Anti-phlegm remedy for children

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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.

Table of contents:

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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Safe expectorants for children of different ages

Among expectorants and phlegm thinners, you can find herbal and synthetic preparations. It is recommended to use any antitussive for children only after examination by a pediatrician, since cough can be caused by various diseases of the respiratory tract, which can only be diagnosed by a competent specialist. And each medication has its own contraindications and also has many side effects. We are talking not only about synthetic products, but also about herbal ones. Although many parents have a common misconception about the absolute harmlessness of drugs made on a natural basis.

Expectorants for children under one year of age

Particular attention should be paid to children under one year of age, since due to their young age they cannot cough and get rid of sputum on their own. Young patients can be helped with mucolytic and expectorant medications. Anti-cough medications for infants should be selected based on the causes of its occurrence. Most often, the culprits are ARVI infections, which cause damage to both the upper and lower respiratory tract. Other reasons are heart defects, abnormal development of the digestive system, as well as various external factors such as dry indoor air, the presence of tobacco smoke, etc.

With colds and viral infections of the body, children usually experience a dry cough, but only at the very early stage of the disease. After one or two days, abundant sputum appears, which accumulates in the respiratory system and causes anxiety in the baby, sleep disturbances and feeding problems. This condition requires examination of the child by a pediatrician and the prescription of an effective medication. Lack of timely treatment can lead to disastrous consequences for the child.

The main function performed by expectorant medications is to liquefy and remove accumulations of sputum, which is a source of infection for the entire body. It is important to understand that such drugs do not eliminate the cause of the disease, but are the main component in the complex therapy prescribed by the pediatrician. For infants under one year of age, you should choose the most gentle and effective means to prevent negative effects on their health.

In most cases, doctors recommend the following medications for children under one year of age:

  1. Gedelix is ​​available in the form of syrup or cough drops. It consists of ivy leaf extract and does not contain any harmful impurities or preservatives, alcohol or dyes. This medicine can be given to babies without fear from birth, but for very young children it is better to dilute it with a small amount of boiled water before use.
  2. Ambroxol in the form of syrup is effective against viscous, difficult to separate mucus. This drug perfectly dilutes and removes mucus from the respiratory system. To help your baby recover faster, it is recommended to often give him warm drinks along with Ambroxol.
  3. Lazolvan is approved for use in children from six months. The course of treatment should be no more than five days.
  4. Bronchicum contains thyme; the medicine is effective for both dry and wet coughs. Can only be given from six months of age.
  5. Ambrobene syrup is suitable for use in children from the first month of life. Copes well with viscous and thick sputum.
  6. Linkas not only thins and removes mucus from the child’s bronchi, but also has an analgesic effect and relieves sore throat. This drug can be used to treat babies from the age of six months.
  7. A good expectorant for children under one year of age is a dry cough mixture, which comes in the form of a water-soluble powder.

What to do if your baby does not cough up sputum

Problems with expectoration of sputum in young children is a very common phenomenon that requires special attention. Parents must understand that the respiratory muscles of a child at such an early age are imperfect, which is why difficulties arise with the removal of mucus accumulated in the bronchi.

The first step is to visit a doctor to find out the exact cause of a wet or dry cough.

Treatment with the prescribed drug should be started immediately in order to prevent complications for the child’s health. Situations often arise in which the effect of medications on the child’s body is insufficient. Then it is necessary to take additional measures to alleviate the child’s condition and speed up his recovery. We are talking about the following auxiliary treatment methods:

  • drainage massage;
  • folk expectorants.

Drainage massage is indicated only in the absence of fever. This is a very effective and proven way to combat wet cough in children.

As for traditional medicine, there are many effective remedies of natural origin that have a positive effect on the child’s body. Using this method in combination with drug therapy, you can quickly cure a child’s cough by eliminating excess phlegm from his respiratory organs. These include medicinal herbs, milk and honey, as well as various natural juices and syrups, compresses or applications, etc.

Another danger for a child is the likelihood of an allergic reaction to one or another expectorant drug, since most modern cough medicines have a very complex composition, which includes a large number of both natural beneficial and artificial, sometimes toxic, components.

