Cough

The content in this article is only a guide. It is strongly recommended that the status of your child should be assessed by a suitably qualified, health professional, especially if the patient suffers from any other medical condition or are taking other medicines. This article should not be used, in any capacity, as a means of self-diagnosing or self-prescribing. Your local pharmacist is accessible without the need for an appointment. Always read the instructions of any medications that you are using.

What is a cough?

The cough is a reflex that is stimulated by irritation of the mucosa of Airways in the lungs, trachea (windpipe) and the pharynx (throat). The cough reflex is a protective mechanism. It is the attempt by the body to clear the airway pollutants. Therefore, if this is the case, we really want to stop the coughing? The answer is Yes and no.

Generally the cough falls under two categories; productive or non-productive commonly described as dry or chesty respectively. Identify which type of your child has a cough, is important in deciding whether we want the cough to stop or not. This affects directly the type of medication, that the child will need.

Cough (Non-productive)

As the name suggests a hacking cough does not produce sputum. It is often described as "irritant" or, as mentioned earlier, "dry". In most cases the cause of this type of cough is not due to an infection, although this must be considered along with other symptoms. In some cases, the patient may request that the cough is dry, but can feel phlegm on his chest there. If this is the case, then it is better to consider this as a chesty cough (productive).

Generally dry cough are irritating to the child and those around them. The causes may be due to many reasons, such as the change in temperature, dry atmosphere, pollution and secondhand smoke. In some cases it may be due to reactions to the drug, but this is more applicable in adults. Sometimes A cough can be attributed to asthma, especially if it is annoying at night, but this is not always the case. If you are interested, to book an appointment with your local doctor's check-out.

Treatment

Your local pharmacist will be able to advise you on drugs would be appropriate if any. Moreover, they may decide that the child would need to consult a doctor. Will ask some questions to determine the result. In general, if there is no reason for concern, the pharmacist can prescribe a sedative or a cough linctus. Nowadays there are many cough medications to choose from, but always ask your pharmacist which one is the most suitable, if applicable. Many of them have more than one combination, such as adding an antihistamine, which not only helps to suppress coughs, but can also suppress the child allowing them a good night's sleep. Cough medicines with antihistamines may also be useful if there are any nasal secretions associated with, since this dry and prevent causing post nasal drip (mucus dripping from the back of the nose throat) that, in itselfcan initiate a cough.

Chesty Cough (productive)

Chesty Cough generally produce sputum or phlegm. Identifying the color of this phlegm pharmacist may be able to decide if a postponement is necessary or not. Unless the product in large quantities, sputum clear or white can be generally considered as unimportant. Thanks to the presence of phlegm, medical treatment is different from that of dry cough. As you can imagine, if it were to be given in this case a cough suppressant, then would not phlegm. In this case it is desirable for the cough continue to allow your child to remove phlegm. I've heard "but only going back because he/she gulps!" The fact is that when your child cough up the phlegm is removed from the Airways and is swallowed into the stomach through the tube.

Treatment

Once your local pharmacist is easily accessible without an appointment for a consultation to any treatment, referral or advice. Sometimes the child may need antibiotics if it is due to an infection, but this is not always the case. Unfortunately, many of us believe that antibiotics is the solution for most diseases of our children. This is not the case and may in fact be harmful to the wider community. When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, bacteria can build up an immunity against the antibiotic. This is starting to cause problems because the bacteria are becoming, so one can say, stronger! The pharmacist or your doctor will let you know if antibiotics may be needed.

So what do we do when our baby has a chesty cough? Well, if there are no cases which concern an expectorant can be of some use. Apparently these help to break ties in the phlegm so facilitating its expulsion from the cough reflex. As is the case with many cough remedies, there are many combinations. Some expectorant contain antihistamines once again. This may at first seem desirable because it will help the baby to sleep, but the antihistamine may have some suppressive activity that may contribute to cough to keep some of phlegm. Also can dry the phlegm slightly making it more difficult to cough.

Give them plenty of water for drinking and the use of something like Karvol can be useful.

Conclusion

It is important to identify the type of your child has a cough. Always ask your pharmacist for advice before buying anything, since in some cases, the referral may be required. There are many terms for reference, so it's not included in this article and have left them to your local pharmacist. Remember, that antibiotics is not always the solution and can cause unnecessary problems. Recently, pharmacists are now part of a "minor disturbance regime." Ask your local pharmacist if they participate in this scheme. It involves the pharmacist to assess your child's condition and, if appropriate, may prescribe medicines for your child for free, or consult your doctor, whatever the case may be.

Just to reinforce! Always ask a qualified health professional if you are buying medicines that are suitable. In most cases, treatment is symptomatic, meaning that only the symptoms can be treated, as the disease takes its natural course.