Mucus thinners for children

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What is the best way to thin phlegm in a child?

When parents begin to wonder how to thin their child’s mucus when coughing, then, most likely, their baby has been coughing for quite a long time and the dry cough will not progress to the next stage.

Table of contents:

In such a situation, you should know what syrup or tablets are given to children to thin sputum when coughing in order to bring it out.

So, what to do in a situation where a child cannot clear his throat?

The first thing you can do during the cold season is to lay a damp towel or diaper on the central heating radiator. Humidified air in the children's room will facilitate the rapid removal of sputum. A more civilized way is to purchase a special device for air humidification. In addition, the choice of mucolytic (helping to reduce viscosity) medications and improving the expectoration process (expectorant) is huge.

Herbal expectorants

For coughs associated with ARVI, herbal remedies for expectoration are recommended: coltsfoot, elecampane, wild rosemary infusion (made using a water bath). And also recipes from plants:

  • honey and black radish juice;
  • plantain juice;
  • thyme and anise fruit extract.

This category also includes: thermopsis, marshmallow, essential oils, licorice. A good effect can be achieved by using preparations from ivy - its leaves (Gedelix, Prospan). The active components in them are saponins and alkaloids, which thin the mucus and increase its volume, increasing bronchial contraction and coughing.

However, you should not attach great value to herbal preparations. Their exposure time is short. They require repeated administration in small doses, since increasing the dosage leads to a reaction of rejection by the children’s body. Among other things, drugs in this group, causing copious mucus production, disrupt the drainage functionality of the bronchi. This can be explained by the fact that the child is not able to cough up all the mucus himself.

Mucolytic medications

3-4 days have passed since the start of treatment, and the child’s cough has not cleared up? Then modern synthetic mucolytic medications will help ease the expectoration of liquid and cure bronchitis. A substance called acetylcysteine ​​(ACC, Fluimucin, Mukobene) has excellent reviews. The medicine qualitatively and instantly dilutes not only sputum, but also secretory mucus from the nose and pus, providing an anti-inflammatory effect.

For preschool children there is a special ACC form. The product is diluted with water and has a pleasant taste. The duration of administration is determined by the nature and course of the respiratory tract disease and in the acute stage lasts from 3 days to a couple of weeks, in the chronic stage - a couple of weeks. If necessary, the course of treatment is sometimes repeated.

Ambroxol (syrup Lazolvan, Ambrohexal, Ambrobene) is recognized as the best mucolytic of our time.

Ambroxol, making mucus secretions liquid, has an enhanced coughing effect, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and strengthens the local immune system.

An important feature of this medicine is its ability to take part in increasing the lung superfractant - a substance that creates surface tension and improves the quality of distensibility in the lungs, which indirectly affects the improvement of expectoration of liquid.

It is possible to give ambroxol to a child from the first months of his life (even to a premature one). The duration of the course of treatment is one or three to four weeks, which depends on the effectiveness and nature of the disease. Bromhexine is also involved in thinning sputum, improving its removal. The product is relatively inexpensive, and there are forms for children. But its effectiveness is slightly lower than that of acetylcysteine ​​and ambroxol.

A separate group includes mucoregulators - drugs with a mucolytic effect; they restore the healthy activity of the cells of the bronchial mucosa that produce secretions. These include medications containing carbocysteine ​​(Mucodin, Bronkatar, Mucopront). However, their use provokes constipation in children.

Medicines with antitussive effects

Of particular note are antitussive drugs, that is, those that suppress the cough reflex. The need to suppress the cough reflex in a child appears extremely rarely. With increased production of viscous secretions in children, the use of antitussive drugs may lead to a deterioration in the function of bronchial drainage, an increased likelihood of re-infection and respiratory failure.

Medicines in this group include medications with central action that affect the brain and its cough center (non-narcotic spectrum of action - Tusuprex, Sinecod, Glauvent, narcotic - Codeine), with peripheral action, neutralizing nerve endings in the mucous membrane of the tracheobronchial tree (for example, Libexin) .

Antitussive drugs (non-narcotic spectrum of action) may be prescribed in a situation where the baby has a tiresome, dry cough that causes pain in the abdomen and sternum, nausea, impaired appetite and sleep (for example, with whooping cough). Self-medication here is fraught with serious complications.

Other medications to thin sputum

Only the doctor is responsible for making decisions about taking combination medications containing cough suppressants (Lorraine, Stoptussin, Hexapnevmin). They are usually contraindicated for preschoolers. And the use of medical drugs combined with ephedrine (Solutan, Broncholitin) is permissible in rare situations when there is an abundance of liquefied sputum production. This is due to the “drying” effect of ephedrine.

Since the inflammation process plays an important role in the development of respiratory ailments with cough, anti-inflammatory drugs will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect.

Nowadays, fanspiride (Erespal) is successfully prescribed as an anti-inflammatory drug for chronic and acute forms of respiratory diseases in children at any age, which indirectly affects the improvement of sputum removal.

When coughing in children, antibiotics are not prescribed in every situation. Only the doctor decides whether to undergo a course of treatment with them. The same applies to medications that widen the lumen in the bronchi - bronchodilators. When cough is a symptom of obstruction (narrowing) in the bronchi (with bronchial asthma), then bronchodilators are inhaled short-acting forms of β2-agonists (Ventolin, Salbutamol), anticholinergic drugs (Atrovent) or their combination - Berodual and short-acting theophylline (Euphylline).

Inhalation treatment

In pediatric practice, with an integrated approach to diseases that are accompanied by cough, it is permissible to combine various methods of delivering active substances to the sore spot.

For some time now, together with syrup, inhalation procedures have been prescribed to treat the respiratory system. At the moment of inhalation, the therapeutic substance directly penetrates and influences the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, muscles and nerve endings. Treatment that thins phlegm reduces spasms in the bronchi and stops coughing.

Steam inhalation is the most affordable therapy option, organized at home. Steam inhalation is effective only in the presence of disease in the upper respiratory tract.

For example, with a dry cough in a child, inhalations with sodium bicarbonate solution (4 tablespoons of baking soda and water - 1 liter) or with Borjomi alkaline mineral waters are excellent.

The main thing is to comply with safety requirements when performing inhalation; do not leave the child alone. Please note that childhood is a contraindication for procedures with boiling water.

For a one-year-old baby, the water temperature for inhalation should not exceed 30ºС, and for an older childºС. At the required temperature, water is poured into a container with a narrow neck. Cut a funnel out of cardboard and place it on the neck. They perform the procedure on the child, holding him over the steam for one to three minutes. Perform the procedure up to two times a day.

