In early winter, the weather fluctuates greatly, and some children with poor constitution may experience persistent coughs due to insufficient clothing changes or improper parental care. Despite taking many antibiotics and cough suppressants, the effects are not significant, causing great concern for parents.
Severe cough caused by external pathogens damaging the lungs: The lungs are delicate organs for children, and any cause of cough is closely related to the lungs. In addition, the delicate skin of children has poor ability to regulate changes in external temperature. The decrease in moisture in the air in early winter can easily lead to symptoms such as dry mouth, dry skin, and non-productive cough, known as "dryness" in traditional Chinese medicine. The temperature difference between day and night is large in early winter, and the weather changes unpredictably between cold and hot. If children do not add or remove clothing in a timely manner, they may catch a cold, or if they sleep with the window open at night and get caught in the wind, the pathogens will invade the body and cause illness. Regardless of the route through which pathogens enter the child's body, the lungs are always the first to be damaged, resulting in coughing due to external pathogens. Not only is the cough severe, but it also lasts for a long time. Some children cough lightly during the day, but the cough becomes more severe as the night gets deeper. Sometimes they can cough continuously for one to two minutes, often affecting sleep. In some younger infants, the condition worsens, and severe coughing can even lead to heart failure, posing a life-threatening risk.
Cough characteristics: When children are affected by external pathogens, the onset of the disease is generally rapid, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and sneezing. The cough is loud and coarse, with thin and white phlegm. Other symptoms gradually disappear during treatment, but the cough does not alleviate. The child often feels itchy in the throat, without phlegm, and spontaneous coughing occurs when exposed to wind or during quiet sleep. The use of cough suppressants and throat soothing medications has little effect. The cough can last for more than half a month, and sometimes even longer.
Chinese herbal medicine has good efficacy in treating cough: For cough caused by dryness or wind-cold invading the lungs, traditional Chinese medicine treatment focuses on clearing dryness, moistening the lungs, dispersing cold, and relieving the lungs. Chinese herbal medicine has effects that Western medicine cannot match. Generally, a few simple herbal medicines are decocted into a soup, and the child is instructed to take it in several doses. The cough will stop in a few days. If boiled water with pear or a small amount of trichosanthes fruit is taken, the effect will be even better.
Home care for cough: Due to the special spicy and bitter taste of Chinese herbal medicine, children often dread taking it. This requires parents to patiently explain to their children and try to concentrate the medicine to make the dosage not too large. Additionally, adding an appropriate amount of sugar to the medicine according to the child's taste can reduce the stimulating odor. When feeding the medicine, try to place the spoon at the back of the tongue to avoid the taste buds in the middle of the tongue that are sensitive to bitterness. The action should be quick and accurate. Under no circumstances should parents use forceful methods such as pinching the nose, prying open the mouth, or even hitting, scolding, or threatening the child to take the medicine when the child is unwilling. This will only further increase the child's fear of taking Chinese medicine and make them more resistant to it. If a child coughs severely after a meal, it often causes food to be expelled. At this time, parents should clean up for the child in a timely manner and comfort them, encouraging them to eat. Foods such as hard rice, steamed buns, and unleavened bread can be the main options. When the cough is severe, playing games, telling stories, or going for a walk with the child can help divert their attention and alleviate cough symptoms.