Expectorants for children over 2 years old

Treatment of cough in children is very serious and responsible. And if in infants it is preferable to refrain from using medications unless clearly necessary, then starting from the age of two, many medications can be used with less danger. But this does not mean that it is possible to treat your baby on your own without consulting a specialist. Self-medication is unacceptable in any case, since only a doctor can prescribe the most effective remedy, based on the causes of cough, test results, the age of the small patient and the characteristics of his growth and development.

In some cases, you can get rid of unfavorable symptoms with the help of drinking plenty of fluids, traditional methods and massage. But often there is a need to use cough syrups for children.

Medicines are divided into expectorant medicines, consisting of natural herbal ingredients that increase the volume of sputum, and mucolytic medicines, which have thinning properties. Mucolytics are permissible for use only in children over two years of age. The most common drugs:

All of these drugs are inexpensive but very effective. They dilute viscous sputum well and promote its better removal naturally. Almost all medicines for children are produced in the form of pleasant-tasting fruit-flavored syrups, which greatly simplifies the difficult treatment process.

Expectorant herbs for children

Various medicinal plants give good results, from which you can prepare decoctions or teas yourself. The following herbs are famous for their excellent healing and expectorant properties:

All these plants not only help to cope with adverse symptoms in children and eliminate wet coughs, but also have an overall positive effect on the body and strengthen the immune system.

But herbal treatment should be carried out only on the recommendation of a pediatrician in the dosages indicated by him. In other cases, there is a high risk of developing an allergic reaction, or a reverse effect and deterioration in the child’s health.

Other folk methods

The effectiveness of alternative medicine in treating a large number of diseases has been tested repeatedly. Compared to medications, folk remedies have many advantages, including a fairly mild and gentle effect on the child, a minimum number of restrictions and contraindications, the absence of side effects, etc.

The most popular recipes for expectorating phlegm and eliminating cough:

  1. Boil one fig in 500 ml for ten minutes. milk. Give the resulting mixture hot to the child.
  2. Boil a few crushed cloves of garlic in a small amount of milk, strain, cool and take one large spoon every two hours.
  3. Mix black radish juice with natural honey.
  4. Prepare an infusion of several herbs, for example, chamomile, thyme, anise, wild rosemary, etc.
  5. In the absence of fever, it is useful to make compresses on the chest using boiled mashed potatoes, honey, alcohol, mustard powder, etc.
  6. For older children, you can do inhalations using a nebulizer, or let your baby breathe in the vapors of boiled potatoes. Such procedures can only be carried out if the body temperature is not elevated.

Despite the fact that alternative methods of therapy are quite safe, you should not rely on them completely and neglect drug treatment. The pediatrician must be aware of all measures taken to improve the child’s health, and without his permission, using this or that folk expectorant is strongly not recommended.

In order for the results of complex therapy to be positive, it is necessary to maintain a drinking regime, because drinking large amounts of warm liquids accelerates the process of liquefaction and removal of mucus from the bronchi. It is also necessary to maintain a normal level of humidity in the room, periodically ventilate the rooms, and carry out wet cleaning daily.

From a very early age, children need to be hardened, their immune system strengthened, and they need to see a doctor on time. Preventing colds will help avoid serious consequences for the child’s health.

We recommend reading

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How to use Althea cough syrup correctly

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Helpful advice

Citrus fruits help strengthen the immune system, but they are not always allowed to be consumed if you have lung diseases. Consult your healthcare provider for clarification.

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The best phlegm thinners: types and features of use

During the cold season, against the background of a weakened immune system, colds develop, which are often accompanied by a cough. Mucolytics are used to thin sputum.

Description and significance of sputum thinners

Mucolytic drugs are drugs that thin sputum and facilitate its release.

Many respiratory diseases occur when an infectious or allergic agent is ingested. In this case, the mucous membrane of the bronchi begins to intensively produce mucus, as a result of which sputum is expelled during coughing. The secreted mucus protects the bronchial tree and helps eliminate harmful microorganisms.