Today, inhalation treatment through nebulizers—ultrasonic compression inhalers that generate an aerosol cloud formed from tiny particles of an inhalation solution—is becoming increasingly common.

The use of a nebulizer is considered optimal for children with bronchial asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis. Poorly functioning segments of the bronchi receive an inhaled solution in a portion of 3-4 ml, which, if necessary, is diluted with saline solution. Duration - 5 or 7 minutes.

The advantages of nebulizer therapy are:

  • simple execution technique;
  • the possibility of inhalation among newborns and young children (through a mask);
  • transportation of an increased dose of active substances in a short time interval;
  • supplying medicine to hard-to-reach areas of the bronchi.

It makes sense to consider the effectiveness of treating cough in children not in the context of its suppression, but through its intensification.

That is, in a situation where a cough transforms from dry to wet (or productive). What will result in improving lung function, normalizing the passage of the respiratory tract, eliminating irritation in the bronchial mucosa, and reducing the cough reflex.

  • In children

It happened, I started coughing to the point of bronchitis. I went to V.

Our pediatrician prescribed Prospan syrup for our son for a dry cough. He.

We purchased a humidifier and turn it on as needed. And es.

Prospan cough syrup is good. No chemicals and it helps. Would.

There are many means and techniques for treating chest pain.

Expectorants provide invaluable help with.

Together with other diseases that cause progressive.

Source: http://olegkih.ru/pnevmoniya/rebenok/chem-razzhizhit-mokrotu-u-rebenka.html

Expectorants for children and adults: how they work, differences, names

Most respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis require complex treatment, including antibacterial or antiviral therapy, antipyretics and antihistamines, immunostimulants and immunomodulators. Pathogenetic treatment is aimed at reducing signs of inflammation, bronchodilation, restoring the patency of the respiratory tract, as well as liquefying and removing sputum. For this purpose, patients are prescribed expectorants. This is a group of drugs that ensure the removal of bronchial secretions from the respiratory tract.

Healthy people constantly produce a mucous secretion designed to moisturize and cleanse the epithelium of the respiratory tract. With infection and inflammation of the respiratory tract, the activity of the cilia of epithelial cells decreases and sputum production increases. It becomes viscous and difficult to separate. To cope with this problem and eliminate a productive cough, medications that help thin and expectorate sputum will help. They restore the functioning of the ciliated epithelium and accelerate the movement of tracheobronchial secretions.

Drugs in this group are divided into 2 large subgroups:

  • Secretomotor agents that directly stimulate expectoration.
  • Mucolytics or secretolytics, thinning sputum.

Expectorants are intended for the treatment of productive cough with viscous and thick discharge, which occurs when the bronchi, bronchioles, lungs, trachea are affected, as well as bronchial asthma, atelectasis, COPD and other diseases.

Mucolytic and expectorant drugs are auxiliary drugs that make the patient’s life easier, but do not eliminate the cause of cough. They should be used only in combination with etiotropic antimicrobial therapy.

Mucolytics thin the thick bronchial secretions, have a mild anti-inflammatory effect and prevent mucus from sticking to the walls of the respiratory tract.

Mechanism of action

Coughing is a reflex act that protects the body from foreign substances by removing them from the respiratory system. This is the most important sign of bronchopulmonary diseases. The cough reflex occurs when the receptors of the mucous membrane of the bronchi and trachea are irritated, which becomes inflamed and swollen. It intensively produces thick mucus, which does not come out, but continues to stimulate cough receptors.

The cough can be wet or dry. In the first case, it is necessary to use drugs that improve the removal of sputum, but do not suppress the cough - mucolytic and expectorant drugs. They dilute mucus and promote its movement from the lower parts of the respiratory tract to the upper ones. Despite the fact that this group includes a large number of drugs, they all differ in their main pharmacological action.

  • Reflex drugs. They irritate the gastric mucosa, as well as the cough and vomiting centers in the brain. The work of the glands that produce bronchial secretions is reflexively stimulated, the peristalsis of the bronchioles is enhanced, and sputum leaves the body. This subgroup includes herbal remedies based on licorice, marshmallow, and thermopsis.
  • Medicines that have a direct effect on the bronchial receptor apparatus. Constant stimulation of the bronchial mucosa leads to increased secretion.
  • Mucolytics that thin sputum. Drugs of this group are used for pathologies of the respiratory system, accompanied by the formation of thick discharge that clogs the bronchi. They are prescribed to patients with tracheostomy and in the postoperative period, especially after anesthesia with tracheal intubation. This group includes enzymes, sulfur-containing compounds, and vizicine derivatives. This is a substance of plant origin that destroys mucopolysaccharides and mucoproteins of sputum, enhancing its secretion and the activity of the cilia of the respiratory epithelium.
  • Bronchodilators - expand the lumen of the bronchi and relieve bronchospasm, due to which liquid or thick sputum is eliminated faster. They are prescribed for the treatment of spasmodic cough in bronchial asthma or allergic bronchitis. “Salbutamol”, “Eufillin”, “Berodual”, “Berotek” have bronchodilator activity.

Medications

Medicinal herbs, herbal infusions, pharmacological preparations and folk remedies have an expectorant effect.

Only a doctor must select one or another cough medicine, taking into account the form and stage of the disease, the patient’s condition, the nature of the sputum and the presence of concomitant pathologies. Herbal medicines and folk remedies are safe, but often ineffective. Potent synthetic drugs that have a number of contraindications and side effects deserve special attention. Most of them have a symptomatic effect, and some drugs have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

Synthetic secretolytics are used to eliminate cough, which is a symptom of inflammation of the bronchi, lungs, and trachea. They are prescribed to premature babies and young children who have reduced synthesis of surfactant, a substance that stabilizes the pulmonary alveoli.

