How can you cure a child's wet cough? Creating favorable conditions. Inhalations for wet cough in children

Cough is a protective reaction of the body to an irritant. They can act as a provocateur external factors(smoke, dust, strong perfume) or internal (infectious diseases and pathologies respiratory tract). Each cough is individual.

One symptom should be eliminated, while the other should, on the contrary, be provoked. Treatment options always depend on individual characteristics the patient’s body and the cause of the cough.

Expectorants for wet coughs are prescribed everywhere. Most medications are included in the over-the-counter list. It is important to correctly distinguish wet cough from dry, since their treatment is completely different. With a wet cough, the following symptoms are noted:

  • a person coughs, making gurgling sounds;
  • sputum comes out with to varying degrees intensity (productive or difficult);
  • increases in the morning, after waking up;
  • When listening to breathing with a fanendoscope, wheezing and whistles are heard.

A wet cough appears due to illness lower sections respiratory system: chronic, acute, infectious or somatic.

Expectorants: classification of drugs

Expectorants are called complexes medicines, the purpose of which is to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.

IN in good condition this process proceeds independently. The speed of mucus movement through the bronchi varies from 0.4 to 2 cm per minute. If this process is disrupted, doctors prescribe expectorant medications to the patient.

Drugs have many classifications. They differ in their operating principle:

  1. stimulants (reflex and resorptive);
  2. secretolytic (proteolytics, cysteines, mucoregulators).

Medicines are produced in different forms: tablets, suspensions, concentrates, inhalation solutions. The basis of medicines can be herbal or synthetic. The best expectorant is selected individually for each patient.

Drugs that stimulate the cough reflex

Stimulating medications accelerate the removal of mucus from the bronchi, thereby relieving inflammation and hastening the moment of recovery. The use of this group of drugs is advisable for non-viscous and thin sputum.

All stimulant medications, in turn, are divided into two subgroups:

  1. reflex
  2. resorptive

Reflex medicines

Reflex-stimulating drugs have expectorant effect:

  • dilute gastric mucus, which provokes irritation of vomiting and coughing;
  • high activity of the medulla oblongata provokes additional synthesis bronchial mucus;
  • as a result, the frequency of coughing increases.

Medicines have a short duration of action and therefore require frequent re-doses. Consuming large amounts may cause nausea accompanied by vomiting.

Trade names and active ingredients of reflex-stimulating expectorants
Trade namesApplicationUseful actionContraindications
Mukaltin, Althea Root, Alteyka (syrup)Bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, emphysemaStimulates bronchiole peristalsis, providing an anti-inflammatory effectUlcer, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, children under 3 years of age, lactation period
Thermopsol, Codelac Broncho (without codeine), Cough tabletsBronchitis, tracheobronchitis, difficult separation of sputum from the bronchial wallsThe high content of alkaloids provokes a cough reflex, irritating the respiratory centerPregnancy, lactation period, children under 3 years of age, stomach ulcer
Chest collection (1, 2, 3, 4), Expectorant collection, Bronchofit, Plantain syrup, Stoptussin phytoAcute and chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, tracheobronchitisHerbs stimulate secretolytic activity, facilitate sputum separation, and relieve inflammationIndividual intolerance to components, pregnancy and childhood
Thyme herb, Bronchicum, Pertussin, TussamagBronchitis and pneumonia with paroxysmal cough and difficult sputum dischargeProvokes an expectorant effect, while simultaneously providing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effectsHypersensitivity, pregnancy, individual contraindications
GelomitrolChronic and acute bronchitis, sinusitisStimulates the expectorant reflex, eliminates microbial flora, relieves inflammationPregnancy, formation of kidney or gallstones, childhood
Tussin, Coldrex Broncho, Gexo BronchoBronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, flu, asthma, cystic fibrosisStimulates gastric receptors, increases the vibration of epithelial ciliaUlcer, stomach bleeding, cough with copious sputum

When taking reflex drugs, you must strictly adhere to the recommended dosage.

Resorptive drugs

Resorptive expectorants for wet coughs in adults are used when the amount of sputum is small. Such compositions work according to the following principle:

  • increase the secretion of bronchial mucus (liquid part);
  • contribute to its liquefaction and make sputum easier to remove;
  • stimulate the rapid release of accumulated secretions.

Due to their pharmacological action, resorptive medications can cause adverse reactions in the form of lacrimation, nasal congestion.

Such symptoms go away on their own after stopping the medication. Liquid forms of medications in this group are considered more effective.

