A child's cough is quite common and sometimes it can be very difficult to cure. This condition is painful not only for the child, but also for other family members. This unpleasant symptom that violates the quality of life of the baby causes serious concern among parents and requires complex treatment under the supervision of a specialist. How to treat a cough in children at 5 years old can only be determined by a doctor after conducting a comprehensive diagnosis.
Why does a cough appear?
Before you figure out how to treat a cough in children at 5 years old, you need to know exactly why it occurs. The appearance of seizures does not always indicate the course of the disease. Sometimes such a process can be triggered by an allergic reaction.
Among the main provoking factors, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- inflammation of the ENT organs;
- respiratory viral infections;
- asthma;
- proliferation of adenoids;
- dry air in the apartment.
Depending on the provoking cough, it is customary to subdivide it into several types. It can be wet, dry, asphyxiating, paroxysmal.
When should cough treatment be started?
How to treat a cough in children at the age of 5 largely depends on what it was provoked by. In addition, it is important to consider how it affects the body. A cough is not always considered something dangerous to health. This reflex occurs when a large amount of mucus forms in the bronchi and trachea and is mainly aimed at more quickly removing it from the body. The air currents that form during coughing literally expel sputum from the respiratory system.
However, the respiratory system of the child is not well developed, therefore, there may often be situations where the natural expectoration of mucus is difficult or is excreted in minimal quantities. As a result, a dry cough appears. It is quite dangerous for the baby, so at the first sign you need to immediately begin treatment.
In general, cough syrup for children at 5 years of age should be given from the first days of the onset of symptoms, regardless of whether it is dry or wet. This tool absolutely does not harm the baby's body, but it has a powerful expectorant and mucolytic effect. Knowing exactly how to treat a cough in children at 5 years of age, you can significantly improve the well-being of the baby and prevent the risk of side effects.
Medications
Treatment must be carried out only after examination of the baby by a pediatrician. It is forbidden to prescribe medications to a child alone, since such actions can lead to irreversible consequences. In the process of therapy, drugs belonging to several drug groups can be prescribed, namely:
- mucolytics;
- expectorant;
- antitussive.
A dry, unproductive cough enhances throat irritation. It happens with laryngitis, whooping cough, flu, pleurisy, severe colds. To eliminate such attacks, antitussive drugs will help. These funds affect the brain centers responsible for the cough reflex. They can be narcotic and non-narcotic. The first include such as "Terpincod", "Codelac Broncho", "Cofex". Non-narcotic drugs include Sinecode, Omnitus, Tusuprex.
You can take effective drugs for dry cough of narcotic action only on the recommendation of a doctor, as they contain addictive substances. Non-narcotic drugs are prescribed for a painful episode provoked by pneumonia, whooping cough, and flu. Choosing effective cough tablets, you need to allocate the drug "Omnitus", but you need to take it under the supervision of a doctor.
Antitussive drugs relax muscle fibers of the respiratory tract and gently affect the bronchial mucosa. This group includes the drug "Libexin" and its analogues. It acts on the mucosa as an anesthetic. This remedy is not addictive, and the antitussive effect lasts up to 4 hours. The drug "Libexin" is an effective cough pill that is allowed for children from 5 years of age.
Drops and syrup Levopront also have an antitussive effect. The drug is prescribed for children from two years old with laryngitis, asthma, flu, tracheitis. Treatment can be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor and not more than a week.
With a wet cough, mucolytics and expectorants are mainly prescribed. The first are different in that they dilute sputum, but do not lead to an increase in its volume. Expectorants increase sputum production and make coughs productive.
Mucolytics are very good preparations for wet cough, which doctors recommend to use to treat a child aged 5 years. These include “ACC” and “Ambroxol”, which are effective in bronchitis with viscous sputum. In case of purulent sputum inhalation with Pulmozyme solution helps well.
Plant-based remedies help well. Their main advantage is universality, as they help to cope with any type of cough. In addition, such drugs are low toxic and almost do not cause side effects. Cough lozenges are good for children at 5 years old with propolis, which additionally eliminate sore throat.
In acute or chronic form of bronchitis, homeopathic preparations based on ivy extract are used. These include such as "Gedelix", "Pectolvan ivy", "Prospan". When a bacterial infection is attached, antibiotics may be required for coughing in children at 5 years of age. However, they should be prescribed by the doctor, choosing the drug, dosage and course of use. In addition, probiotics may be required to normalize the digestive tract.
Folk remedies
For the treatment of cough, folk remedies can be used. Milk, honey helps very well. Broths of medicinal herbs are also effective, in particular, such as:
- oregano;
- coltsfoot;
- chamomile.
To prepare the broth you need to take 1 tbsp. l plants and pour 250 ml of boiled water. You can also use ready-made breast collection. For rubbing with a dry cough, fir oil, camphor alcohol, eucalyptus oil are well suited. If it is wet, then dry mustard compresses, heating with calcined salt, and also grinding with camphor alcohol will be required.
Inhalation when coughing a child at 5 years old is carried out only with the permission of the attending doctor. For them, mainly use such herbs as St. John's wort, thyme, chamomile, motherwort. In decoctions, you can add a drop of essential oil, in particular, eucalyptus or pine.
With a wet cough, vibration massage is indicated, which can be easily done independently. It is based on the action of fingertips on the back, ribs and chest in the lungs and bronchi. At high temperatures, as well as in the presence of impurities of pus and blood in the sputum, it is impossible to carry out warming foot baths, compresses, inhalations and rubbing.
