What to do when the baby has wheezing, cough with phlegm?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Le Thanh Cam - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

Cough is a symptom of many respiratory diseases. Cough accompanied by difficulty breathing, especially when the weather changes, it is easy to make children tired. To restore health and reduce the risk of complications, children need careful and proper care.

Coughing is a natural reflex of the body that helps push mucus and phlegm out to help clear the airways. Cough occurs simply when dirt, pollutants, allergens, smoke enter the body or due to bacterial and viral agents in respiratory diseases. It is these causes that cause increased secretion of mucus, phlegm, and fluid in the respiratory mucosa. At this time, a cough appears to help push the secretions out.
Agents that enter the airways cause an inflammatory response. In the early stages, inflammation is mild, with almost no symptoms. Later, the process of fibrosis and mucosal restructuring takes place, causing the airway mucosa to proliferate, lose elasticity, and cause respiratory function decline.
Progressive inflammation is manifested through coughs, combined with other symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, high fever. The mucosa is constantly irritated, causing a persistent cough that is difficult to stop. If the cough lasts, it will cause other dangerous complications and make it more difficult to treat the disease.

2.1. Inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract Upper respiratory tract diseases that cause coughs include pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, and tracheitis. When inflamed, the mucosa is stimulated to increase mucus secretion, which easily causes airway obstruction, especially at night. The excessive mucus causes difficulty breathing, stuffy nose. At this time, coughing is the most effective action to help expel secretions from the body, thereby opening the airways to help children breathe easier.
2.2. Inflammatory diseases of the lower respiratory tract Acute and chronic bronchitis is one of the most common causes of coughs with phlegm. Especially in chronic bronchitis, the disease causes long-lasting, recurrent coughs. Sputum is usually milky white, later yellow; purulent mucus in acute inflammatory episodes. Sputum is coughed up a lot in the morning with a small amount. Pneumonia: Pneumonia causes coughs with sputum, yellow, rust-colored sputum, accompanied by infection syndrome, chest pain in the inflamed lung area. If not treated promptly, the disease can cause complications of respiratory failure, causing death for children. 2.3. Other diseases Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis is a consequence of chronic bronchitis that is not definitively treated. The disease causes a persistent cough, especially at night when secretions are abundant. Bronchiectasis that is not treated in time can cause lung abscess, bronchial emphysema, empyema, empyema, pulmonary fibrosis, and emphysema. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: COPD also causes persistent coughs with phlegm. The disease occurs in people who smoke or work in toxic environments for a long time. Asthma: The disease causes shortness of breath accompanied by a cough with a lot of sputum (due to a lot of secretion), when sputum is expelled, the asthma attack can be gradually reduced. Sputum is white and sticky. Emphysema: Most cases are complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Emphysema causes a prolonged cough and sputum production, which worsens if not treated properly and promptly. Pulmonary tuberculosis : The majority of pulmonary tuberculosis usually causes cough, sputum of white color, sometimes mixed with bright red blood.

In addition to complying with the treatment regimen, the child needs proper care to help the recovery process take place as expected.
Living activities The body needs to be protected under the unusual change of weather. When the weather turns cold, keep the child warm, especially the neck area, to avoid making the cough worse. Parents should not let children play in the sun for too long.
Parents should pay attention to their children's eating and drinking hygiene, telling them to wash their hands with soap before - after eating and after coming into contact with dirty substances. Keep the house clean and cool to reduce the chances of bacteria growth.
Children should get enough rest, reduce fever and wash their nose with physiological saline in case secretions obstruct breathing, making it difficult for children to breathe.
Nutrition At this time, children are often anorexic and need special care. Children need to eat foods with a lot of water, easy to digest but also full of nutrients such as soup, porridge, milk because it helps to thin the sputum and reduce the stimulation of coughing a lot. Increase the body's resistance with foods rich in vitamin A, rich in zinc and iron such as beef, chicken, eggs, green and red vegetables. Fried foods should be limited. Fish should not be given to children when they are sick because the fishy smell of fish can cause vomiting.
Children who cough a lot may vomit food they have just eaten, so give them a few tablespoons of water before giving them to them. Eat smaller meals throughout the day so your child can eat more. Vibration helps babies cough more easily and effectively.
Some foods reduce cough Drink water or herbal tea: People with cough should prioritize using juice or herbal tea. These drinks not only help to supplement nutrients and vitamins for the body, but also have anti-inflammatory and cough-reducing effects.
Honey: Honey has a sweet taste, easy to drink for children. The ingredients in honey help soothe the burning sensation after a cough, fight inflammation, and disinfect the throat very well.
Salted lemonade: Salted lemon is also a popular ingredient in many folk remedies for cough. Salted lemon juice can stop coughing, eliminate phlegm and better protect the throat and lungs.
Note in treating cough and wheezing for children is not to arbitrarily give the baby medicine without the permission of the doctor. This can make the child's condition worse. In case the child has a cough that does not go away for a long time, it is necessary to take the child to a reputable medical facility for examination. Vinmec International General Hospital, with a team of leading pediatric doctors and modern equipment, is an address that many parents trust in the treatment of children's diseases, such as cough with phlegm, cough with wheezing. wheezing, high fever, pneumonia, ....
In addition, parents should also add some supportive foods containing Lysine ingredients, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, vitamins of group B, ... help meet the needs of nutrients and at the same time support the immune system, enhance resistance, reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, colds and flu , runny nose,... Lysine is very necessary for the development of children, Lysine promotes the production of digestive enzymes to stimulate children to eat better and digest easily and effectively, increase food metabolism, maximum absorption of nutrients from food. Increasing Lysine for babies helps the body create antibodies, develop resistance to help reduce cough and thin phlegm in children.
Parents can learn more: Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
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