Trade names of drugs that stimulate the production of bronchial secretions
Trade namesApplicationContraindicationsAdditionally
Iodide, Microiodide, Iodine balance, IodomarinInflammatory diseases of the lower respiratory system, accompanied by a non-productive wet coughDiseases thyroid gland, furunculosis, kidney pathologiesAbsorbed in the stomach, after which it is released through the bronchi, increasing the amount of sputum; stimulates the breakdown of sputum proteins
10% sodium iodide solution for intravenous administrationInflammatory processes in the lower parts of the lungs with a wet coughThyroid diseases, individual intoleranceIncreases the amount of sputum, absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and released in the lungs
Sodium bicarbonate, Bicarbonate, Sodium bicarbonate-ESKOM, used as additional substance in combination expectorantsBronchitis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis and infections of the lower respiratory system with low sputum productionHypersensitivity, hypocalcemiaIncreases the volume of bronchial secretions, accelerates the removal of mucus formed

Practice shows that resorptive medications are rarely prescribed. More often their use occurs when using combined agents.

Medicines acting on phlegm

The drugs act directly on sputum, regulating its condition. Due to their action, medications make bronchial secretions liquid and easily separated. All thinning compounds are divided into subgroups: proteolytic, cysteines and mucoregulators.

Cysteine ​​derivatives

The most popular phlegm thinners are medications belonging to the cysteine ​​subgroup. The principle of their operation is as follows:

  • break down disulfide bonds that are part of the protein of sputum glycoproteins;
  • quickly thins thick mucus;
  • contribute to the gentle removal of phlegm during coughing.

Cysteine-based medications should be prescribed with caution to debilitated patients. Under the supervision of a physician, such medications are taken by patients in whom the removal of thin sputum may be difficult.

Active ingredients and names of medications of the cysteine ​​group
Trade namesApplicationContraindicationsAdditionally
ACC, Fluimucil, Mucomist, Vicks Active ExpectoMedBronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasisStomach or intestinal ulcer, hypersensitivity, breastfeedingLiquefies mucus, increases its volume, relieves inflammation
Fluditec, Bronchobos, Carbocysteine, Libexin MucoInflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract with the formation of thick secretions, pathologies of the ENT organsUlcer digestive tract, kidney and bladder pathologies, pregnancy and lactationActivates enzymes of the bronchial mucosa, normalizes the elasticity of mucus, regenerates damaged surfaces of the membranes of the respiratory system
FluifortTracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis, asthma, bronchitisUlcer, pregnancy, childhood, phenylketonuriaNormalizes the elasticity of mucus, regenerates damaged surfaces of the membranes of the respiratory system, activating enzymes of the mucous membrane of the lungs

Cysteine-based drugs act quickly and effectively. They form large volumes of bronchial mucus, which in some situations requires pumping it out in a hospital setting.

Enzyme proteolytics

Drugs included in this group show the following effect:

  • break bonds (peptide) between the molecules that build phlegm;
  • bronchial mucus undergoes powerful liquefaction;
  • When you cough, phlegm is easily expelled naturally.

Proteolytic enzymes are prescribed to patients to take under the supervision of a physician. These drugs can cause serious side effects: allergies, bronchospasm or bleeding in the lungs. It is prohibited to use these drugs for obstructive bronchitis.

Trade names of proteolytic enzymes
Trade namesApplicationContraindicationsAdditionally
Trypsin solution, Crystalline trypsin, is included in combination medicationsBronchoactasis, pneumonia, pleurisy, pulmonary actelectasis after surgeryEmphysema, heart failure, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver diseaseLiquefies phlegm and blood clots in the lungs, eliminates inflammation, rejects pus and promotes the regeneration of damaged tissues
ChymopsinBronchopulmonary diseases and pathologies of the ENT organs, accompanied by viscous sputumHeart failure, malignant diseases lungs, bleedingThins thick mucus, reduces inflammation, and protein nature of origin
Ribonuclease, Ribonuclease amorphousLung abscess, suppuration, bronchiectasisRespiratory failure, liver disease, bleedingPromotes the regeneration of damaged bronchial tissue, thins mucus in the bronchial tree, accelerates its elimination

Enzyme preparations are made from the pancreas glands of large cattle. Most of them are used by inhalation. These medications are not suitable for self-administration. A prescription is required to purchase them.