  • "Bromhexine" is an effective mucolytic, which is prescribed to persons with tracheobronchitis, spastic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. Bromhexine is a synthetic analogue of the active plant substance vasicin, which can thin and remove mucus. In the human body, bromhexine is absorbed into the blood and, as a result of a number of metabolic reactions, is converted into ambroxol. The drug is produced in tablet form, syrup and drops for inhalation. The effect of the drug begins one day after the start of treatment: the viscosity of sputum decreases, the work of the ciliated epithelium increases, the volume of sputum and its excretion increases. Bromhexine ensures stability of the alveoli during breathing through the production of pulmonary surfactant. Side effects are dyspepsia and allergies. Currently, bromhexine is considered an outdated drug, and doctors recommend it less and less.
  • "Ambroxol" is a medicine that protects the mucous membrane of the respiratory system from external influences, including infection. This drug is considered vital and is widely used in medical practice. Thanks to the effect of the drug, the mobility of the villi of the ciliated epithelium is activated, mucociliary transport is restored, resulting in the formation of a less viscous discharge. Increased surfactant production protects cells and tissues from the invasion of pathogenic microbes. Ambroxol is a metabolite of bromhexine and has identical properties. It has a pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The drug is used for prophylactic purposes before and after operations. Ambroxol is used in tablet form to treat wet cough in adults. Children under one year old are given delicious syrup in an age-appropriate dosage.
  • Acetylcysteine ​​is the main active ingredient of the drug "ACC" and its analogues. This is an effective mucolytic that can dilute viscous bronchial secretions and remove it from the body. "ACC" is prescribed to persons with infectious pathology of the respiratory system, accompanied by the formation of thick mucus: bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, as well as rhinitis, otitis, sinusitis. Acetylcysteine ​​is used to treat colds and is included in the complex therapy of such serious diseases as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary tuberculosis and others. Acetylcysteine ​​is an important medicine that is available in the form of powder and effervescent tablets. Side effects include allergic reactions, shortness of breath, and bronchospasm.
  • Carbocisteine ​​is a mucolytic agent with a bronchosecretolytic effect. It thins, breaks down and dissolves difficult to expectorate viscous mucus, and also slows down the process of its formation. “Carbocisteine”, “Libexin Muco”, “Mukosol” and other analogues normalize the condition of the mucous membranes and promote their regeneration. These medications do not provoke bronchospasm and are safer than ACC. The very next day after the start of treatment, the discharge of sputum and mucus from the respiratory tract improves, which makes breathing easier and reduces coughing.
  • Combined expectorants are potent drugs used according to strict indications and doctor’s recommendations. The most common representative of this group is Ascoril. Despite their high efficiency and rapid onset of therapeutic effect, drugs in this group have many contraindications and cause a variety of side effects. Codelac Broncho is available in different dosage forms: tablets, syrup, elixir. The syrup is prescribed mainly to children in a dosage appropriate to their age. It reduces the viscosity of mucus, promotes its removal, weakens the cough reflex and reduces the inflammatory process in the respiratory tract.

"Bromhexine" and "Ambroxol" promote the penetration of antibiotics from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones into the sputum. In this regard, expectorants based on these drugs are prescribed together with antimicrobial agents.

In case of chronic obstructive inflammation of the bronchi, a good therapeutic effect is achieved by the combined use of mucolytics, bronchodilators, antispasmodics - “Salbutamol”, “Eufillin”. During the treatment process, the work of the ciliated epithelium is enhanced, inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane is reduced, and sputum production is facilitated.

Phytotherapy

Some medicinal herbs have an expectorant effect and clear the bronchi of mucus. Official medicine allows the use of these herbs for wet coughs. You can purchase them at the pharmacy chain and use them strictly according to the instructions.

Expectorant herbs include:

These herbs irritate the gastric mucosa and brain centers, and then reflexively activate the mucous glands in the bronchi and the contractility of the bronchial muscles. Thanks to this, sputum becomes liquid and abundant, it moves faster through the respiratory tract and leaves the body.

Breast mixtures are prepared from medicinal herbs or brewed separately. Decoctions, infusions, syrups, herbal teas and drinks provide a good therapeutic effect. Most people suffering from productive cough choose natural remedies and confirm their high effectiveness. Modern pharmaceuticals produce a huge number of herbal medicines based on medicinal herbs.

  • "Gedelix", "Gerbion" and "Prospan" are cough syrups of plant origin based on ivy. They dilute sputum, relieve muscle spasms from the bronchi, and remove liquid secretions. These remedies can be used for both dry and wet coughs.
  • "Doctor Theis" is a syrup with plantain that has an expectorant effect for all types of cough. It reduces signs of inflammation, stimulates the immune system, relieves spasms in the bronchial muscles, kills germs, and soothes throat irritation. The drug is used as an addition to basic drug therapy.
  • Thyme-based products gently and effectively thin mucus and promote its removal from the body. These include the drugs “Bronchicum”, “Bronchipret”. They reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and increase the lumen of the bronchi, alleviating the symptoms of a painful, paroxysmal cough. “Pertussin” is a cough syrup known to almost everyone since childhood. It has an expectorant, antimicrobial and analgesic effect and promotes rapid evacuation of bronchial mucus.
  • “Thermopsis tablets” are traditional, inexpensive cough medicines that thin and remove mucus. "Thermopsol" is a similar product that is suitable for both adults and infants, which speaks in favor of its safety. This drug stimulates the respiratory center in the brain, stimulates the production of mucus in the bronchi, has a weak anti-inflammatory effect, increases the tone of the smooth muscles of the bronchi and kills pathogenic bacteria.
  • Preparations obtained from marshmallow root combine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The most common among them is “Mukaltin”. This is a medical drug used to treat respiratory diseases as a secretolytic. It stimulates the activity of the ciliated epithelium, the secretion of mucous glands and the peristalsis of the bronchial muscles.
  • Combined herbal remedies - “Stoptussin”, “Amtersol”, “Pektusin”. Drugs in this group eliminate frequent coughing attacks and make it productive. They have an analgesic effect, are well absorbed by the body and are quickly absorbed. Linkas increases productivity and reduces cough intensity. This drug has an expectorant, bronchodilator, antipyretic, sedative and antimicrobial effect. "Linkas" copes well with even the most painful cough.

Folk remedies

Traditional cough medicine, actively used at home, is quite effective and accessible to everyone. This mild expectorant therapy gives good results, the main thing is to stock up on the necessary ingredients and patience. Before proceeding to self-medication, you should consult a specialist.

To cleanse the bronchi from unwanted and excessive mucus, you need to drink as much liquid as possible and do herbal and essential inhalations.

