Cough and syrup
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With changing the weather, the problem of cough and cold in children becomes common. The sudden drop in temperature, cold winds or moisture increases viruses and bacteria active, which affects the immunity of children. In such a situation, many times parents start giving cough syrup to children for quick relief. But should children give phlegm syrup? About this Dr. Himanshu Badani in Pediatric Department at Delhi AIIMS and Dr. Prashant Gupta in All India Institute of AyurvedaHave told
Dr. Himanshu says that many parents start giving phlegm syrup to children immediately, but according to experts, it is neither necessary nor safe to give normal cough syrup to children under 2 years of age. There is no role to give it. Actually, the body of young children is unable to metabolize these medicines properly, which can cause problems like lethargy, vomiting or breathing. WHO and FDA also refuse phlegm syrup under 2 years of age.
According to Dr. Himanshu, if you want to give phlegm syrup to a child under 5 years of age, then you can only give it on the advice of a doctor. Syrup should not be given by himself to a child older than 5 years. If the doctor is saying, then only one should give and according to the dose mentioned. Many people think that this is just a myth, but the truth is that the syrup does not give the root of cough, only temporary comfort. Therefore, it is important to understand the reason first and then consult a doctor.
Dr. Prashant It is also said that children below two years of age should not be given syrup. Guidelines have also come about this. Ayurveda also recommends not to give syrup to children. The child is given steam and satopraladi churna. It also feels good in the taste of children and also gives relief from phlegm.
How to recognize that my child is suffering from phlegm? Can there be phlegm without cough?
According to Dr. Himanshu, many times the child has mucus, but he is unable to cough, which keeps the phlegm inside. It can be identified with some symptoms such as persistent jam in the nose, wheezing or whistle-like sound, restlessness in sleep, loss of appetite or repeated throat. If the child is too young, he is unable to remove mucus from cough and may have repeated vomiting or restlessness. Sometimes the transparent mucus flowing through the nose makes phlegm in the neck. Therefore, do not ignore these signs even if you do not see cough and see the child on time.
What is the color of the mucus that is coming with cough and is it a sign of a serious infection?
The color of mucus often gives information about the nature of the disease. If the mucus is transparent or light white then it is a sign of common viral infection or mild cold. Yellow or light green mucus suggests that the body is fighting infection and may be likely to be a possibility of bacterial infection. Thick green, yellow or smelly mucus indicates sinus or chest infection in most cases, which should not be ignored. If the mucus sees a mild line of blood, contact the doctor immediately, as it can be a sign of throat irritation or any serious infection. Keeping an eye on the quantity and color of mucus helps a lot in understanding the condition of the child and starting treatment on time.