Treatment of wet cough in children 2 years old

How to treat wet cough in children: tips and recommendations for parents

A cough should not always be a cause for concern for children's health. Normally, a child should cough 2-3 times a day; the amount will decrease with age.

Table of contents:

A slight cough can be explained by the anatomical features of our respiratory system. The mucous membranes are by no means as smooth as the photographs show. They have a lot of villi-cilia, which perform the function of cleansing the mucous membrane from any incoming particles.

Features of children's wet cough

Parents should be alert to a wet cough or a prolonged, obsessive dry cough. This is a reason to visit a doctor

As soon as the process of pushing out the foreign body begins, the child begins to cough. This is a simple reaction of the body to irritants. Such irritants may be:

  • dust, sand;
  • dry throat;
  • small and dry food;
  • ingress of microparticles from different types of sprayers;
  • ingress of wool and fluff.

Children jump and run, so don’t immediately panic if your baby coughs several times a day. A wet cough or a prolonged, obsessive dry cough should alert you. Then this is a reason for reasonable concern.

Newborns and children up to six months may cough occasionally and this is a common occurrence. More often this occurs due to the entry of mother's milk into the respiratory tract. Older children may cough actively in the morning. This is how the body clears the airways of mucus that has accumulated during the night and pushes it out. At the same time, the baby himself feels great, does not cry or complain. As you get older, this cough will either subside or be reduced to a minimum.

This is due to the development of the baby's muscles. The smaller it is, the harder it is for it to push the contents out of the larynx or bronchi. Therefore, the child has to strain harder, intensifying the cough, in order to clear his breathing.

After 5 years, the situation usually changes and coughing attacks stop being so noticeable.

Causes of wet cough

The appearance of a cough with sputum production indicates the presence of a serious illness. Such a cough can occur without fever and with a temperature of 38 and above. Most of these diseases are deadly for young children due to their fragile immune system. Most often the reasons are:

  1. pneumonia;
  2. bronchitis;
  3. bronchial asthma;
  4. onset of tuberculosis;
  5. accumulation of pus in the lung;
  6. allergic reaction;
  7. problems swallowing food;
  8. worms in the respiratory tract;
  9. whooping cough.

A runny nose can also cause excessive phlegm. If the latter strongly provokes the secretion of mucus in the nasal sinuses, then when inhaling it enters the throat. This provokes a cough, because a small child cannot blow his nose.

Follow the link to find out how Icelandic moss works for coughs.

Important tips for successful treatment

To prevent the air in the room from drying out, use a humidifier or a bowl of water

First of all, the room should always be damp and the dust should be wiped off regularly, regardless of the cause of the cough. The air must circulate and be ventilated even in cold weather. If there is a heater in the room, place a bowl of water nearby. This will help prevent the air from drying out too much. The baby should breathe clean, moist air so as not to irritate the mucous membranes.

During the illness, you need to remove all animals, without exception, from the sick child’s room, even if the cough is not the result of an allergy. The mother must understand that fur easily gets into the baby’s nose and mouth.

What is the treatment for cough during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester is indicated in the article.

The use of any air freshener or other flavoring is prohibited. During treatment, mother should give up deodorants, perfumes, and cosmetics. All microparticles from this will be in the air that the child breathes.

After creating such conditions, you need to monitor the child and his condition. Perhaps the mother will be able to determine the cause of the wet cough before contacting her pediatrician.

General treatment recommendations by age

For very young children, treatment with tablets is unacceptable. Up to a year, the baby can be treated only with special children's syrups (for example, Alteyka syrup for children or Gerbion primrose syrup). Mom must remember: everything must be tasted. It is believed that all children love IOM. This generalizing “everything” may not apply to your baby. Perhaps your baby simply does not like such sweets and will be capricious. Try diluting the sweetness with water. But before that, make sure that your baby does not have allergies.

It is also useful to give infusions of thyme and licorice to small patients. Up to a year old, a baby is extremely sensitive, so even the use of such a safe infusion as licorice root should be approved by a pediatrician, like other cough recipes at home.

Important: it is forbidden to give antitussive drugs and decoctions to a baby under one year of age! You have to understand: this is the only ally in this war, the only way the body can get rid of phlegm. After all, the child is still too young to be able to clear his throat.

All treatment of children's cough from one to three years should be aimed at increasing the production of sputum, diluting it and facilitating this process. Here, too, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the baby will cough and choke from a large amount of mucus. All treatment of such children should be supervised by a doctor!

Only older children can be treated with less concern. When your baby can speak, cough and blow his nose on his own, then some forms of cough can be treated at home.

Treatment of wet cough

Treatment with medications

Herbal syrups are actively used in the treatment of cough in children

Medicines should be selected not just carefully, but taking into account the characteristics of the baby’s body’s reaction. If the mother notices strange rashes or the baby begins to itch, you need to stop treatment and immediately call your pediatrician. Many parents believe that herbal preparations are harmless and harmless.

Indeed, herbal preparations are actively used to treat wet cough in children. Drugs such as:

But the use of such drugs should only be carried out if there is a guarantee of the absence of allergic reactions. The second group, which is also well suited for such treatment, is synthetic:

Both groups are aimed at increasing and thinning the child’s sputum. The greatest effectiveness is still given to synthetics, which can cope even with a powerful cough.

It is important to understand that any drug must be used until the baby begins to recover. Further treatment must be left to the body itself. Small children can have a small massage of the back and chest. This will slightly speed up the removal of mucus from the bronchi. It should be reminded that children should not suppress their cough or be given medications without consultation.

For older children, inhalations of eucalyptus, mint or lemon balm are recommended. It is good to use a nebulizer with any solution.

Folk remedies

Steam inhalation is a classic folk remedy for cough in children

One of the best remedies for treating cough is badger fat. It should be carefully rubbed into the baby’s body at night. The procedure is carried out for several days, usually it becomes easier on the third day.

Steam inhalation is good for thinning phlegm when coughing in children using the old method. Since the baby is small, the mother takes him in her arms and sits down with him to breathe the steam. At the same time, she covers herself with a warm blanket. The steam effect will facilitate the removal of sputum. It will also be interesting to find out how dry cough in an adult is treated with folk remedies.

Mix the decoction of viburnum berries with a small part of honey and give the child a spoonful. It is useful to combine viburnum with sea buckthorn oil. Sea buckthorn lubricates the mucous membrane, protecting it from drying out.