  • Remove the core from the black radish, add honey and leave for several hours. The resulting syrup is taken several times a day. You can grate the radish, squeeze out the juice and mix it with honey.
  • A folk remedy consisting of warm milk, honey, cognac, and baking soda improves sputum discharge.
  • Mix butter and honey in equal proportions, add aloe juice and take a teaspoon twice a day.
  • A decoction of oats mixed with milk and honey is drunk warm in small sips up to 6 times a day.
  • Lingonberry juice is mixed with honey and taken a tablespoon several times a day.
  • Viburnum is the best cough remedy that has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Boil viburnum fruits, add honey and take the remedy until the cough disappears completely.
  • The chopped onion is sprinkled with sugar and left to infuse overnight. In the morning, drain the onion syrup and treat cough with it.
  • Pine buds are boiled in milk and the resulting decoction is taken several sips throughout the day. Pine milk removes phlegm and normalizes body temperature.
  • Before going to bed, apply a cloth soaked in vegetable oil to your chest, cover it with cellophane and leave it overnight.
  • Essential oils of fir, eucalyptus, thyme, cedar and lavender help relieve coughs. Add a couple of drops of one of the oils to boiling water and inhale the healing vapors.
  • If the child does not have a fever or lesions on the skin, a compress can be placed on the chest to treat a cough. To do this, lubricate the skin with vegetable oil, moisten gauze folded in several layers in vinegar, honey, vodka or oil and apply it to the chest, avoiding the heart area. Place polyethylene on top and cover with a warm blanket. The compress is left on all night and removed in the morning, the skin is wiped and lubricated with baby cream. The compress is an excellent addition to medications or a complete replacement. In some cases, it acts faster and more effectively than tablets and does not cause side effects.

Source: http://uhonos.ru/gorlo/lechenie-gorla/otxarkivayushhie-sredstva/

Expectorants for children

Cough is the most common symptom of most colds. At the pharmacy, parents are faced with a huge selection of cough medications, so it is important to know and understand how drugs from different pharmacological groups differ. It’s even better not to purchase medications without a doctor’s prescription, since even the most harmless herbal medicines have contraindications and can cause negative reactions.

Most often, children are prescribed expectorants to facilitate the removal of mucus. If the medicine is chosen incorrectly, there is a high probability of complications, so the only criterion when choosing medications for children should be the opinion of a specialist.

What are expectorants used for?

Expectorants are necessary to dilute bronchial secretions, reduce their viscosity and facilitate the removal of pathological volumes of mucus from the respiratory tract. Normally, the glands of the bronchial tree daily produce a secretion that looks like clear mucus with a liquid consistency. The amount of secretion in a healthy child ranges from 5 to 100 ml per day, while the baby does not even notice how he swallows this mucus during the day.

Mucus is necessary for a small body to protect itself from bacteria, viruses and microbes that a child encounters every day when visiting public places and coming into contact with other children and animals. Bronchial secretion protects the walls of the lungs and bronchi from damage and irritation from dust, dirt and other harmful substances that can enter the respiratory system.

If a child develops an infectious disease of the lower respiratory tract (tracheitis, pneumonia, bronchitis), the volume of mucus rapidly increases - the body tries to fight infectious agents in this way. Sometimes the amount of secretion reaches up to ml (in adults this figure fluctuates within ml), so coughing is a completely normal physiological phenomenon in such a situation.

To facilitate the passage of sputum and increase the rate of removal of mucus containing viruses and bacteria from the body, the doctor prescribes bed rest, plenty of warm fluids, and expectorant medications.

Expectorants and mucolytics: what is the difference?

Some parents confuse these concepts, because drugs from both pharmacological groups are intended for the same purpose - treating cough and removing phlegm. But there is still a difference between them. Mucolytics help thin mucus and reduce its viscosity, that is, they affect the consistency of mucus. Expectorant medications directly stimulate the transport of mucus from the respiratory tract. They come in two types.

  • Reflex. Most often these are herbal products that have an irritating effect on the walls of the stomach and cause increased activity of the bronchial glands.
  • Direct action. They are completely absorbed by the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and irritate the mucous membranes of the bronchi, stimulating the production of liquid mucus.

For treatment to be successful, it is important to correctly determine the type of cough and evaluate other symptoms that may affect the course of therapy. It is quite difficult to do this at home, so the pediatrician observing the child should prescribe expectorants.

Is it possible to give expectorants to children?

The opinions of pediatricians regarding the advisability of prescribing expectorant drugs in childhood differ. Some believe that without timely treatment, a cough can develop and the child will develop complications, so you need to start using medications in this group as early as possible. Others believe that coughing in children can be dealt with using other, safer methods.

The famous pediatrician Komarovsky believes that to effectively eliminate a productive cough, it is enough to create the necessary conditions for the child that will help moisturize the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. Moisturizing the mucous membrane naturally stimulates the liquefaction of sputum and the production of liquid secretion, which has a positive effect on the dynamics of the disease and improves the condition of the little patient. The doctor believes that the treatment regimen for cough in childhood should look like this:

  • plenty of drinking regime;
  • regular ventilation of the children's room and wet cleaning;
  • humidifying the air using available methods (from hanging wet towels to using a humidifier);
  • rinsing the nose with saline solution several times a day.

Each of these theories has its fans and opponents, but doctors agree on one thing: the administration of mucolytic drugs to children under 2 years of age is contraindicated, since their use does more harm than good.

When choosing drugs for the treatment of cough in children, the doctor takes into account several points:

  • type of cough;
  • child's age;
  • the presence of complications or chronic diseases (to assess possible risks);
  • other symptoms that complement the general clinical picture of the disease.

The best expectorants for children

Below is a detailed overview of drugs used to treat productive cough in children of different ages.

Medicines based on marshmallow root (from 30 to 130 rubles per package)

Marshmallow root extract contains a large amount of mucus, pectin, starch and tannins, therefore it helps to effectively fight cough due to its mild stimulating effect on the glands of the bronchial tree and bronchioles. Preparations from marshmallow have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, reduce pain when coughing and thin out viscous and thick sputum.

The only contraindication for the use of this group of drugs is peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach. The use of products in the form of syrup is contraindicated in case of intolerance to fruit sugar (due to the large amount of sucrose in the composition) and diabetes mellitus.

The most popular medicines based on marshmallow root:

  • Alteyka syrup (children under 12 years old take 1 teaspoon 4 times a day, for teenagers the dose is doubled);
  • “Mukaltin” tablets (take 1 tablet 3 times a day before meals, after dissolving the medicine in water);
  • marshmallow syrup (dosage is 1.25-2.5 ml 3-4 times a day).

The syrup must be mixed with 1 ml of boiled water before use. The duration of treatment with marshmallow preparations is from 10 to 15 days. In exceptional cases, the patient may be prescribed long-term therapy (up to 2 months).

Stoptussin syrup (rubles)

"Stoptussin" is a natural herbal preparation with anti-inflammatory and expectorant effects. The syrup contains the most effective medicinal herbs and plants that have a pronounced expectorant effect: extracts of plantain, thyme and thyme.

Despite its natural composition, not everyone can use the syrup. Contraindications for treatment with Stoptussin are:

  • allergies to medicinal plants and auxiliary components of the syrup;
  • pregnancy and breastfeeding;
  • epilepsy;
  • brain injuries;
  • pathologies of the kidneys and liver.

The drug is not prescribed to children under 1 year of age due to the increased risk of intolerance reactions and the possible development of hypersalivation.

