What’s going on if my baby has phlegm in his lungs? How to treat it?

Colds and fevers are one of the biggest health threats to babies, because they occur very frequently in babies and they are hard to escape the effects of colds in almost every season. Severe colds can spread to the lungs, causing lung infections and increasing sputum in the baby's lungs, which is a disaster for the baby's health. Let’s take a look at what happens when your baby has phlegm in his lungs? How to treat it?

The dangers of phlegm in babies:

If there is no better treatment to remove phlegm, the phlegm will remain stuck in the child's throat, which may cause the child to suffer from diseases such as otitis media and pneumonia.

1. Otitis media

Because the baby's ears and throat are not fully developed and their functions are not yet complete, the secretions in the nose and throat can easily reach the middle ear cavity through the Eustachian tube, causing water accumulation in the middle ear or causing the child to suffer from acute otitis media. Therefore, parents must proceed with caution.

2. Pneumonia

In some cases, sputum will flow into the child's trachea, bronchi, etc. If the situation is serious, the child may get pneumonia. If your child coughs while drinking milk, he or she may also develop aspiration pneumonia. If not treated promptly, the situation may become serious and may cause breathing difficulties or even death in children, which may put their lives in danger.

What to do if your baby has phlegm:

1. Phlegm-slapping method

(1) When a child is coughing, parents can let the child lie on his side during the pause in coughing, or pick up the child and let the child lie on his side.

(2) Parents can make a fist with one hand and gently pat the child’s chest, sides and back. Let the child lie on his left side while patting the left chest, alternating between the left and right sides.

(3) Do not use too much force when patting, and follow the order from top to bottom and from outside to inside. It is recommended to massage each side for 3 to 5 minutes each time, 2 to 3 times a day.

2. Keep warm

Since children do not have strong immunity, they are more likely to catch a cold than adults and are more susceptible to respiratory diseases such as bronchitis. Therefore, parents should always pay attention to keeping their children warm and not let them be affected by the cold.

3. Drinking water method

If a child coughs often, a lot of invisible water will be lost, causing dehydration in the trachea, which will lead to worsening of respiratory inflammation. Lack of water can also cause secretions to become thicker, making it more difficult to cough up phlegm. Therefore, children need to drink more water, preferably boiled water at a temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius, which can moisturize the child's throat and have the effect of physical treatment of the disease.