How to treat phlegm-damp cough in children

Children's coughs always come back and are not easy to recover, which makes parents very anxious. Some coughs are caused by catching a cold, while others are caused by getting angry. Parents need to pay attention to these to avoid misdiagnosis. There are many types of children's coughs, which can be distinguished from the sound of the child's cough. For example, when a child coughs, there is phlegm in the throat, and it sounds like a cat snoring when sleeping. This is a phlegm cough in children.

Here are seven types of coughs you can identify by listening to your child's cough:

1. Cold with heat and rough wheezing - wind-heat cough

It is often accompanied by heat and cold, and is characterized by frequent coughing, rough breathing, sore throat, thick yellow or sticky sputum, often accompanied by fear of wind, fever, yellow and turbid nasal discharge, thirst and other symptoms.

Doctor's advice: When the cold winter comes, many friends like to sit by the fire or set the indoor air-conditioning temperature very high. In this case, it is particularly easy to cause winter heat colds and wind-heat coughs.

2. Cough without sputum is common in autumn and winter - wind-dry cough

This type of cough is most common in autumn and winter, and is characterized by a dry cough without sputum, or a small amount of sticky sputum that is difficult to cough up, or sputum with blood, dry throat, dry nose and lips, etc. At the same time, dry cough can be divided into warm dry cough and cold dry cough.

Doctor's advice: A warm and dry cough is characterized by some fever and slight chillness, thirst and frequent drinking of cold water, and sometimes yellow mucus or yellow sputum can be seen. Cold and dryness often occurs in late autumn or early winter, and is characterized by no thirst, thin white nasal discharge or sputum, and a thin white tongue coating.

3. Indigestion and hoarse cough - phlegm-damp cough

People with indigestion are prone to this type of cough, which is characterized by a heavy cough, a lot of phlegm, and the phlegm is sticky or thick and clumpy, and white or gray in color. Eating sweet and greasy food can make the condition worse, with symptoms such as chest tightness, poor appetite, heaviness and weakness, and unformed stools. Sometimes coughing is accompanied by nausea, regurgitation, and vomiting.

Doctor’s advice: While treating this type of cough, you should also pay special attention to regulating the digestive function of the spleen and stomach in order to treat both the symptoms and the root cause.

4. Sweating a lot and being afraid of wind and having a weak cough - cough due to lung qi deficiency

This type of cough is characterized by a weak cough, thin sputum, excessive sweating and fear of wind. After a long period of coughing, the chest will feel tight and there will be pain in the apex of the heart. Patients with this type of lung deficiency cough are also particularly prone to colds.

Doctor's advice: The treatment for this type of cough should focus on replenishing lung qi and clearing lung toxins.

5. A girl’s cough is low-pitched – cough due to kidney deficiency

This type of cough is more common among elderly people and female friends with cold constitution. It is characterized by low cough, high frequency of attacks, prolonged coughing, and thin sputum. It is often accompanied by referred pain in the lower back when coughing, a urge to urinate, and even transient urinary incontinence. It is also accompanied by symptoms of yang deficiency and inability to warm the body, such as cold limbs, clear and frequent urine.

Doctor's advice: To treat cough at this time, you cannot simply rely on the use of cough suppressants and expectorants. If the human body's kidney qi is insufficient, it will cause long-term retention of cold air and the condition will be difficult to cure. Instead, treatment should be combined with medicated food that warms and nourishes the kidney yang, supports positive energy, and increases disease resistance.

6. Dry cough, weak cough, rapid cough - long-term cough damages the Yin

Old patients with chronic cough are prone to long-term cough and Yin damage. The characteristics of cough are long-term dry cough, weak cough, itchy throat, inability to cough up phlegm, short cough, difficulty breathing, or blood in sputum, often accompanied by afternoon malar redness and hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, etc., and are often accompanied by emphysema.

Doctor's advice: If the cough persists after routine treatment, you should go to the hospital for an X-ray to rule out respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.

7. Heavy cough due to cold or flu - Wind-cold cough

It is often accompanied by colds and chills, and is characterized by a heavy cough, thin white sputum, and is often accompanied by nasal congestion, clear runny nose, headache, fever, chills, no sweating, and limb aches and pains.

Doctor's advice: Since a cold causes airway hyperreactivity, coughing may occur once encountering external stimulation or cold air. It is advisable to wear a mask when going out. At the same time, pay attention to the cleanliness of the indoor environment and avoid exogenous stimulation such as pollen, animal fur, and oil smoke. This type of cough needs to be stopped while actively treating the cold.

The most important thing for children with phlegm and cough is to know the cause. Do not take medicine blindly and do not use antibiotics for a long time. As the saying goes, "Fish produces fire, meat produces phlegm, and vegetables and radishes keep children safe." Therefore, when children have a cough due to phlegm and dampness, they should be fed light and refreshing food, preferably steamed or boiled, which can help the child's cough get better quickly.