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