Mucolytic response regulators

Expectorant drugs of this group are among the newest. The peculiarity of their work is as follows:

  • increase the volume of released pulmonary surfactant;
  • balance the amount of viscous sputum and liquid secretion;
  • provoke a cough reflex by increasing the amount of mucus.

Mucoregulators are actively used in modern medicine. They are prescribed to children and adults. Most drugs are over-the-counter products.

Trade names of mucolytic agents
Trade namesApplicationContraindicationsAdditionally
Bromhexine, Solvin, BronchostopCOPD, pneumonia, different types bronchitis, bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosisChronic liver and kidney diseases, pregnancyIncreases the production of bronchial secretions, relieves coughing, improves sputum discharge
Lazolvan, Ambrobene, BronchoxolPneumonia, sharp forms bronchitis, bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosisNeonatal period, hypersensitivity to the active substanceStimulates the functioning of bronchial cells, reduces the viscosity of thick secretions

Medicines based on ambroxol are becoming the most popular today. They are used in pediatrics, therapy, otolaryngology and pulmonology.

The drugs are safe, effective, and purchased positive reviews consumers.

Folk remedies

In some patients, expectorants and sputum thinners purchased at the pharmacy cause mistrust. In pursuit of feeling good and health benefits, people use folk recipes for wet coughs. The effectiveness of this treatment method has been questioned.

  • Honey – removes mucus from the bronchi, relieves inflammation and accelerates tissue regeneration.
  • Lemon is a source of vitamin C, improves immunity, restores damaged epithelium.
  • Radish – stimulates the immune response, accelerates the discharge of thick sputum. Thanks to the combination useful substances, relieves inflammation and normalizes oxygen metabolism.
  • Herbal decoctions have anti-inflammatory, regenerating, expectorant effects. Taken orally or administered using an inhaler.

One of the common folk remedies for wet cough, which is also recommended by doctors, is. Mineral salts relieve inflammation, additional fluid accelerates the thinning of mucus, and alkaline components promote fast healing damaged structures.

Compresses for wet coughs can only be used when normal indicators body temperature. Warming is carried out with vodka, honey, flatbreads, mustard plasters and other various means.
High efficiency Physiotherapy and massage are also recommended for the treatment of wet cough.

Medicines that improve expectoration when coughing

In contact with

Muscular contraction of the respiratory tract of the respiratory system, resulting from irritation of internal receptors, contributes to the formation of the cough reflex.

There are more than 20 symptomatic pathologies that provoke this unconditioned reflex. There are wet and dry coughs. Drug therapy and/or a folk remedy for a wet cough differs significantly from the treatment of a dry (non-productive) type of forced exhalation through the mouth.

How and how to treat wet cough in adults?

The protective functions of the bronchopulmonary system, its upper and/or lower respiratory tract, are assigned to mucociliary clearance, which is responsible for blocking the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract from external infectious and bacterial irritants. When the mucociliary system fails, an exogenous attack occurs from pathogenic agents that have a physical, chemical or biological nature of formation. In the bronchi, dysfunction of the drainage system occurs, leading to the formation of various bronchopulmonary diseases.

An effective remedy for wet cough is selected for the following symptomatic signs:

  • coughing attacks become more frequent and stronger;
  • expectoration of mucus;
  • worsens when coughing pain syndrome in the area of ​​the thoracic diaphragm or back;
  • the temperature regime is kept within subfebrile limits (37.2 – 37.9ºС);
  • sore throat and nasopharynx appear;
  • there is a general feeling of malaise and weakness of the body.

On a note! Define the best remedy from a wet cough is impossible, since there are certain criteria and indicators. It all depends on the exact diagnosis, individual data of the person, age and gender.

Below is a list of antitussive drugs that are most often used in the treatment of various diseases respiratory system and respiratory tract in adults:

1. Ambrobene is a pharmacological cough medicine with an expectorant effect and belongs to the group of mucolytic drugs. The medicine is effective in the treatment of infectious, colds and acute respiratory diseases of the pulmonary system and bronchi. Recommended for coughs with active production of purulent or mucous bronchial secretions.
2. ACC is a universal medicine whose active ingredient is acetylcysteine. The drug is recommended for the treatment of wet cough in various diseases bronchial tree, such as bronchial asthma, tracheitis, bronchitis with various respiratory pathologies, broncholiolitis and others. The drug is available in the form of tablets, capsules or syrup. Due to the absence of contraindications, the drug can be prescribed to children.
3. Lazolvan is a drug that accelerates the formation of bronchial mucus. The product helps to activate mucociliary transport, facilitates the removal of mucous secretions and eliminates cough. Indications for use are acute and chronic diseases bronchopulmonary system. Not recommended for pregnant women, people with allergies and people with hypersensitivity to ambroxol, the main active ingredient of the drug.