The regimen of administration and dosage depends on the age of the child and is as follows:

  • from 1 to 5 years – 5 ml 3 times a day;
  • from 5 to 10 years – 5-10 ml 3 times a day;
  • from 10 to 15 years – ml 3 times a day;
  • adolescents over 15 years old - 12.5 ml 3-5 times a day.

The medicine should be taken immediately after meals. The maximum duration of therapy is 7 days.

"Fluditek" (rubles)

Fluditec is a modern expectorant mucolytic drug with proven effectiveness. The main active ingredient is carbocisteine. “Fluditek” is produced in the form of a caramel-colored syrup with the smell of chewing gum (added “tutti-frutti” flavoring), it has a pleasant taste and aroma, so children willingly drink it, and parents do not have problems with treatment.

The syrup causes practically no side effects, is well tolerated and helps to cope with cough in a short time. The standard dosage of syrup for children is 5 ml 3 times a day, but the amount of the drug may vary depending on the age of the child.

The only disadvantage of Fluditek is its price. If necessary, the doctor can select analogs of the syrup with the same active ingredient. These include:

Preparations based on carbocisteine ​​should not be taken for cystitis, chronic glomerulonephritis, or peptic ulcers. Pregnant women and children under 2 years of age are also not prescribed products with carbocysteine.

"Ambroxol" syrup

Ambroxol-based syrup is a popular and effective remedy for treating cough in children and adults. The drug is indicated for pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheitis, bronchial asthma and other pathologies accompanied by the formation of viscous and thick sputum. Some analogues of Ambroxol (for example, Lazolvan) can be used for inhalation and internal use. By the way, doctors consider Ambroxol and Lazolvan to be the most effective medicines for treating wet cough in children.

Preparations based on ambroxol have almost no contraindications (with the exception of the 1st trimester of pregnancy and severe liver and kidney pathologies), but can cause side effects, for example:

  • allergic reactions;
  • skin rash and itching;
  • heartburn;
  • vomiting (rarely);
  • diarrhea.

Ambroxol is prescribed to children in the following dosages:

  • up to 2 years – 2.5 ml 2 times a day;
  • from 2 to 6 years – 2.5 ml 3 times a day;
  • from 6 to 12 years – 5 ml 3 times a day;
  • over 12 years old – 10 ml 3 times a day.

The duration of treatment is 5 days. The decision about the possibility of longer use should be made by the pediatrician.

Analogs of "Ambroxol" and "Lazolvan" are:

"Amtersol" syrup

Medicine for the treatment of cough in children over three years of age. The drug has a direct effect and irritates the mucous membranes of the bronchioles, increasing the secretion of liquid mucus. The syrup contains plant extracts (licorice root and thermopsis herb), as well as synthetic components that directly affect the bronchial tree after absorption in the gastrointestinal tract: potassium bromide and ammonium chloride. Sodium benzoate, used as a preservative, has the same effect.

The syrup is taken after meals in the following dosage:

  • from 3 to 6 years – 2.5 ml 3 times a day;
  • from 6 to 12 years – 5 ml 3 times a day;
  • over 12 years old – 7.5 ml 3 times a day.

Amtersol is usually well tolerated and causes virtually no side effects.

Codelac Broncho (without codeine)

Codelac Broncho is a drug with a combined effect that has a pronounced mucolytic and expectorant effect. Ambroxol, which is included in the composition, affects the consistency of sputum and facilitates its discharge. Other components (for example, sodium glycyrrhizinate) destroy viruses, reduce the severity of the inflammatory process and protect the respiratory tract from irritation. Codelac Broncho also contains thermopsis herb - an excellent expectorant with a pronounced irritant effect on the vomiting and respiratory centers.

This remedy is not suitable for treating children under 12 years of age, so it is rarely used in pediatric practice. The drug is prescribed with caution to children with bronchial asthma, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidney dysfunction. During treatment, the child may experience undesirable reactions that are of average intensity and, if uncomplicated, do not require discontinuation of the drug. These include:

  • stool disorders;
  • difficulty with bowel movements;
  • dryness of mucous membranes (oral cavity, respiratory organs);
  • eczema.

The dosage for adolescents is 1 tablet 3 times a day. You should not take Codelac Broncho for more than 4-5 days due to the high risk of side effects.

"GeloMyrtol"

A herbal preparation used to stop coughing in acute and chronic bronchitis. The medicine is prescribed to children starting from the age of ten. The drug can be given at night to facilitate the passage of sputum in the morning immediately after waking up.

The daily dosage of the drug depends on the form of the disease:

  • for acute bronchitis – 120 mg 5 times a day;
  • for chronic bronchitis – 120 mg 3 times a day.

If it is necessary to stimulate the removal of sputum in the morning with a chronic form of bronchitis, the child is additionally given 300 mg of GeloMyrtol.

GeloMyrtol cannot be prescribed to a child on its own, as it has serious side effects, the main one of which is an increase in the mobility of stones in the gall bladder and kidneys. If a child suffers from cholelithiasis, it is better to choose another remedy for treating cough.

"Pertussin" syrup

"Pertussin" is an effective and inexpensive cough treatment that has proven itself over several decades. Despite the huge selection of expectorant drugs, the popularity of Pertussin remains the same as many years ago. This can be explained by the safety and high effectiveness of the drug - when used correctly, the drug relieves cough in 5-7 days, is well tolerated and helps to significantly save the family budget.

The instructions for the syrup allow the use of the medicine in children over 3 years old, but pediatricians also prescribe it for children aged 1-2 years. Given the presence of ethanol in the composition, the drug should be diluted with a small amount of water (this applies to all children under the age of 5-6 years).

The Pertussin dosage regimen usually looks like this:

  • from 3 to 6 years – 2.5 ml 3 times a day;
  • from 6 to 12 years – 5-10 ml 3 times a day;
  • over 12 years old – 7.5 ml-12.5 ml 3 times a day.

If the drug must be given to a child under 3 years of age, the dosage should be reduced to 1.25 ml. You should not prescribe Pertussin to young children yourself, as this may negatively affect their health.

Expectorants for children: folk recipes

Sometimes folk methods can help cope with a cough and facilitate the removal of stagnant mucus. Experts do not recommend using alternative medicine methods without consulting your doctor, since even the most beneficial ingredients can cause unwanted reactions and affect the course of the disease. The most effective and safe expectorants for children are listed below.

Oatmeal broth with milk

One of the most effective means for removing phlegm and treating wet cough in children of any age. The recipe consists of hypoallergenic products, so the risk of allergies is minimized.

