What medicines are effective in reducing phlegm in children?

Children are prone to coughing and having phlegm in daily life. Phlegm is a substance produced by the human lungs and respiratory tract. Coughing and phlegm will occur with the stimulation of the respiratory tract. If it is serious, it can lead to tracheitis, which is very harmful to human health. There are many kinds of expectorant drugs, and you can take some anti-inflammatory drugs to improve tracheal inflammation.

Expectorant drugs

Phlegm is a product of respiratory inflammation, which can irritate the respiratory mucosa and cause coughing, and may aggravate the infection. Expectorants can change the viscous components in sputum, reduce the viscosity of sputum, and make it easier to cough up.

Expectorants can be divided into three categories based on their mode of action:

1. Nausea-inducing and irritating expectorants: ammonium chloride and guaifenesin are nausea-inducing expectorants. After oral administration, they can irritate the gastric mucosa, causing mild nausea, and reflexively promote the increase in secretion of respiratory glands, thereby diluting sticky phlegm and making it easier to cough up. Irritating expectorants are some volatile substances, such as eucalyptus oil and benzoin tincture. When added to boiling water, the volatilization of their vapor can also irritate the respiratory mucosa, increase secretion, and dilute phlegm and make it easier to cough up.

2. Sputum dissolving agents: such as acetylcysteine, which can decompose the sticky components in sputum, liquefy sputum, reduce viscosity and make it easier to cough up;

3. Mucus regulators: such as bromhexine hydrochloride and carbocysteine, act on the mucus-producing cells in the trachea and bronchi, reducing the viscosity of secretions, making sputum thinner and easier to cough up.

What is the best expectorant for children?

Ammonium chloride

[Drug name] Ammonium chloride

[Indications] Oral administration of this product causes chemical stimulation to the gastric mucosa, reflexively increases the secretion of respiratory glands through the vagus nerve, and makes sticky phlegm thinner and easier to cough up. Suitable for people with dry cough and sticky phlegm that is difficult to cough up.

[Indications for caution] Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency to prevent hyperchloremic acidosis.

[Contraindications] Contraindicated in patients with liver dysfunction.

[Drug Interactions] This product is incompatible with chlortetracycline, neomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulfadiazine, and warfarin.

[Dosage form] Tablet: 0.3 g; Solution: 10%

[Usage and Dosage] Oral administration. 0.3～0.6g/time, 3 times/day.

[Observation on medication]

Adverse reactions: Oral administration may cause gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting.

Precautions: Overdose can cause hyperchloremic acidosis, hypokalemia and hyponatremia.

Guaifenesin

[Drug name] Guaifenesin

[Other names] Guaifenesin, guaiacol glycerol ether, guaiacol glycerol

[Indications] After oral administration, this product can stimulate the gastric mucosa, reflexively cause increased bronchial secretion, reduce the viscosity of sputum, and has a strong expectorant effect. Used for bronchitis, chronic suppurative tracheitis, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, etc. It is often used together with antitussive or antiasthmatic drugs to enhance the antitussive or antiasthmatic effects.

[Contraindications] It is contraindicated for patients with acute gastroenteritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and nephritis.