4. Carbocysteine ​​– pharmachologic effect The drug is aimed at quickly liquefying the formed sputum in the bronchi. Recommended for diseases of the respiratory system in adults and children over 5 years old. Contraindications for use: acute conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, pregnancy and lactation.
5. Mukaltin - famous dosage form, prepared on the basis of extract medicinal marshmallow. The drug has an expectorant effect, freeing the lower respiratory tract from annoying secretory accumulations. Mucaltin does not cause irritation to the mucous membrane, restores the muscular muscles of the respiratory tract and reduces inflammation in excited respiratory areas.

Important! Only a doctor can choose the right medicine for dry and wet cough, based on symptom indicators!

Traditional recipes for the treatment of wet cough in adults

For wet coughs, treatment with folk remedies is no less effective than official ones medications. Elimination of cough using traditional medicine is based on various decoctions and infusions. Often, recipes for the treatment of wet cough in adults use alcohol-containing ingredients, which, according to traditional healers, contribute to the rapid removal of bronchial secretions from the respiratory system.

At home, you can use the following proven recipes:

  1. Honey with lingonberries. 2 tbsp. bee honey mixed with 200 ml of warm lingonberry juice. Take every 3-4 hours during daylight hours.
  2. Eucalyptus inhalation. At severe cough and in the absence of fever, you can make inhalation from eucalyptus leaves. 2 tablespoons are poured into the teapot. dry raw materials and pour boiling water. Cover yourself with a towel and inhale the healing vapors of the medicinal plant through your mouth for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Vodka compress. Rub the patient's chest with vodka or diluted alcohol, cover the area with cellophane film and a dry terry towel on top. This compress is best done before bedtime.
  4. Pork fat with honey. 2 tbsp. aloe juice, pork fat and a spoonful of bee honey, mixed together. The entire healing mixture is heated in a water bath and applied to the chest and back of the coughing person. The temperature of the mixture should be comfortable; it is important not to overheat it, so as not to get a burn on the skin. After the procedure, it is recommended to drink a cup of raspberry tea or lime color and fall asleep. If the cough is not accompanied by concomitant pathologies, then this remedy allows you to completely get rid of the annoying cough the next morning.
  5. Tea with cognac. Brew your favorite tea, add 2-3 tsp. quality cognac and 1 tsp. natural honey. This drink allows you to free the bronchi from secretory secretions, eliminate cold cough, create a general favorable mood. It is also recommended to take this traditional medicine for preventive purposes.

Treatment of productive cough in a child

Today, choosing a medicine for a wet cough for children is not difficult. On pharmaceutical market sufficiently represented a large number of various drugs that block the cough reflex. A specialist will help you choose the right treatment regimen for a wet cough for your child. Considering accompanying symptoms for productive cough in children, the following antitussive pharmacological agents can be distinguished:

1. Gerbion syrup is an effective treatment for dry and wet cough. It contains extracts of plantain and mallow. The syrup has an immunostimulating, antibacterial, antitussive and expectorant effect. If syrup gets inside active substances aggressively act on irritated receptors, stimulating the excretion of secretions from the glands of the bronchopulmonary system. The dosage and regimen is determined by the doctor.


2. Alteyka syrup – expectorant plant origin containing extracts medicinal herbs. The drug provides reflex and cough stimulation, and also enhances bronchiole peristalsis. Marshmallow root syrup is recommended for children over 3 years of age for various acute and/or inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Not recommended for children with an allergic reaction to the components of the drug.
3. Doctor Mom warming ointment will be an effective remedy for the treatment of wet cough in children. For a productive cough, it is recommended to apply the drug to the child’s chest and back. The warming effect of the drug is provided by the active natural components included in the biochemical composition of the drug. Pharmacological effect: active dilution and removal of mucus from the respiratory tract, muscle stimulation of the bronchial muscles, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilating effects. Indications for use: bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis and other inflammations of the respiratory system.