If the sputum is clear and viscous, then this is due to an allergy. Liquid and transparent mucus indicates a viral infection, while thick yellow-green mucus indicates a bacterial process.

All products intended for the removal of sputum are divided into direct and indirect mucolytics and muconethics.

Mucolytics are used to thin sputum, and mucolytics are used to improve its discharge. Mucolytic agents are prescribed for dry cough. Such drugs cannot be used for wet coughs, as increased mucus formation occurs. As a result, the patient will not have time to spit out sputum.

Indirect mucolytics are used to reduce mucus secretion, while direct ones thin mucus and eliminate the inflammatory process. After using the mucolytic, attacks of suffocation and cough symptoms are eliminated. After the action of the drug, the sputum becomes thinner, making it easier to pass away. The main purpose of mucolytic drugs is to give the patient the opportunity to cough and spit out mucus.

Mucolytics for adults: types and application

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the correctness of the selected drug

Medicines that thin phlegm are available in various dosages and forms. The selection of a mucolytic is carried out by a doctor, taking into account the patient’s age, individual characteristics and condition.

For adults, the following drugs are prescribed:

  • ACC. The drug has a pronounced mucolytic effect and stimulates the motor function of the bronchopulmonary system. The active ingredient is acetylcysteine. The drug has weak anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antitussive effects. Available in the form of granules for the preparation of syrup, solution or effervescent tablets with a dosage of the active substance of 100 and 200 mg. For adults, 2 tablets with a dose of 100 mg are prescribed 2 or 3 times a day or 1 tablet 3 times a day with a dose of 200 mg.
  • Codelac Broncho. The drug contains ambroxol, thermopsis extract and other components. Thanks to these substances, the viscosity of sputum decreases and sputum production increases. It is recommended to take the drug with meals: one tablet 3 times a day. It is important to know that using the medicine for more than 5 days is prohibited.
  • Lazolvan. The drug has a mucolytic and expectorant effect. Available in the form of lozenges, tablets, solution for inhalation and oral administration, syrup. Dosage for adults – 1 tablet or 2 lozenges 3 times a day. Lazolvan syrup is consumed before each meal, 5 and 10 ml, depending on the dosage of the active substance.
  • Fluimucil. A drug with the active ingredient acetylcysteine, which thins sputum and increases its volume. The granules are dissolved in 1/3 cup of warm boiled water.
  • Bronchoval. A drug from the benzylamine group with a mucolytic effect. The active substance is ambroxol. The drug promotes the removal of thick mucus during a productive cough. To treat cough, take 1 tablet after meals 3 times a day or 10 ml of Bronchoval syrup, which is 2 measuring spoons.

There are analogues of these drugs: Cofacin, Ambrosan, Mukosol, Flavamed and others. When choosing a drug, the doctor takes into account the patient’s condition and other diseases for which certain medications cannot be used.

Mucus thinners in children

Only a doctor can prescribe safe treatment for cough in children.

When a child coughs, herbal preparations are used:

  • Mukaltin. This expectorant eliminates cough, increases the secretion of sputum, thinning and facilitating its removal. In addition, the drug has enveloping and anti-inflammatory effects. The active ingredient of the drug is marshmallow extract. For the treatment of respiratory diseases, tablets are not prescribed to children under one year of age. Children under 3 years old are prescribed 1/2 tablet three times a day, and over 3 years old are given 1-2 tablets.
  • Pertussin. A combined herbal-synthetic preparation, which includes liquid extract of creeping thyme, potassium bromide, ethyl alcohol and sugar syrup. Used for treatment of children over 3 years old, 2.5 ml. From 6 to 12 years, the dosage is increased to 5-10 ml.
  • Stoptussin phyto. A popular herbal preparation based on herbal extracts of thyme, plantain and thyme. Cough syrup is given after meals, a teaspoon three times a day to children 1-5 years old, and the dosage is increased to 2 teaspoons for children from 6 years old.
  • Bronchicum. A combined drug that has mucolytic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is used to treat dry and wet cough. The composition contains exclusively plant components.
  • Among the drugs with the active ingredient ambroxol, children are prescribed Ambrohexal, Ambrobene, Lazolvan, etc.
  • Among the mucoregulators used to restore the bronchial mucosa are: Mucopront, Mucodin, Bronkatar, etc.

