How to quickly cure a wet cough in a child

Choosing a medicine for coughing and colds is a responsible matter. You should not choose the drug yourself, especially when it comes to treating a child. Dry and wet cough medications act differently, and choosing the wrong remedy can be very harmful.

Causes of Wet Cough

First of all, it is necessary to find out what exactly caused the development of cough. If infrequent coughing without sputum discharge is normal, then a wet cough may indicate the development of a dangerous disease.

Among the reasons that can provoke a cough with sputum are the following:

• pneumonia;
• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• tuberculosis;
• accumulation of pus in the lungs;
• allergies
• whooping cough.

How to cure a wet cough

Another condition, the observance of which will allow you to quickly remove phlegm - a heavy drink. You should drink often and only warm liquids. It can be tea, compote, alkaline mineral water.

You should not limit the child in physical activity and force him to constantly lie in bed if he does not have a fever. The child should move, this will contribute to the discharge of sputum, while during bed rest its stagnation will be observed. Outdoor walks are recommended. In this case, excessive activity of the child should not be allowed - do not allow him to run and jump.

Symptoms

A combination of coughing seizures with the following symptoms should alert:

• a sharp occurrence of coughing attacks, lasting a long time;
• temperature increase above 38 degrees and long-term maintenance of high temperature (more than 3 days);
• detection of bloody veins in sputum;
• the occurrence of shortness of breath;
• sputum with a green tint;
• wheezing during breathing;
• ARI / ARVI, preceding wet cough;
• complaints of chest pain.

Treatment of wet cough in children

The main goal of treating a wet cough is to remove sputum from the respiratory system. If adults do not have problems with coughing, then respiratory diseases are dangerous for children because children cannot cough properly. Sputum in young children is very viscous, and in order to facilitate the process of its passage, it is necessary to take special preparations that have a mucolytic effect.

Sputum, which is produced for a long time in the lungs, becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. As a result, complications may occur.

Of drugs with a wet cough, prescribe:

• mucolytic;
• expectorant.

Mucolytics are needed to stimulate the formation of mucus. They are used when mucus is produced, but its volume is not enough for easy separation.

Expectorant preparations are designed to thin the sputum. They are synthetic and vegetable.You should talk with a specialist about which of these drugs is more suitable for treating your child. Parents usually prefer to use herbal remedies, but this is not always the best choice. Drugs in this group can cause severe allergies. The more plant components in the syrup, the higher the risk of an allergic reaction. Synthetic drugs are more effective in treating a wet cough.

The drugs of the synthetic group, which are often used, include:

• ACC, Mucobene (based on acetylcysteine);
• Muksol, Mukodin (on the basis of carbocysteine);
• Bromhexine;
• Ambroxol

Of herbal preparations, doctors often prescribe:

• syrup Dr. Mom;
• breast collection;
• Pectusin.

With a wet cough, you should not give your child an antitussive. These are drugs that, acting on the cough reflex in the brain, suppress cough. When taking these funds, even in the presence of sputum, the child does not cough, therefore, sputum remains in the lungs, it accumulates more and more, the inflammatory process increases. All this leads to the development of pneumonia.

Physiotherapeutic methods

One of the effective methods used to improve sputum discharge during a wet cough is inhalation. Moreover, in the treatment of children, steam inhalation (over potatoes, for example) is strictly prohibited, since the child may get a mucous burn. Inhalations are recommended, which are carried out using a nebulizer. Special solutions (Lazolvan for inhalation) or alkaline mineral water are poured into the device. The solution that is used during the procedure should be warm. Also, as a solution, decoctions of herbs (in the absence of an allergy) or acetylsalicylic acid can be used.

Applications to the chest area stimulate blood circulation, reduce inflammation. For these purposes, paraffin or ozocerite applications are used. Mashed hot potato applications are also effective. It is allowed to carry out the procedure only in cases of lack of fever in the child. To prepare a compress of potatoes, unpeeled boiled root crops (2-3 pieces) should be mashed, combined with turpentine, medical alcohol, vegetable oil (1 tablespoon each). Large flat cakes are prepared from the resulting mass, which are wrapped in gauze and laid on the chest and back of the child. The baby must be carefully wrapped. The duration of the procedure is 1-2 hours. After this time, the compress is removed, the skin is wiped dry, and the child is changed into dry and clean linen.

The easiest option for the compress is oil. Ordinary vegetable oil is heated in a water bath, moistened in it with a dense cloth and applied to the chest. It is important when applying a compress to exclude the region of the heart. You can’t wrap the fabric with polyethylene. It is recommended to use parchment paper, and a terry towel on top. The compress is left on the body all night.

For grinding use animal fat. Badger, bear, goat fat will do. It should be melted in a water bath, and then thoroughly rub the chest of the child. This method gives a quick effect - noticeable improvements are observed already 3 days after the first session.

Warming trays will help you cope faster. A small amount of mustard powder is added to warm water and feet soar. After the procedure, it is necessary to grind the baby's feet with warming ointment and put on warm socks.

A good effect is achieved by massage. Even simple tapping and rubbing speeds up the process of sputum discharge. In the process of massage, it is important to position the child correctly - it is necessary that the head and chest are below the pelvis. Usually the child is placed across the legs, on the knees of an adult.Tapping is performed by the edge of the palm or by the pillows of the fingers towards the head. It is enough to perform them within 1-2 minutes. After this, you should ask the child to clear his throat. Repeat the procedure 4-5 times. It is forbidden to massage if the child has a fever.

Folk recipes

Traditional medicine offers many recipes that can be used in the fight against wet cough. Despite the apparent safety, they should not be used without consulting a doctor. An examination of a specialist is important if only because without determining the cause of the cough, it makes no sense to carry out any treatment.

The most common folk recipes that are widely used in treatment are:

1. Warm milk in which a teaspoon of honey, butter and a little soda are dissolved. The child should drink a glass of drink twice a day.
2. Juice and pulp of black radish. Black radish is one of the most effective folk remedies for coughing. It is characterized by a pronounced bactericidal effect and actively counteracts the inflammatory processes that occur in the body. Also, its use stimulates the discharge and elimination of sputum.
3. Wash the radish, cut off the tail and remove the “cap”. A hole is made inside, where 2 teaspoons of honey are placed and the vegetable is left in a dark place for 4 hours. During this time, juice is released, which has medicinal properties. Take it in a teaspoon three times a day.
4. Onion puree with honey. The bulbs are peeled and ground in a blender. The resulting slurry is mixed with honey in a ratio of 1: 1. Take the resulting drug 1 tablespoon three times a day after meals. You can apply the prescription in the treatment of children older than 1 year.
5. A decoction of plantain also contributes to the discharge of sputum. Plantain is part of many industrial cough syrups. To prepare the medicine at home, you need to mix 1 teaspoon of leaves with a glass of boiling water and insist for 4 hours. After filtering, the drink is given to children - a tablespoon three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

In treating children, difficulties are related to the age of the patient. Sometimes it is impossible to explain the need to take a tasteless medicine or lie down calmly during the procedure. However, parents should take all possible measures to accurately comply with all the doctor's recommendations. Coughing can be very dangerous, and if left untreated, it can lead to complications.

Video: cough treatment in a child