Expectorant syrup for children from 3. Safe expectorants for children of different ages

There is a lot of choice effective drugs aimed at improving expectoration when coughing. When choosing a suitable medication for a child, it is necessary to take into account the age of the small patient, the presence of contraindications and the recommendations of the attending physician. Traditionally, experts recommend purchasing expectorants for children that have a natural basis. Such drugs often do not cause pronounced side effects, they can be used even at a very early age.

Varieties of expectorants for children

Drugs that thin sputum and have an expectorant effect during the development of a cough have 2 main varieties:

1. Medications that can enhance the reflex response.
2. Means that have a direct resorptive effect on the mucous surface of the bronchial cavity.

Medications to enhance the reflex response often contain active substances that irritate the inner layer of the stomach, increase gag reflexes, and increase peristalsis in the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Such funds help to transport the mucous secret from the bronchial cavities. This group of medicines mainly includes products plant origin, enriched with extracts of marshmallow, thermopsis, plantain, coltsfoot and other medicinal herbs.

Expectorants that have a direct resorptive effect on the bronchial mucosa may contain ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium iodide, extracts of medicinal plants. Medicines representing this group have an irritating effect on the inner surface of the bronchial cavities, increase the secretion and excretion of sputum.

Funds for children under 1 year

Babies under 12 months of age may be prescribed the following expectorant products in the form of syrups:

1. Gedelix.
2. Lazolvan.
3. Linkas.

Gedelix

This tool is considered safe for patients in the first year of life. The drug helps to improve coughing during the development of viral and bacterial diseases upper respiratory tract. The syrup is recommended to be taken after consultation with the pediatrician, in the dosage recommended by the doctor. The standard dose in the neonatal period is 2.5 ml once a day. Contraindications to taking the medicine are pathologies of cardio-vascular system, intolerance to the active substance of the drug.

Lazolvan

The use of the children's form of Lazolvan to improve expectoration, which has a pleasant fruity taste and aroma, is allowed from birth. The medication helps to convert a dry cough into a productive one with the development of pathologies of the lower respiratory tract:

• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• bronchiectasis;
• pneumonia.

Infants are prescribed 2.5 ml of syrup twice in 24 hours. The main contraindication to the use of the drug is individual intolerance to the main active substance (ambroxol hydrochloride).

Linkas

Many experts consider Linkas the best remedy For children from 6 months. The preparation contains several extracts medicinal plants, including licorice, hyssop officinalis leaves, jujube fruits, fragrant violet and others. In addition to stimulating expectoration, the syrup exhibits anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antispasmodic properties.

Usage this tool for the removal of sputum becomes relevant with the development of diseases that prevent its full discharge - laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, SARS. The drug is also prescribed for wet and allergic cough. Dosage for children under 12 months - 2.5 ml three times a day. Limitations to the use of Linkas are the presence of diabetes in the crumbs and hypersensitivity to its composition.

Medications for expectoration from 12 months

Among the best drugs For children older than 1 year, we can distinguish:

1. Ambrobene.
2. Bronchicum.
3. Fluifort.

Ambrobene

Basic active ingredient The drug is represented by ambroxol hydrochloride. The syrup is recommended for use in the development of an unproductive cough, which causes difficult sputum discharge. The drug is prescribed for children suffering from acute and chronic pathologies respiratory system- bronchitis, COPD, bronchiectasis, bacterial pneumonia.

If the doctor has not prescribed a different treatment regimen, babies from 1 year old take 2.5 ml of medication twice a day. The syrup should not be used if the patient has hypersensitivity to its components, individual fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, sucrose deficiency.

Bronchicum

This product is of natural origin and contains thyme extract. The drug helps to fight dry cough caused by tracheitis, bronchitis, inflammation in the lungs and other disorders in the respiratory system. After 1 year, the drug is used in the form of a syrup or elixir. The decision to use a particular form of the product must be made by a person skilled in the art.

The standard dosage of Bronchicum for children older than 12 months is as follows:

• syrup - three times a day, 2.5 ml;
• elixir - ½ teaspoon three times a day.

