| The content in this article is only a guide. | | | | medicinal treatment is different to that of |
| It is strongly recommended that your child's | | | | dry coughs. As you can imagine, if a cough |
| condition should be assessed by a suitably, | | | | suppressant were to be given in this case, |
| qualified health professional, especially if | | | | then phlegm would not shift. In this case it |
| the patient is suffering from any other | | | | is desirable for the cough to continue to |
| medical condition and/or is taking other | | | | allow the child to remove the phlegm. I hear |
| medicines. This articles is not to be used, | | | | you say "but it just goes back in because he |
| in any capacity, as a means of | | | | she swallows it!" The fact is that when the |
| self-diagnosing or self-prescribing. Your | | | | child coughs up the phlegm it is removed from |
| local pharmacist is accessible without the | | | | the airways and is swallowed down into the |
| need of an appointment. Always read the | | | | stomach via the food pipe.TreatmentAgain your |
| instructions of any medicines you use.What is | | | | local pharmacist is conveniently accessible |
| a cough?Cough is a reflex which is stimulated | | | | without an appointment to advice you of any |
| by irritation of the respiratory mucosa in | | | | treatment, referral or just advice. Sometimes |
| the lungs, trachea (windpipe) or the pharynx | | | | the child may need antibiotics if it is due |
| (throat region). The cough reflex is infact a | | | | to an infection, but this is not always the |
| protective mechanism. It is an attempt by the | | | | case. Unfortunately, many of us believe that |
| body to clear the airways of contaminants. | | | | antibiotics is the solution for most of our |
| Therefore, if this is the case, do we really | | | | children's illnesses. This is not the case |
| want to stop the cough mechanism? The answer | | | | and can infact be harmful to the wider |
| is both yes and no.Generally cough falls | | | | community. When antibiotics are used |
| under two categories; productive or | | | | unnecessarily or not correctly, the bacteria |
| non-productive commonly described as dry or | | | | can build up an immunity against the |
| chesty respectively. Identifying which type | | | | antibiotic. This is beginning to cause |
| of cough your child have, is important in | | | | problems in that bacteria are becoming, well |
| deciding whether we want the cough to stop or | | | | you can say, stronger! The pharmacist or your |
| not. This directly impacts on the type of | | | | doctor will let you know if antibiotics may |
| medication your child will need.Dry Coughs | | | | be needed.So what do we do when our child has |
| (Non-Productive)As its name implies a dry | | | | a chesty cough? Well if there are no causes |
| cough produces no sputum. It is often | | | | for concern then an expectorant may be of |
| described as "irritating" or, as mentioned | | | | some use. These apparently help by breaking |
| earlier, "dry". In most cases the cause of | | | | up the bonds in the phlegm thus easing its |
| this type of cough is not due to an | | | | expulsion by the cough reflex. As is the case |
| infection, although this must be considered | | | | with many cough remedies, there are many |
| along with other symptoms. In some cases the | | | | combinations. Some expectorants again contain |
| patient may claim that the cough is dry but | | | | antihistamines. This may at first seem |
| that they can feel phlegm on there chest. If | | | | desirable since it will help the child to |
| this is the case then it is best to regard | | | | sleep, but the antihistamine may have some |
| this as a chesty (productive) cough.Generally | | | | cough suppressive activity which may |
| dry coughs are irritating to the child and | | | | contribute in keeping some of the phlegm |
| those who surround them. Its causes can be | | | | down. Also it can dry up the phlegm a little |
| due to many reasons such as change in | | | | making it more difficult to cough up.Give |
| temperature, a dry atmosphere, air pollution | | | | them plenty of fluids to drink and the use of |
| and passive smoking. In some cases it can be | | | | something like Karvol may be |
| due to drug reactions but this is more | | | | useful.ConclusionIt is important to identify |
| applicable in adults. Sometimes a dry cough | | | | the type of cough your child has. Always ask |
| can be attributed to asthma especially if it | | | | your pharmacist for advice before purchasing |
| is troublesome at night time but this is not | | | | anything since in some cases referral may be |
| always the case. If you are concerned, book | | | | required. There are many conditions to |
| an appointment with your local doctor to | | | | referral so I have not included them in this |
| check this out.TreatmentYour local pharmacist | | | | article and have left them for your local |
| will be able to advice you as to what | | | | pharmacist to decide. Remember, that |
| medicines would be appropriate if any. Also | | | | antibiotics is not always the solution and |
| they may decide that the child would need to | | | | may cause unnecessary problems. Recently, |
| see a doctor. They will ask you a few | | | | pharmacists are now part of a "Minor Ailment |
| questions to determine the outcome. | | | | Scheme". Ask your local pharmacist if they |
| Generally, if there is no cause for concern, | | | | participate in this scheme. It involves the |
| the pharmacist may prescribe a cough | | | | pharmacist assessing the condition of your |
| suppressant or a linctus. Nowadays there are | | | | child and, if appropriate, can prescribe |
| many cough medicines to choose from, but | | | | medicines for your child for free, or refer |
| always ask your pharmacist which one is the | | | | to the doctor, whatever the case may be.Just |
| most suitable if any. Many of them have more | | | | to reinforce! Always ask a qualified health |
| than one combination, such as the addition of | | | | profession if the medicines you are |
| an antihistamine, which not only helps in | | | | purchasing are suitable. In most cases the |
| suppressing the cough but can also sedate the | | | | treatment is symptomatic which means only the |
| child allowing them a good nights sleep. | | | | symptoms can be treated while the illness |
| Cough medicines with antihistamines may also | | | | takes its natural course.Kassim works most of |
| be useful if there are any associated nasal | | | | his time as a pharmacist in the UK. He also |
| secretions, since this will dry it up and | | | | holds an MSc |
| prevent it from causing post nasal drip | | | | |
| (mucus dripping from the back of the nose | | | | in Information Technology and runs a small |
| into the throat) which in itself can initiate | | | | professional |
| a cough.Chesty Coughs (Productive)Chesty | | | | |
| coughs in general produce sputum or phlegm. | | | | web design business where he consults and |
| By identifying the colour of this phlegm the | | | | delivers high quality online solutions. |
| pharmacist may be able to decide whether a | | | | |
| referral is necessary or not. Unless produced | | | | He also contributes both to the content and |
| in copious amounts, clear or white sputum can | | | | development of an online |
| be considered generally as being of little | | | | |
| significance. Due to the presence of phlegm, | | | | mother and baby monthly magazine. |