Use of mucolytics during pregnancy: dangerous or not

Coughing during pregnancy is not uncommon, especially in winter, when the risk of developing respiratory diseases is quite high. This symptom must be eliminated, since coughing spasms increase the tone of the uterus.

Since most drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy due to their negative effect on the fetus, mucolytics are prescribed only when indicated. The choice of drug for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract is determined taking into account the duration of pregnancy. For severe attacks of dry cough in the first trimester, taking mucolytics is contraindicated. In the third trimester, use is permitted after examination of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Among bronchosecretolytic agents, pregnant women can use:

It should be remembered that Bromhexine and Lazolvan should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the baby’s organs are developing. In the second and third trimester, the drug is prescribed only according to indications.

Mucolytic agents with the active ingredient acetylcysteine ​​are strictly prohibited for use at any stage of pregnancy.

At home, it is useful to carry out inhalations using Chymotrypsin, essential oils or soda. In order to prevent the development of colds and possible complications associated with them, the expectant mother must take care of her health and the health of the baby.

Benefits of treatment

Preparations for thinning sputum help to cure the disease faster

Mucolytic drugs have a complex effect in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and bronchospasmolytic effects. Also, drugs based on acetylcysteine ​​and ambroxol restore the function of the bronchial tree and normalize gas exchange in the lungs.

Medicines have an antioxidant cytoprotective effect, protecting cells from the possible effects of free radicals. Preparations containing the active ingredient ambroxol increase the concentration of antibiotics in tissues. This allows you to avoid increased doses and reduce adverse reactions after taking antibiotics.

Many phlegm thinners are of plant origin, so they can be used to treat children from 3 months of age.

The need for the use of mucolytic drugs has been proven by many scientists when carrying out complex treatment of patients with bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory tract diseases that are accompanied by sputum production.

Contraindications and side effects

Side effects may occur if mucus thinners are used incorrectly

Preparations containing the active substance ambroxol should not be used during pregnancy. Mucolytics pass into breast milk, but there is no data on the harmful effects of the drug on the baby.

Medicines containing acetylcysteine ​​as the active ingredient should not be used if the patient has a stomach or duodenal ulcer. It should be remembered that the drugs should not be used in children in the form of effervescent tablets. Codelac is contraindicated for use in bronchial asthma and respiratory failure.

Herbal preparations have virtually no contraindications, with the exception of hypersensitivity to certain substances. Mucaltin is not prescribed for thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, and severe forms of renal failure. Due to the presence of sugar syrup in Pertussin, it is not used for treatment in children with diabetes. It should also not be used by pregnant or lactating women, those with liver disease or heart failure.

In most cases, when used correctly, mucolytics are well tolerated by patients.

All mucolytic drugs can cause allergic reactions to certain components of the drug.

More information about cough treatment can be found in the video:

In rare cases, gastrointestinal upset may occur: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn and other symptoms. Sometimes, while taking mucolytics, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and tachycardia may appear. It is important to remember that all medications are incompatible with alcoholic beverages.

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Comments (4)

10/23/2016 at 11:05 pm | #

As a child, I was treated for a dry cough with Mucaltin and Pertussin. Excellent tools. perfectly liquefied phlegm. Now. When I’m sick, I drink Lazolvan more often: it copes with phlegm faster.

Olga

01/09/2017 at 22:13 | #

Prospan helps me with dry cough. The syrup has a gentle effect on coughs and promotes the removal of sputum. It is enough to drink it for 5 days and the cough will go away.

03/14/2017 at 11:07 | #

Prospan in drops suited me better. I dissolve it in water and drink it. I also read that they are added to the nebulizer, I also want to try this to cure a cough.

Inna Frolova

04/10/2017 at 18:09 | #

It’s been 2 years since I switched to inhalation treatment. The doctor selected natural Prospan drops. We bought a nebulizer specifically and we don’t get sick so often.