The drug is not prescribed for children showing hypersensitivity to thyme grass, with heart failure, severe renal and hepatic pathologies, fructose intolerance. If the baby has epilepsy, traumatic brain injury or other brain pathologies, the use of the drug requires increased caution.

Fluifort

This remedy is specially designed for the treatment of children. younger age. The syrup has a pleasant cherry flavor, contains active substance carbocysteine ​​and auxiliary components. The drug combines expectorant and mucolytic properties, helps to liquefy bronchial secretions, evacuate mucus from the respiratory tract, and speedy recovery of a small patient. The syrup is used for a dry variety of cough, provoked by inflammation of the bronchi, tracheitis, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, adenoiditis.

An expectorant cough remedy for children is recommended to be taken after meals. Dosage according to the instructions - 2.5 ml twice or thrice during the day. The main contraindications to treatment with Fluifort are the presence of individual intolerance to its composition and diabetes mellitus.

The duration of the therapeutic course with the use of any expectorant drugs must be agreed with the attending physician. Too long use of means to stimulate expectoration is not recommended, as it can lead to various undesirable phenomena.

What drugs are suitable for children from 2 years

It is possible to improve the discharge of mucous secretions during the development of an unproductive cough in a 2-year-old child thanks to several drugs:

1. Licorice root syrup.
2. Libexinu Muco.
3. Wix Active.

Licorice Root Syrup

Licorice root syrup has complex action on the body:

• liquefies and removes mucus;
• disinfects the respiratory tract;
• heals microcracks that form during coughing;
• relieves inflammation in the bronchi;
• relieves attacks of painful coughing.

It's inexpensive but effective remedy give the child in the amount of 2-10 drops dissolved in a teaspoon of water. The medication is taken no more than 3 times a day. Licorice root syrup is contraindicated if the patient has bronchial asthma, arrhythmia, disorders in the functioning of the liver and kidneys, intolerance to the active substance.

Libeksin Muko

Children's expectorant, in the form of a syrup, brings pronounced relief from dry cough, difficult separation of bronchial secretions. Active ingredient medicines - carbocisteine, which helps to quickly remove sputum from the respiratory tract, eliminate discomfort in the throat and chest, reduce the number of nocturnal and daytime coughing fits. The product can be used at any stage of the disease, is not addictive, does not lead to depression of the respiratory center.

Patients who have reached 2 years of age receive 5 ml of syrup twice a day, no longer than 8 days. Before starting therapy with this remedy, you should familiarize yourself with the available contraindications. These include cystitis, acute form glomerulonephritis, phenylketonuria, hypersensitivity to the composition of the drug.

Vicks Active

This expectorant product is produced in effervescent tablets. The basis of the drug is acetylcysteine. Due to the intake of the drug, there is an active stimulation of expectoration, secretomotor and secretolytic action. Vicks Active affects liquefaction, increase in volume and accelerated sputum excretion, allows you to get a positive effect in the presence of mucopurulent bronchial secretions.

After 2 years, a 200 mg dosage form is used. Before swallowing, Vicks Active is dissolved in a glass of water (½ tablet 2-3 times a day). To avoid overdose, it is recommended to take no more than 200-300 mg of this medication per day.

Expectorants for patients over 3 years of age

Children from 3 years old can be assigned:

1. Doctor Mom.
2. Amtersol.
3. Codelac Broncho.

Doctor Mom

A syrup called Dr. Mom is a multicomponent herbal remedy. The drug has a pronounced mucolytic, bronchodilator, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect, promotes the transition of the dry variety of the syndrome into a productive cough.

The drug is taken three times a day after meals, in a volume of 2.5 ml. The syrup is not prescribed if the baby shows intolerance to its composition, has a severe allergic history, is prone to the development of bronchospasm.

Amtersol

This phytopreparation contains an extract of thermopsis herb, enriched with licorice extract. The medication helps fight inflammatory diseases respiratory tract, accompanied by the appearance of a painful cough (tracheitis, bronchitis, tracheobronchitis). The medication is taken no more than 3 times a day. Single dosage after 3 years - half a teaspoon. The product should not be used if the patient has hypersensitivity to its components, diabetes, brain injuries, renal and hepatic pathologies.

