is a bothersome, tiring, and sometimes even painful symptom that proves irritation or damage to the nerve endings of the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. There are several types of cough: dry cough, wet cough, wheezing cough, paroxysmal cough and barking cough; each of them may be evidence of other diseases, as cough is rarely the only symptom – most often it is only part of a larger problem, such as pneumonia. Dry cough may be due to allergies, choking, pneumonia; occurs most often at the beginning of an infection. Wet, expectorant cough is most often associated with bronchitis, as well as the further stage of infection. Wheezing cough could be asthma or laryngeal disease; A panic cough can also be a symptom of asthma, as well as an allergy or whooping cough. While barking cough may occur as a symptom of infectious diseases, especially measles and tracheitis or laryngitis.
Choosing the right syrup for children
So which cough syrup is best for children? The shortest answer is one that is tailored specifically to this type of cough. This is a general rule, but for children, as their bodies are naturally more sensitive, it is especially important to comply with it. The drug in the form of a syrup is also more preferred in children, as the application of tablets can be not only more difficult, but also more dangerous – the child may choke easily with the tablet. When it comes to treating children, another beneficial factor when it comes to syrups is taste – although this is not naturally a key criterion, effectiveness and safety are always the most important factors, however, a pleasant-tasting syrup will be much more likely to be taken by the child, making the work of the doctor and parents much easier. This criterion is best met by herbal syrups based on onions, marshmallow, coltsfoot, mullein, thyme or plantain. These herbs have a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Things to keep in mind when treating a child’s cough
It should be remembered that the use of each drug requires prior consultation with a doctor; this is especially important when treating a child, whether the medication is over-the-counter or generally self-administered. This applies to children over three years of age – younger children should only prescribe any cough medicine if absolutely necessary. Consultation with a doctor is also necessary if the cough persists or becomes worse after three days of taking the medicine. Wet cough syrup should not be administered less than a few hours before bedtime, as the fluid thinned by the syrup may make it difficult to sleep and rest. Avoid sweetened syrups – some preparations may contain sugar to make them taste better for the child. However, it is contraindicated as unhealthy – you should always be guided by effectiveness and safety, and taste second.
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