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We help remove mucus from the child’s bronchi: basic methods

Only at an early stage, in the first few days, bronchitis occurs without a cough or with a dry, unproductive cough. After this, the bronchi begin to actively and in significant volumes produce sputum, which is not always easily separated. And if the secretion is poorly removed and stagnates in the bronchi, then it blocks their lumen, interferes with normal breathing, and pathogenic microbes accumulate in it. This makes it difficult to fight the infection and the recovery process is delayed.

The problem of insufficient sputum discharge is especially pronounced in young children. To remove it from the child’s bronchi, additional efforts must be made.

Why do children have trouble releasing sputum?

Increased sputum production is a normal reaction to respiratory inflammation at any age. The mucous secretion of the bronchi serves as a barrier to viruses, bacteria, and foreign substances, preventing them from penetrating deeper. Normally, the activation of sputum production is accompanied by more active work of the epithelial cilia, which cover the inner surface of the bronchi. They push mucus up and out, preventing it from accumulating and stagnating.

But in children, the structure and functioning of the respiratory and nervous systems have their own characteristics, which make it more difficult to remove mucus from the bronchi. Features of childhood bronchitis are the following factors:

  1. Children's sputum contains less protein with bactericidal properties, and the body tries to compensate for the reduced protective characteristics of mucus with its quantity. Children with bronchitis produce more of it than adults.
  2. The sputum of babies is characterized by increased viscosity and density; microorganisms are well retained in it, but are poorly neutralized; the high density of mucus makes it difficult for the cilia to remove it. Lingering in the bronchi, sputum with a high concentration of microbes becomes a source of secondary infection.
  3. The cough reflex is just developing at an early age; it is still imperfect; infants simply do not know how to cough up phlegm.
  4. Coughing requires significant effort from the baby; muscle tension during and after a prolonged coughing attack can lead to obstruction of the bronchi, narrowing of their lumen, and this is an additional obstacle to the removal of bronchial secretions.
  5. The bronchial mucosa in a child is overly sensitive to irritants and is characterized by an increased tendency to swelling, which in turn also contributes to the narrowing of the lumen and worsens the discharge of mucus.

One of the main tasks in the treatment of bronchitis in a child is to liquefy viscous sputum and stimulate its removal from the bronchi. For this purpose, medications are used and special procedures are performed.

Mucolytic and expectorant agents for children

Drugs that help rid the bronchi of excess mucus can enter the body in different ways:

  • oral administration - children in this form take mainly syrups, as well as herbal decoctions;
  • in the form of inhalations - the active substances are delivered directly to the bronchi, and their undesirable effects on the digestive system are also limited. But inhalations with expectorants and mucolytic drugs are recommended for children after 5-6 years of age;
  • in the form of intravenous or intramuscular injections, such drugs are rarely used, mainly in the treatment of weakened, premature infants. The indication for such use is, as a rule, not bronchitis, but severe respiratory failure not associated with the accumulation of sputum - respiratory distress syndrome.

There are several groups and many forms of drugs to facilitate the removal of sputum, not all of them are used in pediatrics. So:

  • herbal preparations based on thermopsis are contraindicated for children under 12 years of age; they are dangerous because they can cause respiratory depression;
  • Do not use reflex expectorants that irritate the gastric mucosa and vomiting center when treating children under 2 years of age. They increase the volume of sputum produced, and the child’s body is already unable to cope with its elimination;
  • It is preferable to take expectorants that act directly on the bronchial mucosa and stimulate the activity of the epithelium. But they are not effective enough for thick, difficult to separate sputum;
  • Mucolytics help children well, changing the composition of sputum, making it less viscous. Most drugs combine mucolytic and expectorant effects; this is the optimal solution.

The most popular medications for removing phlegm

Herbal syrups are effective when you need to remove phlegm from the bronchi. In addition, they often have a bactericidal effect. It is not advisable to give children syrups that contain ethyl alcohol.