4. Gedelix is ​​an effective drug in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It does not contain alcohol-containing components or sugar, which makes the pharmacological agent attractive for treatment productive cough in children suffering diabetes mellitus. The drug is produced in the form of drops and syrup, which do not contain chemical additives or other impurities. Components of Gedelix: ivy extract, mint oil, purified water, fennel oil. Gedelix syrup can be given to a child starting from 6 months.
5. With a wet cough in a child with bronchial asthma, exudative pleurisy, pulmonary pneumonia and other diseases of the respiratory system, Libexin will help cope. The drug has an expectorant, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effect. 6. Deep penetration of prenoxdiazine, the main active substance, into the tissue structures of the respiratory tract, allows you to suppress the cough reflex, promote the unhindered discharge of mucus and provide an anesthetic effect during inflammation of the respiratory tract.

Treatment of wet cough in children with traditional medicine

Often pharmacological drugs are ineffective in treating wet cough in children. This is especially true for the youngest patients. Folk remedies for wet coughs can be more effective. For children with weakened immune systems, various herbal infusions, which not only strengthen protective properties body, but also enhance the muscular activity of the bronchopulmonary system.

Treatment with folk remedies for a wet cough in a child should be coordinated with the local therapist or children's consultation doctor. He will recommend various recipes traditional medicine, the main active ingredient which will be beekeeping products:

  1. Honey radish. Even the little ones will like the pleasant taste of this medicine. Add 1 tbsp to medium-sized grated radish. honey After 5-6 hours of infusion, the vegetable will release healing juice.
  2. The core of the radish is cut out with a teaspoon, and honey is poured into the resulting niche. After 3-4 hours the medicine is ready for use.
  3. The juice of radish, carrots and natural honey is mixed in equal proportions. The drug is gaining its healing properties after 2-3 hours of infusion in a warm place.

Other traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of wet cough in children:

  1. The best home remedy against wet cough - raspberry jam, 1 tbsp. which should be mixed in 1 glass of boiled water.
  2. Crushed licorice root is boiled in 500 ml of water for 10-15 minutes. The medicine is infused for 2-2.5 hours. After straining, it is recommended to take every 3 hours.
  3. Juice of 1 lemon and 1 tsp. olive oil- This is another wonderful remedy for a wet cough.
  4. 1 tbsp. dill seeds are poured with 1 cup of boiling water and infused. Take 50 ml every 3 hours.
  5. A mixture of plantain and coltsfoot will help soften the throat and eliminate receptor irritation respiratory tract. 2 tbsp. dry raw materials are poured with 250 ml of boiled water. Leave in a warm place for 2 hours. Take 1 tbsp. 3-4 times a day.
  6. Share:

Moist cough- This is one of the most important reflexes that protect the human respiratory tract. Even a newly born child, before taking his first breath in life, first coughs up the amniotic fluid accumulated in the larynx and pharynx. Does a child always have a wet cough when they are sick and how to treat it correctly?

What is a cough and what is its significance for the human body, see the article. Distinctive feature wet cough from dry cough is the production of sputum. It is formed by special glandular cells located in the mucous membrane throughout the respiratory tract, from the nasopharynx to the smallest bronchioles. The nature of sputum can vary greatly in consistency (from watery to thick glassy mucus) and color (transparent, colored or mixed with blood). If a lot of it is produced, the cough is called productive, if sputum is difficult to clear and in small quantities, it is called unproductive.

Wet cough in a healthy child: causes

Although coughing in children worries parents, it is not always a sign of illness. In some cases, this is a normal reaction of a healthy body. Here are the most common examples:

  1. Wet cough infant accompanies the entire period. This is due to increased saliva production against the background of still weak development of the swallowing reflex.
  2. In infants, due to underdevelopment of the muscle that compresses the esophagus at the point where it passes into the stomach, regurgitation of eaten food is often observed. If the baby is lying on his back at this time, he may accidentally inhale it. This aspiration is accompanied by a sudden attack of wet cough, which may produce frothy sputum, and the appearance of a purplish-bluish tint of the facial skin.
  3. Not only in children, but sometimes in adults, during the deep sleep phase, saliva may flow into the larynx, which immediately triggers a cough reflex.

What diseases cause a wet cough in a child?