Codelac Broncho

The syrup is a combined remedy created with the addition of thyme extract. The medicine helps to reduce the viscosity of the mucous secretion, accelerate its discharge from the bronchi. The medication can be prescribed for both dry and wet cough.

The drug is used in consultation with the doctor (most often - three times a day, 2.5 ml each). Treatment should be abandoned if the child shows hypersensitivity to the components of the syrup. With caution, the drug is prescribed to asthmatics, patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency.

In the process of treating children with drugs that stimulate expectoration, it is important to avoid them. simultaneous reception with antitussive drugs. This combination is prohibited, as it provokes a worsening of sputum discharge.

Finding an expectorant for children under 1 year old on the shelves of pharmacies is not difficult. Manufacturers offer drugs with the most various formulations and mechanisms of action on the body. The range also includes completely natural medicines made on the basis of plant extracts and extracts. Young mothers and fathers pay attention to them most often, because it is generally accepted that if chemical components are not indicated in the composition, then they will not be harmful to the child's body. Is this really so, let's try to figure it out.

Why do babies develop bronchospasm

The biggest problem of modern parents is that they try to attribute a disease to a child even when there is none. This is especially true when the first baby appears in the family. However, it should be borne in mind that very young children react to environment not like adults. The organs of the respiratory system are still underdeveloped in them, so coughing can mean not only a disease, but also natural physiological processes. Causes of bronchospasm:

As you can see, inflammatory processes occupy only a small part of the list. In no case should you buy mucolytics or expectorants at the pharmacy if you have not consulted a pediatrician and found out the exact cause of the cough.

A child can get more harm than good from the wrong treatment.

Varieties of expectorants

The drugs that are called expectorants have their own specific task - to thin out too thick sputum and remove it from the respiratory tract. There are several ways to deal with this task. Depending on what mechanism of action the funds have, they are divided into two main groups: stimulating and thinning. Let's consider them in more detail.

Stimulants

They should stimulate sputum discharge and are divided into two types: reflex and resorptive.

• liquorice root;
• sodium benzoate;
• Eucalyptus oil.

1. Resorptive agents have a different principle of action, they thin the mucus, increase the secretion of the glands that secrete it, and promote the free removal of sputum from the respiratory tract. The main active ingredients of the preparations are:

• potassium iodide;
• ammonium iodide;
• sodium iodide.

Thinning

From the name it is clear that these funds are aimed at thinning too viscous mucus. Their mechanism of action is based on the fact that disulfide bonds in sputum are cleaved. This leads to an increase in the volume of surfactant discharged by the lungs.

The main active ingredients of drugs can be cysteine ​​derivatives or microregulators.

How to choose a drug for a baby

The list of expectorants for children under one year old is very large, now almost every pediatrician in our country can advise you on one of the drugs designed to thin and remove sputum from the respiratory tract. Let us consider in more detail what you can be prescribed in the clinic.

Also, other drugs may be prescribed for the child, which, according to doctors, will contribute to a speedy recovery.

The choice of remedy should be based on the diagnosis, the characteristics of the body of a small patient, the presence of personal intolerance to the components of the drugs. The composition should not include alcohol, chemical dyes and other harmful substances.

Concerns and warnings

European doctors categorically do not recommend giving expectorants to children under 2 years of age. This is due to the imperfection of the baby's respiratory system, it is not yet fully developed, therefore, from the use medications you can do more harm than good. In addition, the effectiveness of most drugs in this group has not been proven.

In France, back in 2010, it was officially forbidden to use expectorants for the treatment of children under 2 years of age, since side effects more of them than real help. Following France, Italy also refused these funds.

In Russia, despite all the warnings, babies under 1 year old still continue to prescribe this type of medication. In most cases, they only increase the cough, contribute to the spread of infection in different parts of the respiratory tract and cause a lot of unpleasant complications.

And what to be treated?