Video

From this video you will learn about the causes of cough and its treatment:

It is important to treat a wet cough immediately; it will not go away on its own. Only timely and competent treatment will help protect the baby from dangerous diseases.

Source: http://prolor.ru/g/detskoe-zdorove-g/lechenie-mokrogo-kashlya-u-detej.html

Causes of wet cough in children and methods of treating it

A wet cough, unlike a dry cough, is accompanied by the discharge of sputum - a viscous substance that accumulates in the bronchial tree. That's why it's called wet. It is characterized by wheezing, reminiscent of the dull sound of bursting bubbles. Hoarseness occurs in the morning due to mucus accumulated at night. After its removal, the voice returns to normal. How to cure a wet cough in children, and how dangerous is it?

A distinctive feature of a wet cough is the release of specific mucus - sputum.

Associated symptoms

Normally, healthy children cough once a day, clearing the airways of dust and other debris. This type of wet cough should not alarm you. Treatment is only needed if additional symptoms are observed:

  • a cough attack occurs suddenly and does not stop for a long time;
  • body temperature has risen;
  • the temperature does not drop below 38 degrees for three days (in children with acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections);
  • cough lasts 3 weeks or more;
  • blood is released with sputum;
  • green mucus comes out with it;
  • prolonged refusal to eat;
  • complaints of pain or discomfort in the chest;
  • wheezing can be heard at a distance;
  • shortness of breath (difficulty and rapid breathing).

A wet cough and fever in a child may be signs of an inflammatory process in the bronchi.

Attention! Newborn babies breathe very quickly. This is fine. They can talk about shortness of breath only if more than 60 breaths are taken per minute. With age, breathing slows down. Therefore, in children from 2 months to a year, shortness of breath occurs more than 50 breaths per minute. For children one year old and older, the norm is considered to be no more than 40 breaths per minute.

Possible reasons

If your child has a frequent wet cough, consult a doctor to find out the cause, which may be:

  • ARVI (tracheitis, laryngitis and bronchitis);
  • pulmonary pneumonia;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • heart failure;
  • runny nose;
  • tuberculosis;
  • congenital anomaly (Kartagener syndrome or cystic fibrosis);
  • consequences of gastroesophageal reflux - a disease in which gastric juice is thrown into the esophagus.

During teething, babies cough several times more often. This is normal and does not require treatment.

Mothers often hear coughing when teething.

What happens in the body

The human respiratory tract is covered from the inside with a mucous membrane. It secretes a viscous secretion, to which microscopic foreign bodies that enter with air when inhaling stick. It can be plant pollen, dust, living microorganisms. The more particles there are, the more mucus is released that needs to come out.

Coughing is a protective measure of the body. The muscles of the respiratory tract contract in an attack, pushing phlegm to the exit. Along with it, microparticles that caused its abundant release are removed. In case of infectious diseases, this promotes a speedy recovery due to the expectoration of pathogenic microorganisms.

Dependence of sputum type on disease

The nature of the sputum is used to judge the disease that caused the cough reflex:

  • Abundant and transparent indicates tracheitis or bronchitis.
  • Rust colors indicate pneumonia.
  • Watery - for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
  • Vitreous high viscosity - for bronchial asthma.
  • With an admixture of blood - for tuberculosis, heart failure.
  • With pus of an unpleasant odor - a lung abscess.

This will allow the doctor to prescribe the most effective medications for this disease.

Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.

Parents' actions

Additional symptoms help in making a diagnosis. The actions of the mother and the method of treating the baby will depend on them:

  • Cough without fever. If a child coughs more than 15 times a day, but the body temperature remains normal, exclude viruses and bacteria as possible causes. Visit your doctor as this is one of the signs of asthma and allergies. Check the air quality in the apartment: low humidity and high dust content provoke a cough reflex with sputum production.
  • Cough with fever is a symptom of colds and flu associated with infection by viruses or bacteria. Do not lower the temperature below 38 degrees. This is a protective reaction of the immune system that helps fight pathogens. Invite a pediatrician to your home so as not to violate bed rest. Provide your sick child with proper care and strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.
  • Cough and runny nose. If there is no temperature, then you can suspect an allergy attack or bronchial asthma. With fever, most likely we are dealing with an infectious disease. In this case, inflammation does not necessarily affect the lower respiratory tract. It can only be localized in the nasal passages and sinuses. But the secreted mucus will flow down the wall of the throat, causing irritation and the desire to cough.

- Oh, how tired I am of the runny nose and cough!

Inna writes in her review:

“I thought that my daughter had low immunity from birth, because she had a constant runny nose and cough. She explained the absence of temperature by the fact that the body was already accustomed to constant colds and was not trying to resist. Health improved only at sea. But one day I had to leave for a long time, and I took my daughter to my parents. When I returned, I was surprised: she didn’t cough. But as soon as we entered our apartment, everything started again. Then I thought that these symptoms were caused by an allergy to a cat, which I had no contact with either at sea or in my parents’ apartment. I turned to an allergist and I was right. Our Marusya now lives with a neighbor, and her daughter has stopped coughing.”

Treatment options

For a quick recovery, take several measures at once:

  • Proper care and provision of favorable conditions for the child.
  • Drug treatment, including taking syrups or mixtures, as well as inhalation using drugs.
  • The use of folk remedies (steaming the feet, compresses, expectorant mixtures and inhalations with medicinal herbs and essential oils).

Patient care and suitable microclimate

Komarovsky says: “Moms understand the word “treatment” only as stuffing them with pills, while this concept covers much more. Creating favorable conditions in a child's room is more effective than treating a wet cough with medications. But parents often neglect this, underestimating the importance of proper care.”

Recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky:

    • When coughing, provide your child with plenty of fluids. The sputum that comes out is liquid. With a lack of moisture, it becomes viscous. This one is difficult to cough up. The more water enters the body, the thinner the sputum becomes and the faster it comes out. It is better to drink non-cold carbonated mineral water, fruit juice, tea, compote, warm milk.

Carefully monitor your drinking regime.