Parents' fears are not in vain, since much more often a wet cough is a very important, and sometimes the only, symptom of many diseases. Of these, the most common are:

  1. Acute respiratory bacterial or viral infections affecting the respiratory tract. This is simple and obstructive bronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis, as well as laryngitis and pharyngitis in the resolution stage.
  2. Allergic diseases ( obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma). In such cases, the child’s cough occurs without fever or signs of infection.
  3. Any disease accompanied by the appearance of discharge from the nasal passages (viral rhinitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis). Mucus flowing through back wall pharynx into the esophagus, irritates cough receptors. Therefore, a reflex cough is inevitable.
  4. Acute or chronic pneumonia. The appearance of sputum usually indicates the beginning of recovery, and its nature depends on the causative agent of the disease.
  5. Gastroesophageal reflux. This is a failure of the sphincter apparatus of the esophagus, in which there is a reflux of stomach contents back into the oral cavity. At the same time, than younger child, the more often complications develop in the form of recurrent bronchitis or even pneumonia.
  6. Congenital pathology (Kartagener's syndrome, cystic hypoplasia).

How to treat a wet cough in a child

To know how to cure a child’s cough, you must first determine its cause. This will require that the baby be examined by a doctor. For details of the treatment of specific diseases, see special separate articles on our website. Here we will only present the main principles of treating any wet cough.

The main goal of therapy is to help the baby cough up the mucus that forms as much as possible. This will speed up recovery, prevent pulmonary complications and significantly improve general state child. After all, due to the constant hysterical cough, he will not be able to get a full night's sleep and eat well. In addition, tension during strong coughing impulses causes headache, abdominal cramps and increases the risk of umbilical and inguinal hernias.

In no case if there is sputum or moist rales in the lungs. DO NOT give your child antitussive medications.. If mucus lingers in the respiratory tract for a long time, it not only becomes an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microbes, but also closes the lumen of the bronchi, excluding large areas of the lung from gas exchange processes and causing them to collapse. This leads to pneumonia, lung abscesses and respiratory failure.

1. Groups of drugs used in the treatment of wet cough:

  • expectorants of synthetic origin and based on natural and herbal ingredients(Pertussin, Bronchicum, Glyceram, Cough tablets, terpinhydrate, mucaltin, Tussin, Ambroxol, Lazolvan). In this large group there is also a tasty non-allergenic cough syrup for children younger age, and tablets for older people;
  • mucus thinners (Carbocysteine, Acetylcysteine, soda);
  • relieving bronchospasm and increasing their lumen (Papaverine, Bronchocin, Salbutamol).

2. Physiotherapeutic treatment methods:

  • inhalation. This excellent cough suppressant for children can be used at all ages and for any child's condition. Preferably use ultrasonic or fine mist inhalers. medicinal substance without preheating it;
  • ozokerite and paraffin applications improves blood supply to the chest inflamed area, and therefore the delivery of immune protective cells to the lesion;
  • Ultrasound on the chest affects the deep areas of the bronchi and lungs like a massage.

3. Vibration massage in drainage positions.

4. Breathing exercises.

5. Wet cough in a child: folk remedies:

  • sprinkle the peeled onion with sugar in the evening, and within next day eat it in parts and drink all the resulting juice;
  • instead of tea, drink a decoction (1 tablespoon with the top of the herb per glass of boiling water) of thyme, coltsfoot, wild rosemary, pine buds, sage;
  • use pharmaceutical herbal expectorants in the form of a decoction;
  • drink warm milk, diluted with alkaline mineral water in a ratio of 1:3, in large sips.

When giving a child herbal expectorants for a wet cough, you need to remember that all of them, if the concentration or amount drunk is exceeded, provoke not only a cough, but also vomiting reflex.

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

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

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

Features of a wet cough

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

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

Signs of a wet cough:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treatment of wet cough with medications

If a wet cough is accompanied by good discharge sputum, and there are no symptoms requiring medical intervention, there is no reason to take medication. Increased viscosity of sputum and underdeveloped muscles of the respiratory tract in a child cause mucus retention in the larynx. In this case, it is necessary to use mucolytic and expectorant drugs.

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

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

Expectorant medications are divided into two subtypes:

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

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

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

The following can be taken orally for infants:

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

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

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

For wet coughs, only a doctor should prescribe medicine for children of any age. No parent without medical education will not be able to listen to breathing and make a correct diagnosis.