To prepare the decoction you need:

  • Peel 50 g of oat grains and pour a glass of milk;
  • cook porridge in the traditional way;
  • remove the oats and strain the resulting milk drink;
  • add a spoonful of honey and stir.

Drink the decoction several times a day, 1-2 tablespoons.

Note! Instant oats (Hercules) are not suitable for this recipe; you need to use whole oat grains that have not undergone industrial processing.

banana drink

An excellent remedy that is suitable for the treatment of pneumonia and bronchitis in the smallest and most fastidious patients. Preparing a delicious medicine is very simple:

  • put one ripe banana in a blender and add half a spoon of sugar;
  • mix everything thoroughly and pour in 100 ml of warm water or milk;
  • Stir again to distribute the sugar evenly.

The drink is ready! You need to use it 2-3 times a day. Ingredients are indicated for one serving.

Herb tea

To treat a child’s cough, you can purchase it at the Chest Collection pharmacy or prepare healthy herbal tea yourself. For one glass of boiling water you will need 5 g of coltsfoot, plantain and licorice root. You need to infuse the drink for 30 minutes (do not boil!), then strain the mixture and give it to your child to drink. If the baby refuses to drink the entire glass at once, you can divide this amount into several doses. To improve the taste of tea, you can let your baby eat a little honey or 1-2 tablespoons of raspberry jam as a dessert.

Treating a cough is not as difficult a task as it might seem at first glance. Expectorants help speed up the healing process and alleviate the condition of a small patient, but they cannot be used thoughtlessly. Parents should remember that even the most beneficial plant has side effects and contraindications, so the use of drugs in this group (including herbal tablets and syrups) is possible only as prescribed by a doctor.

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3 Comments

I bathed my babies in herbs when they were born, and it turned out they did light inhalations. When people are sick, this is how we treat cough and runny nose. Grandmothers gave me a nebulizer and some of the problems disappeared. The doctor prescribed Prospan drops for the last time and advised milk and honey at night. She's not a big fan of chemistry. This treatment helped us in 5 days.

We just use a nebulizer with saline solution, but we drink Prospan in syrup. It is delicious and cures coughs quickly enough. Well, then the mucus clears up and immediately it even becomes easier to breathe.

If you are going to give expectorants to your child, it is better not to do it at night. He can cough for half the night and still not fall asleep. At least 2-3 hours before bedtime. Otherwise, he and his parents will suffer. In my opinion, the best remedy is a decoction of coltsfoot. Both soft and effective. Health to everyone!

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Expectorants for children

You can often see parents buying cough medicine for their children at pharmacies. That’s what they say: “for cough.” Not every pharmacist, after such a request, will clarify what kind of cough it is and what the problem is. And a prescription for most of these drugs is not required at all. So moms and dads buy it because they want to do what’s best, but it’s not at all what their baby needs.

I won’t talk about all cough suppressants, there are many of them, let’s talk about expectorants and mucolytic drugs. When and why do our children need them?

What it is

Expectorants are a separate group of herbal and synthetic drugs, the main task of which is to ensure the process of removing bronchial secretions (sputum) from the respiratory tract. The body really needs the secretion; it is produced to protect the respiratory system from bacteria and viruses.

When the child is healthy, the secretion is eliminated without any problems, unnoticed by the body. But if the baby has a cold, or a foreign object is stuck in the respiratory tract, the transportation of bronchial secretions, which are produced several times more in response to pathogenic microorganisms, is disrupted. A cough appears. This condition requires the use of expectorants.

Why can't we leave everything as it is? Because bronchial secretions are an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, and such stagnation can have very disastrous consequences.

And now a short video by Dr. Komarovsky about expectorants.

All drugs of this action profile are divided into two categories:

Secretomotor. They stimulate expectoration. Some do this reflexively (irritating the cough center in the medulla oblongata), for example, licorice root or Alteyka syrup. Others increase the production of the liquid component of bronchial secretions, sputum becomes thinner and easier to remove.

Mucolytic. They act on phlegm, diluting it at the cellular level. This group also includes drugs of a new generation, mucoregulators, which increase the secretion of pulmonary surfactant and balance the liquid and mucous parts of the sputum. These are the most popular medications today, including, in particular, Bromhexine, Ambroxol, etc.

Indications for use

Expectorants are not a panacea; they only temporarily relieve symptoms without eliminating the underlying disease. Therefore, they should be used as part of complex treatment for diseases of the respiratory tract, both acute and chronic, in which the child has abundant viscous sputum, which is difficult to cough up independently. Most often, such medications are needed for bronchitis, bronchial obstruction, if the child gets the flu or ARVI and the viral infection is complicated by a secondary one.

So, to put it simply, expectorants are needed when a child’s cough is accompanied by the release of thick and viscous sputum, or the removal of sputum is difficult. These medications will be effective for wet cough, wet cough. A baby with a dry cough (barking, non-productive) does not produce sputum, and he needs other drugs - antitussives. Medicines that thin and remove mucus have proven themselves in the treatment of bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis and tracheitis.

Release forms

Modern products for thinning and removing phlegm for children are often produced in the form of syrups and drops, but they are also available in tablet form, in capsules. Quite often, pediatricians advise parents to buy their child an inhalation solution. Syrups and drops are more suitable for young children; after 6 years, tablets can be given. Doctors recommend taking capsules for children over 12 years of age.

Most syrups and mixtures with expectorant and mucolytic effects are herbal preparations or combination products containing natural herbs. Pediatricians, oddly enough, more often prescribe synthetic medications, since herbal ones can cause severe allergies.

The danger of self-medication

There are situations in which it is not worth treating a child’s wet cough on your own. It would be better to consult a specialist if your baby:
  • A wet cough does not go away for a long time (lasts more than a week and a half);
  • Severe shortness of breath appeared;
  • Temperature increased;
  • Obvious wheezing appeared when coughing;
  • Sputum with blood or green purulent impurities comes out;
  • Cough worsens at night;
  • The child complains of pain in the sternum.

Popular drugs

Brief information about them is presented in the following form:

  • Drug name
  • Action, release form
  • Age restrictions
  • Dosage

"Alteyka"

  • Secretomotor, expectorant.
  • Syrup
  • From 6 months.
  • Up to one year – 2.5 ml per dose,
  • after 1 year – 3 ml, after 5 years – 5 ml per dose.
  • The frequency of administration is 3-4 times a day.

"Mukaltin"

  • Secretolytic expectorant action.
  • Pills.
  • From birth
  • Up to 1 year - half a tablet three times a day, from 1 to 3 years - 1 tablet three times a day, from 3 to 5 years - 1.5 tablets three times a day.