  • The children's room should be cool - degrees. This helps maintain optimal air humidity and dilute mucus.
  • Don't stop your daily walks if you don't have a fever. On the street, the respiratory tract is ventilated and freed from infection. If a child develops a strong wet cough in the fresh air, the walk will be beneficial.
  • Ventilate the children's room several times a day.
  • Air humidity should be high: 60-70%. Otherwise, the mucous membranes dry out and coughing becomes difficult.

Medications

For the treatment of wet cough in children, the following drugs are prescribed:

  • with a mucolytic effect to reduce the viscosity of sputum;
  • with an expectorant effect to accelerate the movement of mucus through the respiratory tract to the exit.

Treatment includes the use of mucolytics and expectorants.

Popular drugs (the letters in brackets indicate the action: M - mucolytic, O - expectorant):

  • Elixir Codelac Broncho with thyme (M and O). For children from 2 years old. Costs on average 150 rubles.
  • Ambroxol syrup (M and O). Applicable from 1 year. Price - about 90 rubles. Analogs: Lazolvan, Flavomed.
  • Fluditec syrup (M). From 2 years. Cost - from 200 rubles. Analogues - Libexin Muco and Bronchobos.
  • ACC tablets and granules for preparing solution (M). From 2 years. From 200 rubles. Analogues - ACC Long, Fluimucil.

ACC - facilitates the discharge of sputum.

  • Joset syrup (M and O). For newborns (the dosage will be determined by the doctor) and older. Up to 200 rubles. Analogue - Bromhexine.
  • Syrup Doctor Mom (O). From 3 years. About 180 rubles.

With the wet type, the main task is to remove phlegm. And if you don’t cough, the infection will spread deeper.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine recommends:

  • Drink milk half diluted with mineral water. Soothes an irritated throat, thins phlegm.
  • Drink warm milk with honey and melted butter (1 tsp per glass). The action is similar to a carbonated milk drink.

The most popular folk recipe is milk with honey and butter.

  • Every three hours give the child 1 tsp. radish juice. To prepare, cut the peeled root vegetable in half and pour the cut with honey or sprinkle with sugar. Place the halves on a plate. After an hour, everything that has fallen to the bottom is medicine.
  • Soak your feet in hot water if there is no temperature. You can add mustard or salt to the water. The method helps with a wet cough with a swollen larynx, making breathing difficult. When the blood vessels in the legs dilate due to heat, fluid in the body rushes down. The swelling subsides, breathing becomes easier. Additionally, the production of leukocytes and lymphocytes that fight infection is activated.
  • Drink decoctions of expectorant herbs from marshmallow, coltsfoot, thyme, pansies, Ivan da Marya, plantain (consultation with your doctor is required). To prepare, take 2 tbsp. dry herbs and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Place in a water bath and keep for a minute. Strain and add boiled water to 200 ml.

Herbal tea can be easily prepared at home using different herbs and fertilizing them with honey.

  • Make compresses from vegetable oil or honey heated to 50 degrees. The linen cloth is moistened and wrapped around the child. On top - wax paper, and then a warm bandage. Keep for at least two hours. You can leave it overnight. Another option is flat cakes made from two jacket potatoes, mashed with a tablespoon of vegetable oil and alcohol. They are wrapped in gauze, placed on the baby's chest and back, and the bandage is secured with a scarf. Keep it until it cools down. The heat makes the sputum thinner and the swelling goes away.

If he allows it, then before using “hot methods” make sure that you do not burn the delicate baby skin. Do not give mustard compresses to small children.

“My old proven method for coughs in children is hot milk with honey and ghee. This is how my grandmother treated me. You need to drink a whole glass before going to bed (daytime and nighttime). The irritation is immediately relieved. Then you need to cover yourself with a blanket and go to bed. After sleep, liquefied sputum easily comes out with a cough.”

Inhalations

Medicines can be taken in different ways. One of them is the inhalation method, which involves inhaling vapors containing a medicinal substance. This form of treatment is more effective than syrups, mixtures and tablets. But it requires compliance with the following rules:

  • The procedure is carried out an hour after eating. It cannot be done on an empty stomach, or immediately after eating.
  • Inhalations are carried out three times a day for 10 minutes.
  • After taking deep breaths, you need to hold your breath for a few seconds and only then exhale.

Effective preparations for inhalation (prepare solution according to instructions):

Today there is a special device for this procedure - a nebulizer. Now the treatment measure is safe and convenient for children of all ages.

“I treated a five-year-old child for a cough. My grandmother advised me to breathe over the freshly boiled potatoes. Despite the whining, she forced her son to sit under the blanket - it was good for him. And then he constantly complained of pain in his nose. The doctor said that the mucous membrane was burned. Since then, my choice has been only in favor of a nebulizer.”

Inhalations using saline or medicinal herbs will help overcome the disease.

Consequences and complications

Viruses and bacteria, having entered the body, colonize the upper respiratory tract. A runny nose appears, causing a wet cough. Snot constantly flows down the back wall of the throat, carrying with it a mass of harmful microorganisms. If left untreated, they enter the throat, causing disease.

If the disease is not treated further, the infection enters the lower respiratory tract, affecting the trachea and bronchi. Abundant production of sputum begins. But due to the high viscosity, the child’s body is not able to get rid of it completely. Therefore, mucus accumulates inside, closing the gaps in the branches of the bronchial tree. If left untreated, the cough becomes persistent (lasts more than two weeks and is difficult to treat).

Impaired ventilation of the lungs creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Inflammation begins, which can develop into a pulmonary abscess.

A wet cough, once its cause is identified, can be easily treated within two weeks. For a speedy recovery, you need not only to take the medications prescribed by your doctor, but also to ensure a favorable microclimate in the children's room. Illness is not a reason to give up your usual routine if you don’t have a fever. You can continue walking and swimming.

You can also join our groups on social networks: VKontakte, Facebook, Odnoklassniki, Google+ and Twitter.

Source: http://www.o-my-baby.ru/zdorovie/simptomy/kashel/vlazhnyi.htm

Excellent ways to treat a wet cough in a child

The nature of cough in different diseases can vary significantly, and it needs to be treated in different ways. This is how a dry, unproductive cough is distinguished and a wet, productive cough. The first is more typical for the initial stage of many diseases, the second develops later and is observed over a long period.

A productive cough with sputum is not as painful as a dry, barking cough that does not bring relief. Therefore, at first, treatment is aimed primarily at transforming the dry appearance into a wet one. It is not always the case that a child begins to cough due to illness, so first you need to understand the causes of this symptom.

