How to remove phlegm from children’s throats?

Many children do not know how to get rid of phlegm in their throats, and usually require skillful coughing to get the phlegm out. In fact, parents can also help their children to cough up phlegm by assisting them, such as the back-tapping method, where parents help their children pat their backs to make it easier for them to cough up phlegm. Another method is to use steam inhalation to assist, which is also very effective.

1. Back tapping to expel phlegm

If a child has phlegm in his throat that he cannot cough out, the easiest way is to pat his back more often. On the one hand, it can promote blood circulation in the lungs, and on the other hand, patting the back can loosen the phlegm in the bronchi and make it easier to discharge.

The correct method is: the child should lie on his side or be held up to lie on his side, the parents should bend their five fingers slightly into a semi-circle, that is, half-clench their fist, and then gently pat the sick child's back; if the child lies on the right side, pat the left side of the back, and vice versa if the child lies on the left side. Alternate between the two sides, and then ask your child to take a deep breath to cough up the phlegm. The force of the tapping should not be too great. It should be done from bottom to top and from outside to inside in sequence. Pat for a few minutes each time, 2-3 times a day.

2. Steam inhalation to assist in expectoration

When a child has phlegm that he cannot cough up, he can use hot steam inhalation to thin the thick phlegm and help it be discharged. The specific method is: pour hot water into a cup, let the child keep inhaling with his mouth and nose facing the cup mouth, when the water gets cold, change it to boiling water, and continue for about 15-20 minutes, then it will be easier to cough up the phlegm. Of course, be careful not to burn your child. Parents can also place a humidifier in their child’s room to moisten the air and help eliminate phlegm.

3. If the sputum is thick, you can use the sputum digging method

If a child has thick phlegm stuck in the throat, family members can use the phlegm digging method to expel the phlegm. Parents can press the child's tongue with the handle of a metal spoon in one hand and wrap their fingers with gauze in the other hand to gently remove phlegm deep in the child's mouth to keep the airway open.

4. Drink more warm water

When children have a cough and a lot of phlegm, mothers should make sure that their children drink more water. On the one hand, drinking water can moisten the throat and relieve the throat discomfort caused by coughing. On the other hand, water can dilute the phlegm and help children cough up phlegm more easily. In addition, the body's metabolism is also inseparable from water. If children drink more warm boiled water, it can enhance the body's metabolism and be more conducive to the recovery of the disease.