"Codelac Broncho"

  • Mucolytic agent. Syrup.
  • From 3 years old.
  • Children from 3 to 6 years old - 2.5 ml of syrup three times a day,
  • children from 6 to 12 years old - 5 ml three times, from 12 years old - 10 ml four times a day.

"Gerbion" (for wet cough)

  • Mucolytic agent.
  • Syrup.
  • From 2 years old.
  • From 2 to 5 years - 2.5 ml of syrup after meals three times a day.
  • From 5 years, 5 ml of syrup three times.

"Ambroxol" ("Lazolvan")

  • Mucolytic action.
  • Syrup, solution for internal use, capsules and tablets, effervescent soluble tablets.
  • From birth - for solution, from 1 year - for syrup, from 6 years - for tablets, from 12 years - for capsules.
  • Syrup: three times a day, children under 12 years old 15 mg per dose, children over 12 years old – 30 mg.
  • Solution: two or three times a day, children under 1 year old - 1 ml, children from 1 to 5 years old - 1.5 ml, from 5 years old - 2 ml.

"Gelomirtol"

  • Mucolytic, anti-inflammatory agent.
  • Capsules and forte capsules.
  • Capsules – from 6 years,
  • Forte - from 9-10 years old.
  • Children from 6 to 10 years old take 1 capsule twice a day, in case of acute illness - three times.
  • Children from ten years old – 2 capsules 4-5 times a day.

"Bromhexine"

  • Mucolytic drug.
  • Syrup, dragees, solution for internal use, tablets. All forms have separate adult and pediatric dosages.
  • From 6 years – for dragees and tablet forms, as well as syrups.
  • From 6 months – for internal solution.
  • General dosages:
  • children under 2 years old - 2 mg three times, from 2 years old - 4 mg, from 6 years old - 8 mg, from 14 years old - adult dose.
  • Drops: up to 2 years - individually, from 2 to 5 years - 12 drops three times a day, from 5 to 9 years - 20 drops at a time three times. From the age of 10 – drop by drop.

"Amtersol"

  • Expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Syrup.
  • From 3 years old.
  • From 3 to 6 years – half a teaspoon three times a day.
  • From 6 to 12 years, a whole teaspoon three times a day.
  • For children over 12 years of age, the single dose is increased to the volume of a dessert spoon.

"ACC" ("Acetylcysteine")

  • Mucolytic action.
  • Effervescent tablets, powders for preparing hot drinks, children's powder for internal use.
  • From birth (from one and a half weeks).
  • From the 10th day of life to 2 years – 50 mg three times,
  • From 2 years to 5 years – 250 mg twice a day,
  • from 5 to 12 years – 400 mg three times a day.

"Vicks Active"

  • A combined drug of mucolytic and secretomotor action with an anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Effervescent tablets and syrup.
  • From 2 years - for effervescent tablets with a dosage of 200 mg.
  • From 14 years of age – for effervescent tablets with a dosage of 600 mg.
  • From 1 year – for syrup.
  • Daily doses of syrup:
  • children under 2 years old - 5 ml, children from 2 to 5 years old - 7.5 ml, children from 6 years old and older.
  • Effervescent tablets are dosed daily:
  • children from 2 to 6 years old - 300 mg (in 2-3 doses), children from 10 years to 10 years - 400 mg (in 2 doses).

"Fluimucil"

  • Mucolytic agent.
  • Granules for preparing a solution at home, effervescent tablets.
  • From 18 years - for effervescent tablets, from 6 years - granular form.
  • 200 mg. 2-3 times a day.

"Libexin Muco" for children

  • Mucolytic agent.
  • Syrup.
  • From 2 years old.
  • Children from 6 years old: 1 measuring spoon three times, children from 2 to 6 years old: 1 measuring spoon twice a day.

"Bronchobos"

  • Mucolytic agent.
  • Syrup.
  • From 3 years old.
  • Children from 3 to 6 years old - one measuring spoon three times a day, children from 6 years old and older - 2 measuring spoons three times a day.

"Fluifort"

  • Mucolytic drug.
  • Granules for diluting syrup and finished syrup.
  • From 1 year - for syrup, from 16 years - for granules.
  • Children from 1 to 5 years old - no more than 2.5 ml of syrup, children from 5 years old and older - 5 ml of syrup.

"Liquorice root"

  • Expectorant.
  • Syrup.
  • From birth
  • Up to 1 year, the dose is determined by the doctor.
  • From 2 to 4 years – 3 drops at a time,
  • From 5 years of age, a single dose is half a teaspoon. The syrup is diluted with water.

"Gedelix"

  • Expectorant.
  • Drops and syrup.
  • Syrup - from birth.
  • Drops - for children from 2 years old.
  • For children under 2 years of age, the dose of drops is calculated by the doctor.
  • From 2 years - 2.5 ml of syrup three times a day or 16 drops.
  • From 4 years - 5-7 ml of syrup four times a day or 21 drops three times a day.

"Doctor MOM"

  • Secretomotor, expectorant.
  • Syrup, lozenges.
  • From 3 years - for syrup.
  • From 14 years old - for lozenges.
  • The syrup is given half a teaspoon three times a day to children from 3 to 5 years old.
  • From 5 years – a teaspoon.
  • Lozenges – for children over 14 years old, 1 lozenge every two hours.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine offers an incredible selection of remedies for the treatment of damp and wet coughs in children, to facilitate the discharge of sputum. We ourselves know many of these methods from childhood, because they are practiced and passed on from generation to generation. Let's look at the main recipes from the arsenal of alternative medicine.

We invite you to look at several recipes for coughs from traditional medicine expert Olga Papsueva.