Does a cough always require treatment?

Coughing, both barking and productive, is a reflex reaction and often develops for fairly harmless reasons. A wet cough usually produces sputum, consisting of more or less thick mucus. This is a secretion produced by the glandular cells of the mucous membrane of various respiratory organs. The thicker the mucus, the more difficult it is to fight phlegm; it sticks to the walls of the respiratory tract and makes it difficult to cough up.

Sometimes a coughing attack is provoked not by the mucus produced by the respiratory organs themselves, but by the saliva flowing into them.

This often happens in a child:

  • during sleep;
  • during teething, accompanied by increased salivation.

Short-term and infrequent episodes of cough in childhood are a normal physiological phenomenon. Barking can be a reaction to a pungent odor, irritation from dust, and wet barking can be a reaction to mucus from the nasopharynx, saliva, and, in infants, milk entering the respiratory tract. A healthy child can cough up to 15 times throughout the day, mainly in the morning. Such attacks pass quickly, especially if they are accompanied by coughing up mucus, and do not require treatment.

There are reasons for concern in the following cases:

  • a sudden coughing attack that does not stop for a long time;
  • shortness of breath appears, the child complains of chest pain;
  • the temperature persists, especially dangerous is its increase to 38⁰ and above, as well as its duration for more than a day;
  • coughing attacks are accompanied by wheezing;
  • sleep disturbances and loss of appetite develop.

It is necessary to closely monitor the phlegm produced when coughing. A rich green or rusty color, blood impurities, and an unpleasant smell of sputum are signs of diseases that require serious treatment.

Sputum is an informative symptom

If a child has a barking cough, the cause may be scant sputum production, typical of the early stages of ARVI or acute bronchitis, as well as dry air in the room. By humidifying the air, you can make your cough more productive and relieve it.

When coughing with sputum, its features indicate the nature of the disease:

  • in case of ARVI, diseases of the upper respiratory tract of a viral nature, allergic reactions, the sputum is watery and transparent;
  • with tracheitis, bronchitis - more viscous, abundant. White or yellowish color, cloudy mucus indicate a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics;
  • the cloudy green color is characteristic of purulent sputum. It is characteristic of a severe, protracted, often chronic inflammatory process requiring antibiotic therapy;
  • glassy sputum with a viscous consistency is typical for bronchial asthma, which should be treated with the use of bronchodilators;
  • A cough with foul-smelling purulent sputum is accompanied by severe diseases of the bronchopulmonary tree - bronchiectasis and lung abscess. Blood in the sputum can be a symptom of both these diseases and tuberculosis and heart failure.

For treatment to be as effective and adequate as possible, it is necessary to identify the causative agent of the inflammatory process accompanied by cough. For this purpose, the doctor may order a sputum test for the child.

Treatment of wet cough

It is not entirely correct to talk about treating a cough, since it is a symptom, but the disease must be treated. Therefore, you need to find out what disease caused the barking or wet cough and focus on treating the cause. When diagnosing, a complex of symptoms, test results, and examination of the child by a doctor are taken into account.

Fighting the cause of cough

Depending on the nature of the infectious disease, antiviral, antifungal drugs, and antibiotics are prescribed. Allergic cough of non-infectious origin, barking or wet, is treated with antihistamines. When the temperature rises, antipyretics are prescribed.

A special approach is required for congenital pathologies, malformations of the respiratory tract, as well as gastroesophageal reflux. These diseases can also be accompanied by a wet cough, and their conservative treatment is not always effective.

Symptomatic treatment

The disappearance of cough can be expected soon after the underlying disease is cured. But it is better to take care of alleviating the symptoms in parallel with eliminating the cause.

Symptomatic treatment of wet cough is carried out with medications taken orally and in the form of inhalations. This symptom in a child can be treated quite successfully using traditional recipes. Along with pharmacological treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated.

Among pharmacological drugs, children are prescribed expectorant and mucolytic drugs, synthetic and based on herbal components:

  • children under 2 years of age can take Ambroxol in the form of syrup, a solution of Fluimucil granules (acetylcysteine);
  • Alteyka syrup due to the ethyl alcohol content is not prescribed to children under 2 years of age; from 2 to 6 it is recommended to dilute it with water;
  • Doctor IOM vegetable syrup can be used to treat children from 3 years of age;
  • Aerosol inhalations with expectorants and mucolytic drugs are recommended from 5 years of age.

Antitussive drugs that help relieve a painful barking cough are strictly contraindicated for coughing with sputum.

The following procedures help in removing phlegm from a wet cough:

  • massage of the chest and back with tapping, vibrating movements is suitable for infants. The child should be held with his head down;
  • for older children, massage can be combined with breathing exercises;
  • steam inhalations with soda, herbal infusions are carried out after a year with caution and as prescribed by a doctor. They are effective only for diseases of the upper respiratory tract. For bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, the use of a nebulizer is necessary;
  • compresses and heating with paraffin or ozokerite.

Any thermal procedures can only be carried out at normal body temperature. In case of a bacterial infection or blood in the sputum, they are contraindicated.

  • warm vitamin, alkaline drink, milk with mineral water (1:3) or adding soda;
  • treatment with decoctions and infusions of plants with an expectorant effect: elderflower, linden, chamomile, sage herb, coltsfoot leaf, plantain, viburnum berries;
  • syrups: onion juice with honey and lemon juice, viburnum juice with sugar, half a glass of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of purified glycerin;
  • vegetable juices: carrot, mixed in equal proportions with sugar syrup, cabbage with added sugar;
  • decoction of figs in milk (2-3 berries per glass);
  • warming compresses: 3 parts warm water and 1 part apple cider vinegar with the addition of a small amount of honey, slightly warmed sunflower oil.

Recommendations for cough relief

When coughing in children, it is necessary to create conditions that facilitate the rapid transformation of a dry cough into a wet one and the relief of the latter. To do this you need:

  1. Maintain the room temperature at 18-20⁰, avoiding hypothermia and overheating of the child.
  2. Monitor air humidity and use a humidifier if necessary. This will help cope with thick, difficult-to-clear phlegm and increase cough productivity.
  3. Actively give the patient non-carbonated warm drinks, vitamin decoctions, teas and fruit drinks, and slightly alkaline mineral water.
  4. At normal body temperature and in good weather, walk in the fresh air. At the same time, the child’s physical activity should be moderate so that he does not sweat.
  5. Bed rest is indicated only in severe conditions with high fever. A child with a cough can and should move, change body position, but not become overtired or overexcited.

