[Medical Q&A] Do children need cough suppressant treatment when they cough?

Author: Fang Xiao, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

Reviewer: Wang Huaili, Chief Physician, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

It depends on the situation. Not all children's coughs require immediate cough suppression treatment.

First of all, we need to know that coughing is a protective physiological reflex of our body, which helps to clear foreign matter and secretions in the airway. Therefore, when a respiratory infection occurs, a mild cough is usually beneficial, which can help children expel sputum and promote physical recovery. However, in some specific cases, cough suppressant treatment may be necessary. If the cough is severe or frequent, affecting the child's normal life such as diet and sleep, especially when an irritating dry cough occurs, appropriate cough suppressants can be selected under the guidance of a doctor. It should be noted that excessive use of cough suppressants may cause sputum to not be discharged. It seems that the cough has been relieved, but in fact the condition has not improved. The sputum in the airway accumulates more and more, and new infections may occur. For infants and young children, there is even a risk of suffocation due to sputum blockage. Therefore, cough suppressants should be used with caution in children under 2 years old.

In addition, parents should also pay attention to the following points for the treatment of children's cough: ① Keeping the indoor air moist (such as using a humidifier or placing a basin of water indoors) can help relieve the throat discomfort caused by the child's cough. ② Let the child drink more water to help dilute the sputum, making it easier to cough up. ③ Irritating foods and drinks (such as spicy, greasy, sweet foods and carbonated drinks, etc.) may irritate the child's throat and aggravate the cough symptoms, so they should be avoided. Parents should closely observe the changes in their children's condition. If the child's cough symptoms continue to worsen or other symptoms (such as fever, difficulty breathing, etc.) appear, they should seek medical attention in time.