What can we do to help relieve your child's cough? Mostly harmless cough in
children, especially the emergence of new acute and short-lived. The following
simple things indeed can not directly eliminate the cough, but at least the
child can feel more comfortable.
• Increase humidity: Temperature and humidity environment
around the child needs to be adjusted so that the child feels comfortable.
Moist air will reduce airway irritation and prevent mucus becomes dry so easily
removed.
• Inhaling steam of warm water can also help, but do not
get too hot because it can make the air even drier.
• Lots of drinking. Keep your child gets plenty of fluids
to thin the mucus in the throat and reduce fever. Warm water and a little lemon
juice added honey can help relieve itching in the throat. Chicken soup or warm
milk are also excellent given the little guy.
• Encourage children get plenty of rest: Rest is required
in order to quickly recover body condition as before.
• Do not forget, handwashing habits need to be taught to
all members of the family so as to prevent the transmission of disease.
When should cough medicine?
If after several days of cough does not improve, or severe
cough and disrupt sleep, may be considered to give cough medicine. No cough
medicine that can be bought and some are by prescription. This medication may
be used if it can make the child feel more comfortable, and most importantly
the drug does not cause serious side effects.
Tips on using cough medicine
1. Avoid drugs are efficacious cure many symptoms (cough,
runny nose, nasal congestion, fever) unless all of the symptoms that do exist
in the small.
2. Follow your doctor's instructions about the amount and
frequency of drug use in children. Do not give more medication or more often
than your doctor recommended.
3. If buying OTC drugs, follow the rules of the dose
indicated on the drug packaging. Do not guess yourself how many drugs given.
4. Measure the medicine with a spoon to form syrup
medicine. Shake the bottle before the drug.
5. If you miss one time gift, give the medicine as soon as
possible. But if the time is approaching next medication, wait and give the
next dose.
6. Contact your doctor if side effects such as difficulty
breathing medications, red-red raised itchy skin, excessive sleepiness,
restlessness, abdominal pain, and so on.
7. Keep the medication in a special container at room
temperature in a closed and protected from direct sunlight, heat and humidity.
Do not be frozen in the freezer.
8. Keep this medication safely, do not let the little ones
can play around with drugs without sepngetahuan us.
Various kinds of cough medicine
Cough and cold medicine-counter drugs are often combined
with the heat down (eg paracetamol) and reliever nasal congestion (decongestant).
Various kinds of cough medicines are:
• Retaining cough. If the cough is very disturbing,
doctors often prescribe antitussives (cough suppressive) so comfortable and
uninterrupted sleep. This drug should not be given continuously, just when the
cough is very severe. Dextrometorphan is a cough-suppressing drugs are sold
freely, work by raising the coughing threshold stimuli. Prescription drugs such
as codeine, which is a derivative of morphine, a narcotic drug classified in.
This drug classified as antitussives strong. The way it works is that inhibit
the cough reflex is intended only for dry cough, itching, pain and interfere
with sleep. This drug is rarely used. Large doses and repeated use is not
recommended because it may cause dependence (addiction).
• Diluent phlegm or expectorant. Purpose of thinning is to
facilitate sputum expectoration, eliminates irritation, and to prevent
excessive terangsangnya cough receptors. Bromhexin, guaifenesin and ammonium
chloride can be purchased freely. Ambroxol and acetylcysteine is a
prescription drug.
• allergy or antihistamine. This drug works by suppressing
the cough cough center. Antihistamines can reduce colds are caused by
allergies. Side effects of this drug are drowsiness is often useful to make a
child get plenty of rest. Other side effects are dry mouth and nose into.
Example is the drug diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine.
• decongestants or cough and cold medicines often
dicapurkan into a cough medicine. Point in reducing the symptoms of runny nose
or nasal congestion, so as to relieve coughs caused by liquid droplets from the
nose (post nasal drip). Examples of the decongestant pseudoephedrine. Can
sometimes arise mild side effects that child becomes fussy and somewhat
difficult to sleep.
Are antibiotics always necessary for a cough?
Most of cough in children caused by viruses, especially
the common cold. Viral infections do not require antibiotics. Cough due to
common cold can last up to a week, so the important thing is to give adequate
nutrition, plenty of rest, drink a lot (do not drink ice water), and keep the
indoor humidity. Cough due to asthma also do not require antibiotics. Asthma
certainly will not be cured with regular medications. Cough due to asthma
requires special medication. Be wise before deciding to give cough medicine in
children. Coughing is not the enemy, but instead required by the body. If you
really disturbing, then cough medicine be given, however, note the correct
dose, should not be excessive.