Productive cough in childhood can be caused by a variety of reasons, including physiological ones. Episodes of physiological cough pass quickly and do not require treatment, but pathological cough associated with illnesses must be treated. In this case, it is necessary to fight the cause of the disease, and not just its symptom – cough.

Author: infectious disease doctor, Memeshev Shaban Yusufovich

All information provided on this site is for reference only. Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of disease, consult a doctor. An active link is required when quoting.

Source: http://prolegkie.ru/rekomendatsii-pri-bronhite/vlazhnyj-kashel-rebenka-simptomy-lechenie-foto.html

How to treat a wet cough in a child?

With the help of coughing, the body protects itself from any irritating factors affecting the respiratory tract. A wet cough helps remove foreign bodies, germs, toxins, viruses, dust particles and other substances from the bronchi. And when it appears in a child, parents should understand both the causes of such a cough and the need for its treatment.

How can you tell if your cough is wet?

The main difference between a wet cough and a dry cough is the presence of sputum. This is the name given to specific mucus that accumulates in the respiratory tract and is coughed up by a child. Normally, it is formed in small quantities and is eliminated with the help of rare coughs. With diseases of the respiratory tract, the volume of sputum increases significantly, which is why the child begins to cough frequently. Moreover, in many cases of the disease, the viscosity of sputum increases, which makes it difficult to cough up.

No temperature

The causes of a wet cough against a background of normal body temperature may be:

  • Bronchial asthma. The sputum coughed up during this pathology is viscous and transparent, which is why it is called glassy.
  • Allergy. Although rare, with this problem the child may cough up viscous, transparent sputum.
  • Chronic runny nose. A cough with sputum usually appears in the morning.
  • Heart failure.

In infants, a wet cough can be caused by tears, mucus from the nose or milk entering the respiratory tract. Also, a wet cough can appear during teething, when babies experience excessive salivation.

With temperature

The presence of a wet cough and a simultaneous increase in body temperature often indicates:

  • ARVI. A wet cough in such diseases often occurs during the recovery period.
  • Acute bronchitis. With such an illness, the child coughs up a large amount of sputum.
  • Pneumonia. The sputum coughed up during this disease may have a rusty tint.
  • Lung abscess. Sputum with this pathology usually contains impurities of pus.
  • Tuberculosis. There may be blood in the expectorated sputum, and the temperature is often low-grade.

Syrups and other effective preparations

Since in children it is more difficult to clear sputum due to its greater viscosity and less developed muscles of the respiratory tract, in the treatment of wet cough it is important to ensure better mucus discharge. Both herbal and synthetic preparations cope with this task.

The most popular and frequently used are presented in the table:

Name and release form

Features of action and application

This drug is based on ivy extract.

The medicine is prescribed from birth.

It has an expectorant, healing and antimicrobial effect.

The product contains no sugar or alcohol.

The course of treatment is at least 7 days.

This medicine contains medicinal plants such as aloe, licorice, ginger, elecampane, turmeric and others.

They have mucolytic and bronchodilator, as well as anti-inflammatory and expectorant effects.

The drug is indicated from 3 years of age.

This drug has a mucolytic and expectorant effect.

The medicine can be used from birth in the appropriate dosage.

The drug represents a group of mucolytics.

The active ingredient is acetylcysteine.

Approved for use from the age of two.

This medicine is based on plantain extract.

The drug has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect.

It is allowed to be taken from one year of age.

This remedy has an expectorant and mucolytic effect due to its carbocisteine ​​content.

Syrup containing 20 mg of active ingredient per 1 ml is approved for use from 2 years of age.

Multicomponent herbal preparation with anti-inflammatory, expectorant and mucolytic effect.

Approved for use in children over 6 months.

Duration of use is 5-7 days.

The preparation contains thyme oil.

This medicine has an expectorant and bactericidal effect.

The drug is prescribed from 2 years of age.

The drug can be taken from infancy.

This medicine is based on ivy leaf extract.

The drug is prescribed for at least 7 days.

The active ingredient of this drug is ambroxol.

The product can be taken from birth.

Herbion plantain syrup

The medicine is based on herbal ingredients.

The drug coats the bronchial mucosa and reduces inflammation.

The syrup can be washed down with water or tea.

It is prescribed from the age of 2 years.

The medicine can be used from 3 years of age.

He is discharged for 5-7 days.

For young children, the tablets are crushed to form a powder and then dissolved in warm water.

Older children should chew the tablets before eating.

Medicines for infants

If a wet cough bothers a baby, the child should be given any medications with extreme caution and only after consultation with a pediatrician. As a rule, children under one year of age are prescribed syrups with herbal ingredients, but in their use it is important to take into account age recommendations and the risk of allergies.

Among the drugs used in infancy are Gedelix, Dry cough syrup, Linkas (from 6 months), Lazolvan, Herbion ivy syrup, Licorice root syrup, Prospan, Ambrobene, Bronchipret (from 3 months).

Inhalations

If children over 3 years of age have difficulty coughing up viscous mucus, steam inhalation can be performed. For such procedures, herbal decoctions are prepared, and menthol, soda, and various essential oils are added to the water. It is important to ensure that the liquid is not too hot (to avoid the risk of steam burns).

The procedures are performed an hour after meals. The baby should calmly inhale the steam for 5-10 minutes. After inhalation carried out in autumn or winter, the child should not go outside for several hours. Medicines cannot be used for such inhalations. It is also prohibited to perform procedures if there is difficulty breathing and a barking cough, purulent sputum and elevated body temperature.

If you have a nebulizer, inhalations can be carried out using such a device. It is best to use saline solution or mineral water to moisturize the mucous membranes. This will safely and effectively loosen sticky mucus.

Wet cough in the morning

A cough with sputum production immediately after waking up is usually associated with the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract at night. This situation is possible with chronic sinusitis or rhinitis, as well as with tonsillitis and adenoiditis. During sleep, with such pathologies, mucus rolls into the respiratory tract, and in the morning the child coughs it up. Also, a morning wet cough can be a symptom of bronchial asthma or allergies.