Non-traditional methods of treating wet cough

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

Products for internal use

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

  1. Take five dried figs for two glasses of milk and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Drink warm three times a day after meals. You can use fresh figs, but there is a chance that the milk will curdle.
  2. For a wet cough from the age of three, you can add 5 grams of natural badger fat to warm milk along with honey. Drink half a glass three times.
  3. If the child does not have digestive or cardiac problems, vascular system, you can make sweet syrup from radish with honey. Take a large black radish, cut off the top and remove the core with a spoon, so as not to damage the bottom and walls of the fruit. Fill the resulting “pot” two-thirds with honey. In 3 hours it will work useful remedy. Give children a teaspoon every 2 hours. Honey should not be consumed at elevated temperatures.
  4. An infusion of plantain leaves helps a lot for coughs in children, but it can only be used after three years. Add 50 grams of fresh or dry plantain leaves to a liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and remove from heat. The infusion will be ready in 4 hours, take three tablespoons orally 3-4 times a day.
  5. Treatment with raspberry and viburnum syrup: to prepare, take 50 grams of each berry, mash well and mix with a tablespoon of sugar. After a few hours, squeeze through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Dilute the syrup with two glasses of milk. Take half a glass four times a day, warm before use.
  6. The smallest and pickiest children will love a drink made from cocoa and banana. To prepare it, you need to chop one banana, mix with a teaspoon of cocoa and pour a glass of hot milk. This remedy is useful not only for wet coughs, but also for boosting immunity.

Before treating a child's wet cough in unconventional ways, you should consult your pediatrician.

External use

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

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

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

Other recipes:

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

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

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

Inhalations

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

Appoints steam inhalations only the attending physician. The temperature of the solution should be within 40-50 degrees, the duration of the procedure is no more than five minutes.

Recipes for inhalations:

  1. Inhalations with decoctions of medicinal herbs: chamomile, eucalyptus leaves, sage, plantain, thyme, peppermint. You can prepare an infusion from one herb or make combined mixtures. To prepare the decoction, you need to take a liter of boiling water, add a tablespoon of herbs, when it cools to 50 degrees, you can begin the procedure.
  2. Dilute two teaspoons of soda in one liter of boiling water. If there is no allergy, you can add two drops essential oil mint, tea tree, eucalyptus.
  3. It is useful to breathe in the vapors of potatoes boiled in their skins. Mash the cooked fruits and cool slightly.

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

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

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

It is a protective reflex mechanism, thanks to which the airways are cleared of various irritants. In some cases, such contraction of the respiratory muscles may indicate the development of children's body various types respiratory diseases.

Today you can buy at the pharmacy various medications for wet cough for children, however, it is necessary to begin treatment after mandatory consultation with a specialist.

Often in the autumn-winter period, children develop symptoms, which can be a signal of the development of various diseases in the body. Cough is unpleasant feeling However, in some cases it is a protective reaction of the body.

Thanks to this contraction of the muscles of the respiratory tract, the child’s body manages to get rid of accumulated germs and.

Experts call it a wet cough because when it develops, mucus is discharged from the outside.

Most often, this type of cough is the next stage after dry cough and we can say that the child is already recovering.

Despite this, the child’s body still needs to be helped and this can be done with the help of various cough medications that increase sputum production.

Causes

Many parents begin treating their child when only a few coughs a day appear. This should not be done, because healthy man Normally, he can cough 10-15 times a day. This is explained by the fact that coughing is a natural protective reaction of the body, thanks to which the respiratory system is cleaned.

To assign the correct and effective treatment It is important to find out the reasons that led to the appearance of a wet cough in a child.

Most often, this pathology occurs for the following reasons:

  • progression inflammatory processes in the lungs of a child's body
  • development of bronchial asthma
  • allergic reaction as a result of exposure of the child’s body to various allergens
  • diagnosing congenital pathologies
  • development of diseases infectious nature, the location of which becomes upper sections respiratory tract
  • after an acute viral infection

Often occurs in newborns due to insufficient development of the muscles of the stomach and esophagus. Cough with sputum is one of the symptoms of teething, so it can periodically bother a child up to a year. In addition, such contraction of the respiratory tract muscles can occur if infants get tears, snot or milk in the wrong place.

The causes of wet cough are varied and the choice of specific treatment depends on them.

In this regard, self-medication should be avoided, as this can provoke the development of various and additional pathologies.

Signs of pathology

If a child coughs 10-15 times a day, this should not cause any concern to parents.

It is necessary to show the child to a specialist if the following symptoms appear:

  • a wet cough occurs suddenly and lasts for a long time
  • the child develops shortness of breath
  • cough is accompanied by a rise in the body, which does not decrease for three days
  • the child's appetite decreases and he refuses food
  • cough causes pain in the chest area
  • the secreted sputum contains inclusions of blood
  • highlighted is green
  • cough is accompanied by wheezing, which can be heard even at a distance
  • cough occurs against the background of acute respiratory viral infection and lasts several weeks
  • The cough is permanent, that is, it bothers the child for several weeks or even months

If such signs appear, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician, who will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary. Special attention You should pay attention to the appearance of a cough at night, since it may indicate the development of various diseases in the child’s body. It is necessary to begin treatment only after identifying the cause that caused the development of such pathological condition.