Dry Cough Syrups
Unproductive form can cause the baby significant discomfort, just exhausting it physically. During attacks, mucous membranes are damaged, vomiting, blood may appear. Attacks of severe dry cough in a child at 5 years old often happen at night. In this case, drugs are prescribed that temporarily block the cough center in the brain. In particular, such drugs for dry cough are used for a child at 5 years old, such as:
- Syrup "Sinecode."
- Stoptussin.
- "Broncholitin."
These remedies help well with whooping cough, pleurisy, bronchospasm. Of herbal medicines, the drug "Herbion" is most often prescribed. It includes an extract of plantain leaves and mallow flowers. It has an antibacterial and immunostimulating effect.
An unproductive cough may be in the initial stage of an acute viral infection. In this case, you need to create all the conditions for the recovery of the baby. However, if after 3-4 days the cough does not turn into a moist, productive form, then the use of expectorants or mucolytics is required.
Wet Cough Syrups
For better sputum discharge, the use of mucolytic drugs is required. These include such as:
- "ACC".
- Fluimucil.
- Fluditec.
- "Mucoidin."
- "Lazolvan."
- Ambrobene.
- Flavamed.
The Prospan vegetable syrup made on the basis of ivy leaf extract helps well. When using it, consultation with a pediatrician is required. Use it not only inside, but also add to the nebulizer for inhalation.
Expectorant
These medications help reduce the viscosity of mucus and remove it from the bronchi. They improve expectoration with a normal consistency of sputum, and it is easily excreted from the respiratory system. Use expectorant syrups with a strong wet cough in a child. They help well with laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia. The active components are often herbal components, in particular, such as:
- marshmallow;
- ivy extract;
- plantain;
- liquorice root.
Marshmallow is part of many products, in particular, the children's syrup "Alteyka". It is used in acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Marshmallow root not only has an expectorant effect, but also stimulates the bronchi.
Ivy extract in combination with other active ingredients widens the lumen of the bronchi, dilutes sputum and helps to eliminate mucus. Plantain fights inflammation and bacteria. Licorice root syrup, in addition to the expectorant effect, has an anti-inflammatory, restorative, immunostimulating effect.
Expectorants are made on a natural basis, but they can provoke severe allergies, so their uncontrolled intake is unacceptable.
Combined funds
In combined preparations, often herbal components are combined with synthetic ones. These include Codelac Broncho, Coldrex Bronchi. The complex effect is possessed by Dr. Mom cough syrup. It fights inflammation, removes infection from the body, and well dilutes sputum.
Another good remedy is Broncholitin. However, it must be used very carefully, since the ephedrine that is part of it can cause dependence. This drug has an analgesic property, and also helps to dilate blood vessels and reduce swelling.
According to the instructions for use, Linkas syrup is allowed for children from six months. The composition of the drug includes 10 beneficial plants, which have a fairly effective effect. They help to quickly cope with inflammatory processes.
Can I use mustard for coughing?
Pediatricians do not prohibit the use of such a treatment technique, however, it has certain nuances. The use of mustard plasters for coughing in children at the age of 5 depends on several factors, namely:
- Body temperature;
- goal of therapy;
- the nature of the cough.
Doctors recommend using this tool as a locally irritating and distracting. They contribute to the rapid expansion of blood vessels and increased blood circulation. In addition, mustard plasters help reduce nasopharyngeal edema and activate the immune system. Thanks to the use of this product, sputum is diluted and sputum is much easier to discharge from the bronchi and lungs.
Mustard essential oils released by contact with water help to slightly reduce pain and make breathing easier. Before you put mustard plasters on a child with cough, you need to familiarize yourself with the available contraindications. These include:
- pustules or rashes at the site of setting;
- hypersensitivity of the skin;
- damage to the epidermis;
- psoriasis;
- allergy;
- tumors;
- eczema, neurodermatitis.
Heat and fever are also contraindications for this procedure. The higher the temperature, the faster the blood circulates in the body. This significantly increases the load on the liver, heart and kidneys. Mustard must not be placed at temperatures above 37 degrees. Such treatment can cause dangerous complications.
What cough is mustard used for?
They are effective for treating pneumonia, bronchitis and tracheitis. It is better for children to put mustard plasters with a dry cough, when sputum does not expectorate and leaves too hard and painfully. They help thin the viscous mucus and reduce its production.
Mustard must not be used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Heating and stimulation of the blood circulation in the affected organs can lead to a severe attack of suffocation.
At what age are mustard plasters prescribed?
Most pediatricians do not recommend putting mustard plasters on children under 3 years old. Some experts say that they can be used to treat babies older than 12 months. The skin of the baby is characterized by increased sensitivity, it has not yet been adapted to external aggressive effects.
It is important to check with the pediatrician in advance how and where to put mustard plasters when coughing the child, as well as how much they should be kept so that there is no epidermal burn. In addition, it is worth checking whether the baby is allergic to the drug used. High concentrations of essential oils often provoke a negative immune response.
Where and how to put mustard plasters?
Doctors call this procedure a distraction. When the mustard comes into contact with the skin, tingling and tingling are observed, which causes a rush of blood to the skin, as well as to internal organs. It has a healing effect. This treatment is especially useful for prolonged coughing. A hot procedure helps eliminate an acute attack.
Many parents are interested in where to put mustard plasters when coughing a child and how to use them correctly. With bronchitis, sachets are placed on the back, slightly below the shoulder blades. In the presence of dry cough, mustard plasters are placed on the sternum. A good result is the alternation of procedures.
With bronchial and colds, setting mustard plasters on the feet and calves is indicated. Some doctors recommend pneumonia to put a bag on the palm of your hand, just below the thumb.
According to the instructions, it is not recommended to use mustard sachets for more than 4 days in a row. Longer therapy often provokes an allergy. You can do a treatment procedure only once a day.