Effective medicines are:

  • Alteika - a syrup based on marshmallow root, thyme herb and a number of other plant components, reduces the viscosity of sputum, stimulates its secretion and excretion, and relieves inflammation. Can be prescribed to children up to one year old, up to 6 years old, diluted with water;
  • Bronchicum S - combined action syrup with thyme extract, contains ethanol, can be used from 6 months;
    • Prospan is an expectorant and phlegm-thinning syrup with ivy extract. Indicated for children after one year;
  • Doctor Mom - contains extracts of more than a dozen plants and levomenthol, has an expectorant effect, is prescribed to children from 3 years of age.

Of the synthetic drugs, the most popular are ambroxol, bromhexine, acetylcysteine, and combination drugs are also used:

  • Ambroxol (Lazolvan, Ambrobene), Bromhexine are mucolytics with an expectorant effect. Syrups can be used in the treatment of children under 2 years of age, solutions for inhalation - from 5 years of age;
  • Coldrex broncho is an expectorant with synthetic and herbal components, available in the form of syrup, can be prescribed to children from 3 years of age;
  • Pertusin - contains potassium bromide and thyme extract, combined effect, suitable for early ages, available in the form of syrup and solution;
  • ACC (Fluimucil, Vicks active) is a mucolytic in the form of effervescent tablets, powders, granules, not intended for children under 2 years of age.

Mucaltin, Bromhexine, Solvin tablets or Bronchicum S lozenges are not recommended for treating children under 6 years of age. In the treatment of young children, Prospan and Tussamag drops are recommended to be diluted with water, and Bronchosan can be given from 3 years of age, dripping onto sugar.

For inhalation, solutions of Ambroxol, Bromhexine, as well as sodium bicarbonate mineral water Borjomi or Narzan can be used. They help remove mucus from the bronchi. Pediatricians often recommend dry cough medicine, an expectorant with sodium bicarbonate, licorice and marshmallow extracts, and anise oil to treat a child.

Other effective methods

To treat bronchitis in children and improve sputum discharge, folk remedies are used, for example, warm milk with the addition of butter or goat fat, soda; a mixture of honey with radish, onion or garlic juice; puree syrup made from bananas, boiling water and sugar. You can give your child infusions of medicinal herbs or use them for steam inhalations.

The expectorant effect is:

  • plantain leaf, coltsfoot;
  • herb wild rosemary, thyme;
  • marshmallow roots, licorice;
  • breast fees.

In addition to medications and traditional medications, postural drainage is very effective. After this procedure, bronchial secretions are released much more actively. On the eve of the procedure, it is necessary to give the little patient expectorants, if age permits, perform inhalation, and give him a good drink. During the execution, the head of the lying child should be lowered.

The postural drainage technique involves alternating actions between the massage therapist and the patient, but for young children it has its own characteristics; it is dominated by tapping and vibration massage. Older children should do breathing exercises and cough. In children, you have to induce a reflex cough by pressing on the root of the tongue. The optimal method for a specific age and characteristics of the course of bronchitis should be recommended by a doctor.

To facilitate the breathing of a child with bronchitis and cleanse his body of toxins, it is necessary to stimulate a more active discharge of sputum from the bronchi.

This can be achieved by taking expectorants and mucolytic drugs orally, performing inhalations, and special massage. Mucus is removed much better after a warm alkaline drink; in addition, humidifying the air in the room also plays a huge role.

We recommend reading: important help for a child - how to strengthen the bronchi and avoid bronchitis.

Author: infectious disease doctor, Memeshev Shaban Yusufovich

Thank you very much for collecting all the necessary information. We got sick a couple of days ago, and I found this article just in time. Immediately there was a dull dry cough. We immediately started doing inhalations with Borjomi, drinking teas and warm milk with honey and bought Bronchicum S. Firstly, I liked that the included ingredients are all natural, and secondly, both me and my son can take it (after all, it’s a savings). The child takes the syrup without problems, the taste is pleasant. Following your advice, I tried massage. My son has already started coughing up mucus, it seems to me that this is a good result. Thank you, even the doctor said that we were doing everything right.

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.

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