What to do if your child has a hoarse throat

If a child has a hoarse throat, be alert to whether it is caused by acute laryngitis, because this disease is usually caused by viral or bacterial infection, and may also lead to upper respiratory tract infection, causing hoarseness and pain in the throat. Common and effective treatments include some drug treatments and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. However, any treatment method should be used in consultation with a professional doctor.

1. Acute laryngitis in children

Acute laryngitis in children is an acute inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa, which can be caused by viral or bacterial infection, often secondary to upper respiratory tract infection, and can also be a precursor or complication of certain acute infectious diseases. The main symptoms are hoarseness and a barking cough. In severe cases, it can lead to laryngeal obstruction and be life-threatening. Traditional Chinese medicine calls it "throat wind, laryngeal sound, laryngeal paralysis" etc.

2. Western medicine treatment

(1) Adrenal cortical hormones: prednisone 1-2 mg/kg/day, divided into 34 doses; dexamethasone 0.25 mg/kg/time, intramuscular injection or intravenous injection, or ultrasonic nebulization inhalation.

(2) Etiological treatment: Viral infection can be treated with antiviral therapy, such as antiviral, virulent, acyclovir, etc. Bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin, amoxicillin, cefadroxil, erythromycin, etc.

(3) Treatment of laryngeal obstruction: For fourth-degree laryngeal obstruction, tracheotomy should be performed immediately. For third-degree laryngeal obstruction that is ineffective after treatment, surgical treatment should also be performed.

3. Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

(1) Wind-cold attacks the throat: dry cough, like a dog barking, mild hoarseness, no fever or low fever, pale red tongue with thin white fur, floating and tight pulse, and floating red fingerprints at the wind gate.

Treatment method: Dispel wind and cold, promote lung function and relieve sore throat.

Prescription: 6 grams of Schizonepeta, 6 grams of Saposhnikovia, 10 grams of Peucedanum, 6 grams of Platycodon, 3 grams of Licorice, 6 grams of Cicadae Periostracum, 6 grams of Belamcanda chinensis, 10 grams of Coltsfoot Flos, 10 grams of Bombyx Batryticatus, and 10 grams of Fritillaria thunbergii.

Chinese patent medicine: Xilei San.

(2) Wind-heat attacks the throat: coughing like a dog barking, mild breath holding, sore throat, fever, red tip of tongue, floating and rapid pulse, and floating purple fingerprints at the wind gate.

Treatment: Soothe wind and clear heat, relieve sore throat and reduce swelling.

Prescription: 10 grams of honeysuckle, 10 grams of forsythia, 10 grams of bamboo leaves, 6 grams of schizonepeta, 10 grams of burdock, 10 grams of light black beans, 6 grams of mint (added later), 3 grams of Sophora flavescens, and 6 grams of Platycodon grandiflorum.