Komarovsky's opinion

A popular pediatrician advises treating not a cough as a symptom, but the disease that caused it. Regarding wet cough, Komarovsky’s recommendations are unchanged - humidify the air in the nursery, walk in the fresh air, give more fluids.

Komarovsky considers taking medications that dilute sputum and help cough it up to be as effective as the above measures. He emphasizes that all medications should be prescribed by a pediatrician, and drinking, hydration, ventilation and walking are methods available to every mother and every child to help quickly cure a wet cough.

Some more tips from the doctor in the following videos.

Folk remedies

To treat a wet cough, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

  • Brew mother and stepmother, marshmallow and oregano. To do this, you need to take 8 g of these herbs and 500 ml of water that has just boiled. After infusing for 1.5 hours, give the baby from 1 teaspoon to 1/2 cup, depending on age.
  • Make an infusion according to the recipe described above from marshmallow, licorice, pine buds, anise, fennel and sage.
  • Boil the viburnum berries for a few minutes and grind them, then mix them with honey 1 to 1. Give to the child several times a day.
  • Rub badger fat into the baby's chest.

Adviсe

  • The child must be seen by a doctor if the appearance of a wet cough is accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, chest pain or shortness of breath. Also, be sure to call a doctor if the sputum is green or contains traces of blood.
  • To speed up recovery, the baby should be given a lot of liquid in the form of decoctions, tea, mineral water, compote, and fruit juice.
  • Do not give a child with a wet cough medications that suppress the cough reflex. Due to their use, mucus ceases to be effectively separated from the respiratory tract, as a result of which complications may develop.
  • One of the methods for improving sputum separation is drainage massage. Any mother can master it, and such a procedure is possible even in infancy.
  • If your child has a normal body temperature when coughing, you should go for a walk with your baby. During movements in the fresh air, phlegm will be separated more efficiently.

Prevention

Optimal conditions for normal ventilation of the lungs must be created in the child's room. The temperature in the nursery should be approximately +18+20°C, the air should be humidified (this is especially important during the heating season) and clean.

The room should be regularly cleaned and cleared of things that accumulate dust. It is also important to exclude exposure of the child’s respiratory tract to smoke, strong perfume odors and household chemicals.

To prevent infectious and colds that manifest as wet coughs, it is recommended:

  • Properly organize the child's daily routine.
  • Walk outdoors in any weather.
  • Perform hardening procedures.
  • Monitor your baby’s personal hygiene and strengthen its control during the cold season.
  • Provide a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in the children's menu or give the baby vitamin complexes.

All rights reserved, 14+

Copying site materials is possible only if you install an active link to our site.

Source: http://www.o-krohe.ru/kashel/mokryj/

How to cure a wet cough in a 2-year-old child?

A wet cough is one of the protective mechanisms of the child’s body. It manifests itself when irritating substances appear in the respiratory tract. In this case, irritants can be of both physical and chemical nature. There are several options for curing a wet cough in a 2-year-old child. Various types of treatment can be used for children at this age, so treating a cough in a two-year-old is much easier than treating a cough in a newborn. The choice of one method or another largely depends on the nature of the cough and the condition of the baby. A distinctive feature of a wet cough is the production of sputum - specific mucus.

How to cure a wet cough in a 2 year old child

Experts say that a wet cough is much better than a dry one. But he also needs treatment. If with a dry cough the main goal is to produce sputum, then in the case of a wet cough it is important to facilitate its removal. It is not easy to remove sputum from a 1-year-old child, as well as from a 2-year-old child, since its viscosity makes the process of expulsion difficult.

Mucus is a pathological substance whose presence is undesirable for the bronchi. In case of prolonged stay in the bronchi, mucus becomes a suitable environment for the development of bacteria, which delays the healing process and can cause complications.

To treat a wet cough in a 2-year-old child, he is prescribed both expectorants and mucolytic drugs along with combination medications. If mucolytics are necessary for the formation of mucus and facilitate its removal, then expectorant drugs promote its removal by diluting it.

Many parents prefer to give preference to herbal preparations in the treatment of wet cough in a child aged 2 years, but this approach is not always possible. The fact is that their effectiveness in treating cough has not yet been sufficiently confirmed by clinical studies. But they may well cause the baby to develop allergies, so they should be used with caution for small children. In order to cure a wet cough in a 2-year-old child, experts recommend expectorants of synthetic origin, especially in the case of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and bronchitis. In any case, the progress of treatment should be monitored by a pediatrician, if necessary, replacing one or another drug with a more effective one. In this case, any drug must be prescribed by a doctor - self-medication of a wet cough for children 2 years old, as well as older ones, is unacceptable. It is the pediatrician who will select the optimal dosage and, if necessary, prescribe a number of other effective measures.

For a small child, any expectorant medications should be used with extreme caution. The fact is that they can cause the baby to develop allergic reactions and even vomiting due to the fact that the child’s body simply cannot cope with mucus in large quantities. Therefore, during treatment, special attention should be paid to the child’s well-being.

Physiotherapeutic methods in the treatment of wet cough in a 2-year-old child

In addition to medications, a variety of physiotherapeutic methods are also used to treat wet cough. These include:

  1. Inhalations. To alleviate the baby's condition in case of a wet cough, steam inhalations using pine or eucalyptus oil are especially useful. Also in such a situation, finely dispersed inhalations are suitable, which can easily be carried out at home using an inhaler. At the same time, not only mineral water, but also decoctions of various herbs, as well as medications can be used as a medicine for inhalation.
  2. Ultrasound. UHF directly affects deep areas in the respiratory system.
  3. Breathing exercises and vibration massage. For this purpose, you can turn to a professional, but if, due to age characteristics, the child does not tolerate such a procedure, the mother can also carry it out. Breathing exercises can be offered to the child in the form of a fun game, for example, involving inflating balloons and blowing air through a tube onto water.

How to cure a wet cough in a 2-year-old child using folk remedies

If a child develops a wet cough, you can turn to some folk remedies for its treatment. At the same time, we must not forget that due to the young age, it is necessary to carefully select a folk remedy in order to avoid negative consequences from it.