Drug treatment

A feature of childhood is the fact that sputum discharge is difficult. This is due to the fact that in children the sputum has a more viscous consistency, and the muscles of the respiratory organs are not yet sufficiently developed.

In the event that mucus stagnates in the bronchi of a child, this can cause active proliferation of bacteria and cause the development of various types. The main task in eliminating a wet cough is to facilitate the process of sputum discharge, and this can be achieved with the help of various medications.

Drug therapy is carried out using:

  • mucolytic drugs that promote the formation of the required amount of sputum
  • - Helps thin out sticky mucus

Useful video - Cough in children and its treatment.

To treat wet cough, expectorants of plant and synthetic origin are used. When treating a child with herbal preparations, you should be careful, since taking them can provoke the development of allergic reaction. Medical practice shows that the use of synthetic cough medicines is considered more effective, since they can reduce the viscosity of even too thick sputum.

The use of antitussive drugs should be discontinued when eliminating a wet cough.

This is due to the fact that they have a suppressive effect on cough and this can cause even greater complications of the disease, since such drugs cause the accumulated mucus to settle.

In children under one year of age, a special massage, which is accompanied by rubbing the back and chest, can increase the discharge of sputum. At an older age, drug therapy can be carried out in children using steam based herbal infusions soda and essential oils.Accept medicines and the procedures should be carried out until the child begins to cough independently and productively.

Medicines for cough

To treat wet cough in childhood, mucolytic and expectorant drugs are prescribed.

The main form of release of such medicines is:

  • lozenges

You can get rid of this pathological condition of the body with the help of decoctions and infusions based on herbs that have an expectorant effect.

In childhood, medications are most often prescribed in the form of syrups.

This is due to the fact that they are quickly absorbed into the blood and give positive result. Before starting to take the drug, be sure to read the attached instructions and be sure to follow the indicated dosage.

Most effective drugs When treating wet cough the following are considered:

  • Ambroxol is a potent drug that helps thin mucus and improve expectoration. This medicine can be used to eliminate both wet and unproductive coughs. There is a pediatric form of this drug that can be used in the treatment of infants.
  • Prospan is a herbal preparation made from ivy leaves. Taking this drug has a stimulating effect on the secretion of the bronchial glands, promotes the rapid discharge of sputum and reduces its viscosity. In addition, Prospan has an antitussive effect and helps to relax the muscles of the bronchi. Most often, this remedy is prescribed for severe wet cough with sputum of viscous consistency. Treatment with this drug can be carried out in both adults and children after one year.
  • Herbion is a mucolytic drug, the use of which facilitates the discharge of sputum. In addition to the expectorant effect, the drug also has antimicrobial effect on the body. Gerbion is prescribed from the age of 2, and it should be taken after meals and washed down with plenty of liquid.
  • It is considered one of the most affordable drugs. The ingredients of the medicine are thyme and thyme extract, which have a secreting effect on mucus and help thin phlegm. Children after three years of age are allowed to treat cough with this drug.
  • Fluditec is available in the form of a syrup based on carbocisteine, which has a mucolytic and expectorant effect. This medicine is available in various forms for children and adults, and can also be used in the treatment of pathology in newborns.

The following medicines for wet cough are available in the form:

  • is an expectorant drug based on marshmallow extract and sodium bicarbonate. This medicine can be prescribed in tablet form to children from 1 year of age, and the medicine must be dissolved in water before taking it.
  • GeloMyrtol is available in the form of enteric capsules. Taking this remedy thins mucus and also has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. This drug can be taken from 6 years of age 30 minutes before meals.

In the event that the cause of a child’s cough is mechanical damage throat or a disease of viral origin, then taking it may be useless. Before prescribing such treatment, it is important to identify the cause of the cough and do this best under the supervision of a doctor.

Reception antibacterial drugs assigned:

  • for pneumonia
  • for tuberculosis
  • with tracheitis
  • with pleurisy
  • for acute and chronic bronchitis

Antibacterial drugs should only be prescribed by a specialist and any self-medication should be avoided. A wet cough can signal the development of dangerous coughs in a child’s body, but at the same time it is normal occurrence. It is for this reason that it is necessary to learn to distinguish a pathological cough from a normal one, and only after that begin the necessary therapy.



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