A good cough syrup for children must contain natural ingredients, in particular extracts of herbs, tree bark, roots, etc.
Most babies are biased towards the unknown and constantly refuse to take various medications. Therefore, a really good potion should be reasonably palatable so that it does not have to be poured into a child by force. But if the potion is also sweet due to the addition of sugar substitutes or sugar itself, it is undesirable to take it, since most often it consists of chemical ingredients, and an excess of substances of artificial origin has a negative effect on the fragile children's body. Yes, and, in fact, potions are created specifically to minimize the amount of cough chemicals for children.
The most common cough syrup for children consists of the following ingredients: marshmallow root extract, licorice dry root extract, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, sodium benzoate, anise oil, sugar. In appearance, it looks like a brown-gray powder with a persistent aroma of anise oil. Before use, it must be diluted in a ratio of 1 serving of powder to 10 servings of water. The finished solution is brown.
The drug has a strong expectorant effect, the mechanism of which is due to a significant increase in mucociliary clearance. The secretion of bronchial glands is also enhanced, and sputum is slightly diluted. The main active ingredients in the marshmallow root extract are pectins, polysaccharides, starch and amino acids.
Polysaccharides, which are rich in dry cough syrup for children, are well absorbed into the blood, and then partially excreted by the glands in the bronchi, which allows for an enveloping, anti-inflammatory and softening effect on the mucous membrane in the upper respiratory tract. Moreover, they increase the production of the liquid constituents of bronchial secrets, while normalizing their elasticity, viscosity and adhesiveness.
The active substances of the medicine enhance the peristaltic movement of the bronchioles and the motor functions of the ciliated epithelium, which are fixed to the bronchi, which contributes to the normal excretion of sputum.
Thanks to the action of sodium bicarbonate, sputum liquefies and better departs.
Cough syrup for children is prescribed for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lungs and upper respiratory tract, which are accompanied by a strong dry cough.
Before use, the medicine is diluted with water and used after meals. Children from six months to 6 years are given one teaspoon of the prepared solution 4 times a day. Children after six years of age should be given a dessert spoon of the solution 3 times a day. The medicine is also great for treating cough in adults, for this you should take 1 tablespoon of the solution 5 times a day. Shake the container thoroughly before each use.
The duration of the therapeutic course is determined in a strictly individual order and depends entirely on the effectiveness of the therapy. On average, a course of treatment takes from a week to two.
Children's cough syrup has side effects. Sometimes allergic reactions occur in the form of red rashes on the skin, itching, shortness of breath, general weakness.
The drug is suitable for everyone except those who may experience individual intolerance to its specific components. Also, it can not be given to children who have not reached the age of six months.
Despite the fact that reviews are heard only positive about such a drug as a cough syrup, you should be careful when using it without a doctor’s prescription. In particular, the product is not suitable for people with diabetes, since it contains sugar. It is undesirable to simultaneously take medicine with drugs whose action is aimed at reducing the formation of sputum.