Among the simplest and most effective folk remedies in the treatment of wet cough are:

  1. Warm drinks in large quantities - these can be: fruit drinks, compotes, rosehip infusion, etc.
  2. Warm milk with alkaline mineral water (the components are combined in a ratio of 1:3).
  3. Warm mineral water.
  4. Decoctions of medicinal herbs - elderberry, chamomile, coltsfoot, sage.
  5. Syrup from viburnum berries with sugar.

The basic rule for using medications and folk remedies in the treatment of wet cough in a 2-year-old child is to carefully monitor any changes in the baby’s condition. After all, on the one hand, they can cause an allergic reaction, and on the other, they may simply not be effective enough for a particular case. Then the doctor will select a different treatment tactic for the baby.

Share on social media networks

2 comments: How to cure a wet cough in a 2-year-old child?

Thank you for the useful and interesting article. Cough in children can be treated both in the clinic and at home. Be patient and perseverant. Maintain room temperature, ventilate the room where your child is resting, and monitor the body’s water balance. Saturate it with useful minerals and vitamins based on nutrition. Then it will be easier for the body to fight any inflammatory processes, which will lead to a speedy recovery.

The worst thing is when a small child has a cough. And why? because this person cannot specifically explain what hurts him, how he feels about his cough. It’s especially scary for their children’s parents, who don’t sleep at night and listen to their child cough. Moreover, it is very difficult to force a child to drink medicine or even hot teas, since he may simply not like it.

Add a comment Cancel reply

A nursing mother’s milk disappears, what should I do?

What fruits can a nursing mother eat?

Can a nursing mother eat mushrooms?

Diet of a nursing mother by month, table

How should a child sit at a desk?

How much should a teenager weigh?

How to prevent curvature in a child

  • Русский
  • Ernestnuh on Temperature 38 in a baby
  • thepiratebeach on What age is adolescence?
  • Astrid on What are the ways to raise a well-rounded child?
  • Adviser to the post Hypoallergenic diet for nursing mothers
  • Valeria on What can a nursing mother do if she has a cold?

What is the correct way to tell a child you can’t?

At what age is a minor child according to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation?

Where should I send my child to study after 9th grade?

Mother and child - child health and development

Source: http://mamairebenok.com/zdorove-rebenka/kak-vyilechit-mokryiy-kashel-u-rebenka-2-goda.html

How to treat a wet cough in a child

With the onset of autumn, when children begin to go to kindergarten and school, the season of colds and infections opens. Cold air, damp weather, a large number of children in a group are the main causes of illness.

Almost every acute respiratory viral infection or acute respiratory infection is accompanied by a symptom such as cough. The dry type of cough occurs at the initial stage of the disease and gradually turns into a wet form with sputum.

In many cases, a wet cough does not require therapy, but there are situations when the use of medications is necessary. Taking medications without prescription leads to a deterioration in the child’s well-being. How to treat a child’s wet cough will be decided by a specialist after examining and determining the causes of the disease.

Features of a wet cough

The respiratory tract of even a healthy person contains some mucous secretions, most of them are produced in the bronchi. During illness, the amount of sputum increases and viscosity increases, which leads to the formation of a wet cough. In respiratory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, a wet cough occurs due to mucus descending along the back wall of the nasopharynx, which accumulates in the bronchial tract and provokes cough reflexes.

Unlike a wet cough, a dry cough is formed due to inflammation of the nasopharynx and larynx. This type is called “barking”, it is unproductive and causes painful sensations: the throat dries out, pain is felt, and it becomes difficult for the child to swallow. To treat it, drugs are used that suppress cough reflexes and relieve inflammation. With a dry cough, mucus does not form, but without appropriate therapy, the inflammation descends lower, to the bronchial tree, and it becomes moist.

Signs of a wet cough:

  1. The attack is short-lived and does not cause pain.
  2. When breathing, wheezing is heard.
  3. Accompanied by shortness of breath.
  4. The attack is triggered by the accumulation of sputum.
  5. When you cough, mucus comes out.

The attending physician will tell you how and how to treat a cough with sputum in a child, after identifying the provoking factors. A wet cough occurs due to respiratory diseases and allergic reactions, but the most common causes are:

  1. ARZ, ARVI.
  2. Bronchial asthma.
  3. Obstructive bronchitis.
  4. Pneumonia.
  5. Tracheitis.
  6. Lung abscess.
  7. Tuberculosis.

Experienced specialists based on the nature of the discharge are able to make a preliminary diagnosis:

  1. Transparent, liquid discharge indicates acute respiratory infections and rhinitis.
  2. Green color is a sign of a bacterial disease or purulent process, often accompanied by wheezing and high fever.
  3. Brown discharge indicates the presence of old blood in the mucus.
  4. Thick white sputum is produced during fungal pneumonia.
  5. Yellow color - for pneumonia and the initial stage of bronchitis
  6. Discharge with foam is a sign of pulmonary edema, chronic bronchitis, cardiac asthma.
  7. A rusty color indicates lobar pneumonia, vascular injury, or pulmonary embolism.
  8. Mucus with blood is released during bronchiectasis, tumors in the respiratory tract, and tuberculosis.

If there is no certainty about the diagnosis, the sputum is sent for testing to identify the source of the disease.

During the treatment period it is necessary to monitor the patient's condition. If your child's cough with sputum is accompanied by the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible:

  1. Prolonged coughing attacks, especially at night.
  2. Chest pain appears.
  3. The temperature is above 38°, does not go down, lasts more than a day.
  4. The attacks are accompanied by severe wheezing.
  5. Loss of appetite.
  6. Pale skin, blue under the eyes.

Before the pediatrician arrives, you should not give your child medications; you should limit yourself to warm drinks and airing the room.

Treatment of wet cough with medications

If you have a wet cough with good mucus production and no symptoms that require medication, there is no reason to take medication. Increased viscosity of sputum and underdeveloped muscles of the respiratory tract in a child cause mucus retention in the larynx. In this case, it is necessary to use mucolytic and expectorant drugs.

When a cough is accompanied by sputum production, antitussive medications should not be used. They lead to the sedimentation of mucus in the lower respiratory tract. Even a simple acute respiratory infection, accompanied by a wet cough, can develop into serious complications, for example, pneumonia.

The action of mucolytics is aimed only at thinning thick sputum, which promotes the removal of mucus naturally. The most popular mucolytic agents are: Bromhexine, ACC-100, Fluimucil, Ambrobene, Lazolvan, Libexin.