  • Turnip and black radish. These healthy vegetables have long been known as effective and inexpensive remedies for wet coughs. In order for the sputum to begin to liquefy, turnip juice must be mixed with milk and honey. The milk should be warm, not hot, otherwise all the beneficial properties of turnips and honey will be reduced to zero. You need to drink this rather tasty drink about five times a day. Turnips can be replaced with black radish. A hole is cut in the top of the vegetable, and after freeing a little of the pulp, milk and honey, previously mixed, are poured inside. Leave it for several hours and give it to the child to drink 4 times a day.
  • Aloe. If you have this beautiful plant growing at home, then treating a wet cough will be as easy as shelling pears. Take a few aloe leaves, chop as thoroughly as possible, mix with the jam that the child likes. If your baby is not allergic to bee products, add a little honey. Give your child a teaspoon of this tasty and sweet mixture after each meal. Your child will like this healing dessert, and the mucolytic effect will become noticeable within a couple of days after starting the intake.
  • Figs It is included in many pharmaceutical mucolytic and expectorant syrups. At home, their figs are used to prepare a milk-based drink. Heat 2 cups milk (skim milk will not work). Add 1-2 figs with warm milk and simmer covered over low heat for about 20 minutes. After the fig drink has infused, it can be given to children a quarter of a glass during the day and half a glass before bed. Such doses are appropriate for children who are already 3 years old; for younger children, the fig drink is dosed in tablespoons (two before bedtime and one during the day).
  • Onion. This vegetable, which is not the most favorite among children, copes well with productive coughs and overcomes expectorant coughs without fever. To prepare the medicine, take half a kilo of onion, chop it as finely as possible, add a liter of boiling water and let it brew. After the liquid has cooled, strain and add 100 grams of honey and a little badger fat. Due to the possibility of developing an allergic reaction to the components, this product is not usually used for children under 4 years of age. Before bed, give your child half a glass of onion drink. It will not be bitter and disgusting, because all the bitterness will disappear during infusion, and a pleasant taste will appear with the addition of honey.
  • Milk with soda. Add a pinch of soda, a piece of butter and a spoon of honey to half a liter of warm milk. Mix everything thoroughly and give it to the child to drink before bed. Our grandmothers and mothers were inseparable from this recipe; each of us had to drink milk with butter at least once in childhood, remember? This is a very powerful phlegm thinner that works after just 2-3 doses.
  • Birch sap with milk. Add one part of birch sap to warm milk (2 parts). Gently add a teaspoon of flour to a glass of liquid and, stirring continuously, bring to a boil. Then cool and let the child drink this thick, but quite tasty drink, which tastes like milk jelly. This remedy can be given up to 3 times a day.

Other methods

Chest charges No. 1,2,3,4

In order not to have to mix herbs in the required proportions, especially if you are not a herbalist or a pharmacist, it makes sense to buy ready-made cough preparations at the pharmacy. There are four collections in total, different in composition, but approximately the same in effectiveness and scope of application.

Each of them, with certain restrictions, can be used for wet coughs to facilitate the removal of sputum in a child.

  • Collection No. 1 - oregano, marshmallow root, coltsfoot (leaves) is not often recommended for children, since it contains oregano, which in pediatrics is usually used exclusively externally.
  • Collection No. 2 – licorice root, plantain, coltsfoot. This collection is used carefully so as not to cause allergies in the child.
  • Collection No. 3 – pine buds, sage, marshmallow root and anise. This remedy is usually brewed for children from 7 years of age.
  • Collection No. 4 – wild rosemary, chamomile, violet, mint, licorice root and calendula. This complex collection with a large number of components is not recommended for young children. Age limit: 10 years and older.

The mixture should be brewed carefully, following the instructions; exceeding the dose is prohibited, as this may negatively affect the child’s health.

Massage

Without it, it is sometimes difficult for small children to cope with a wet cough. Drainage and vibration massage will help the discharge of bronchial secretions. It is usually performed on very young patients, from 3 months to 1 year. The baby perceives stroking and light tapping on the back and chest as a game; this procedure is painless. There is no need to do massage from the first day of illness; the time for it will come when the acute phase of the illness has passed (4-6 days).

A visual aid by Dr. Komarovsky on how to massage a child when he or she coughs.

Vibration massage for an infant, associated with light tapping with the fingertips, is accessible to every mother, but effective drainage massage must be done according to certain rules. However, caring parents are able to master them too.

Compresses

Our great-grandmothers also noticed that respiratory diseases can be cured by external influence. Therefore, recipes for compresses and rubdowns for wet coughs are already thousands of years old. The most famous is badger fat, which was slightly melted in a water bath without allowing it to boil. The fatty substance is mixed with honey, some healers advise adding a little vodka. This warm mixture is rubbed on the chest, upper back and sides an hour before bedtime. Cover with a warm blanket or towel and leave for 40 minutes.

Camphor alcohol is also used as a rubbing agent if the child is already 1 year old.

Potato compress is made from boiled potatoes in their jackets. It is mashed into a puree, placed on gauze, wrapped on both sides and applied to the sternum and on the child’s back for an hour. Make sure your baby doesn't get burned.

A visual aid on how to make a potato compress for a child when he or she coughs.

General recommendations

  • Mucolytic and expectorant drugs should never be taken simultaneously with antitussives! These are drugs whose essence of action is diametrically opposite.
  • You should not use expectorants without a doctor's recommendation. This is especially true for children who have not yet turned 2 years old and children who are prone to allergies. The fact is that many syrups and mixtures contain herbal extracts and food colorings, as well as flavoring additives, which can be quite allergenic and cause bronchial spasm. This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to suffocation.
  • Parents are often concerned with the question of how quickly an expectorant medicine will work? Most of the drugs listed above begin to demonstrate a pronounced effect within minutes after administration. The effect of modern mucolytic drugs lasts 9-12 hours. No one can tell you for sure how long the effect of folk remedies lasts, because herbs and vegetable juices affect everyone differently.
  • When treating with traditional methods, remember that decoctions of herbs that have an expectorant effect can be given for internal use only to children over six months old.
  • If, with home treatment with alternative medicine, improvement does not occur within 7 days, you should definitely contact a pediatrician and pulmonologist for a thorough examination and prescription of drug treatment.

Komarovsky about expectorant medications

Evgeny Komarovsky, a recognized pediatrician of the highest qualification category, and a favorite of most mothers in Russia and the former Soviet republics, believes that expectorant medications should not be used at all for children under one year of age. The reason lies in the physiological characteristics of an infant - the baby does not yet know how to breathe the way adults do, he has a slightly different way of transporting bronchial secretions, and drugs that dilute sputum will increase its amount, and it will become difficult for the baby to breathe, and there will be mucus only accumulate in the bronchi, threatening the development of severe pneumonia.

Evgeniy Olegovich generally does not recommend that parents independently prescribe and choose such medications for their children. After all, mom and dad can make a mistake about the nature of the cough and only harm their beloved child with mucolytics.

The full episode of Doctor Komarovsky’s program dedicated to cough treatment.

A well-known doctor advises relieving a child’s wet cough without medication by providing the baby with proper care, including humidification of the air in the apartment, plenty of warm drinks, which should be dominated by berry fruit drinks, compotes, tea, which will help thin the sputum and certain efforts by adults aimed at to teach the child to expectorate phlegm correctly as early as possible.

The best remedy for treatment, according to Komarovsky, is a correct lifestyle, a healthy diet, exercise, and parents’ lack of addiction to medications. Children's immunity will work correctly if they do not drink different pills and mixtures too often and in handfuls.

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