Expectorant medications are divided into two subtypes:

  1. Reflex action, aimed at thinning and increasing the amount of mucus, stimulates the gag reflex, thereby increasing the production of sputum. These medicines are of plant origin: from plantain, licorice, thermopsis, thyme, anise, nine-sil. Such drugs are prescribed with caution to children under three years of age, as there is a risk of developing airway obstruction.
  2. Resorptive drugs reduce the viscosity of secretions, increase its amount and remove it from the respiratory tract.

Most often, the following expectorant medications are used for children for wet cough: Gedelix, Prospan, Gerbion, Doctor Mom, Mukaltin, Althea Syrup, Pertussin.

The most difficult thing to get rid of is a wet cough in an infant. At this age, it is allowed to use a small amount of medications, so preference is given to inhalations with Lazolvan, Ambrobene, and Fluimucil.

The following can be taken orally for infants:

  1. Gedelix is ​​allowed to be taken from the first days of life.
  2. Dry cough syrup - prescribed to children from six months of age.
  3. "Prospan" is taken from three months.
  4. "Bronchicum" is contraindicated for up to 6 months.

For severe pathologies in the lungs and bronchi, the following is prescribed:

  1. "Ascoril" has a thinning, expectorant and bronchodilator effect. Prescribed to children from one year of age.
  2. "Erespal" relieves inflammation and dilates the bronchi in children from two years of age. In rare cases, with severe infections, the doctor may prescribe Erespal in infancy. The dosage will be calculated based on the age and weight of the child.

For wet coughs, only a doctor should prescribe medicine for children of any age. No parent without medical education will be able to listen to breathing and make a correct diagnosis.

Non-traditional methods of treating wet cough

To treat a wet cough, not only medications help, but also homemade recipes that have been tested for more than one generation. The use of alternative treatment should be agreed with a doctor. The best effect will come from drug therapy supplemented with folk remedies.

Products for internal use

Everyone knows about the benefits of milk with honey and butter or soda. Not everyone knows other methods of treatment:

  1. Take five dried figs for two glasses of milk and simmer over low heat for a minute. Drink warm three times a day after meals. You can use fresh figs, but there is a chance that the milk will curdle.
  2. For a wet cough from the age of three, you can add 5 grams of natural badger fat to warm milk along with honey. Drink half a glass three times.
  3. If the child does not have problems with digestion and the cardiovascular system, you can make a sweet syrup from radish with honey. Take a large black radish, cut off the top and remove the core with a spoon, so as not to damage the bottom and walls of the fruit. Fill the resulting “pot” two-thirds with honey. After 3 hours you will get a useful product. Give children a teaspoon every 2 hours. Honey should not be consumed at elevated temperatures.
  4. An infusion of plantain leaves helps a lot for coughs in children, but it can only be used after three years. Add 50 grams of fresh or dry plantain leaves to a liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and remove from heat. The infusion will be ready in 4 hours, take three tablespoons orally 3-4 times a day.
  5. Treatment with raspberry and viburnum syrup: to prepare, take 50 grams of each berry, mash well and mix with a tablespoon of sugar. After a few hours, squeeze through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Dilute the syrup with two glasses of milk. Take half a glass four times a day, warm before use.
  6. The smallest and pickiest children will love a drink made from cocoa and banana. To prepare it, you need to chop one banana, mix with a teaspoon of cocoa and pour a glass of hot milk. This remedy is useful not only for wet coughs, but also for boosting immunity.

Before treating a child's wet cough with unconventional methods, you should consult a pediatrician.

External use

Folk remedies for external use will help treat a cough with phlegm: lozenges, rubbing, compresses. The best effect from recipes that contain animal fats:

  1. Rub the child's back, chest and feet with badger or bear fat. Dress warmly and cover with a blanket. When he sweats, change into dry, clean clothes.
  2. Take honey and goose fat in equal quantities, mix and spread on the chest, back and feet, wrap gauze or a towel on top, and wrap the child.

Compresses and rubbing with animal fats are best done before bed and kept overnight.

  1. Compress with apple cider vinegar and honey: take a tablespoon of honey and vinegar, add three tablespoons of warm water. Moisten gauze in this solution and apply it to the child’s chest and throat. Cover with a warm blanket for half an hour.
  2. Take flour, honey, dry mustard, vodka and sunflower oil in equal quantities, mix everything and make flat cakes. Apply to the chest and back, after wrapping it in gauze, overnight.
  3. Rub with camphor alcohol before going to bed. After rubbing the child, dress and wrap him warmly.

Treatment with external remedies for wet cough relieves spasms, dilates the bronchi and promotes the discharge of sputum.

If rubbing and compresses are used for the first time, you should reduce the time of use to check the child’s reaction.

Inhalations

Treatment of a wet cough with poorly cleared mucus is carried out using an inhaler. If the child does not have a fever, you can do hot inhalations using a special device or a regular saucepan.

Steam inhalations are prescribed only by the attending physician. The temperature of the solution should be within degrees, the duration of the procedure should not be more than five minutes.

Recipes for inhalations:

  1. Inhalations with decoctions of medicinal herbs: chamomile, eucalyptus leaves, sage, plantain, thyme, peppermint. You can prepare an infusion from one herb or make combined mixtures. To prepare the decoction, you need to take a liter of boiling water, add a tablespoon of herbs, when it cools to 50 degrees, you can begin the procedure.
  2. Dilute two teaspoons of soda in one liter of boiling water. If you are not allergic, you can add two drops of essential oil of mint, tea tree, and eucalyptus.
  3. It is useful to breathe in the vapors of potatoes boiled in their skins. Mash the cooked fruits and cool slightly.

The child needs to be explained that when inhaling, he must hold his breath for 2-3 seconds. You cannot eat or drink for half an hour after the procedure. Do not inhale late in the evening, preferably 3-4 hours before bedtime.

During treatment of a child, caution is required in the selection of medications. Herbal preparations can cause allergic reactions, including Quincke's edema. Therefore, in childhood, preference is given to synthetic drugs, they are safer.

To cure a wet cough quickly and without health consequences, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations. During illness, it is necessary to see a pediatrician twice a week so that he can listen to the child’s breathing and assess his condition.

Source: http://kasheld.ru/u-rebenka/chem-lechit-vlazhnyj-kashel-u-rebenka