In fact, a child under one year old who has a wet cough with thick mucus should be provided with the most comfortable conditions for recovery, and not treated with medication. In order for the mucus to become more liquid and well removed from the respiratory tract, the following measures must be taken:

The benefits and harms of folk remedies

When parents realize pharmaceuticals contain substances harmful to the child, they begin to turn to folk remedies. However, they can also adversely affect the condition of crumbs up to 1 year. The fact is that to improve coughing, the following ingredients are most often used:

• honey and other bee products;
• animal interior fat;
• raspberries, viburnum and other berries;
• medicinal herbs;
• boiled potatoes for inhalation and compresses.

All these components are the strongest allergens, therefore they are not recommended for children under 3 years old, and some even after this age can be hazardous to health.

Warm potato compresses can damage the baby's delicate skin, as it protective functions not yet fully formed, one harmless procedure - and the child can get burned. Inhalations over steam are completely prohibited, they can lead to burns of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, since the child does not yet understand how to breathe correctly during the procedure.

Rubbing alcohol, animal fats and honey can cause severe allergies, so they should be excluded.

Relief procedures

List medical measures for babies up to a year old, it will be quite narrow, if you do not take into account dubious options. A special massage will help relieve a wet cough. By pressing on the reflex points, you can increase expectoration and help the baby cope with coughing. These can be special zones on the back, on the feet, etc. The doctor will tell you more about the techniques that are useful for the child.

Another safe method Improvement in expectoration are soda inhalations. In 1 glass of warm water, you need to dissolve a teaspoon of soda and put the glass as close as possible to the child.

In no case should you cover the baby with a towel, only inhalations at a distance will be safe. Please note that when elevated temperature body to do such procedures is prohibited.

The truth about pharmaceuticals

Expectorants, whatever their composition, cannot affect the cause of the cough, they only reduce the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease. In order to cure the disease itself, you need to select a special therapy. It is for this reason that the use of drugs that thin and remove sputum from the respiratory tract is considered inappropriate for children under 1 year old.

Toddlers benefit more from creating ideal conditions for their recovery. Sufficient fluid intake, high air humidity and optimal room temperature give better results than the use of pharmaceuticals. In addition, the child will be protected from the negative effects of drugs.

Do not rush to use syrups and drops to thin the mucus, as soon as you find a cough in the baby, it is better to consult a doctor, undergo an examination and select safe measures to eliminate the problem and alleviate the condition of the small patient.

Summing up

Children under 1 year old should not be given expectorants. There are several reasons for this. First of all, the funds do not have a direct effect on the elimination of the cause that provoked the cough.

Also keep in mind that the effectiveness of not all drugs presented in pharmacies has been proven in our time, but side effects they have more than enough. Take care of your children, choose only safe and effective treatment.

Almost every acute respiratory disease, both in a child and in an adult, is not complete without a cough. You don't have to worry about it, because it's normal condition the body, necessary for the removal of harmful bacteria and microbes that depart with sputum, thereby allowing you to clear the bronchi.

Accordingly, a cough should not be treated, but should be helped to move into a productive phase, which will accelerate the overall recovery. And it's easier to do this - use an expectorant. You will learn about which syrups are better to choose, what advantages and disadvantages they have, and how to speed up the healing process right now.

Features of expectorant syrups

Struggling with a disease in a child, many parents forget that it is very easy to cross the line between what is necessary and what is desired. There was an erroneous opinion that in order to cure acute respiratory infections, the first priority is to relieve cough. However, it is not.

Cough is an effective means of combating pathogenic microbes. With its help, all harmful bacteria are removed from the lungs, thereby freeing the airways and speeding up the healing process.

You have often heard the concept of "productive cough", so this means that with it, sputum is easily removed from the mucous system. And to achieve this effect, expectorant syrups are used. By their action, they help to thin the mucus that has accumulated in the lungs, and help it to exit the respiratory tract in the right and safe way. The very first sign that the remedy for stimulating expectoration is chosen correctly is the appearance of light liquid sputum, which is discharged in sufficient volume without complications.

Expectorant syrup for children begins to be used when viscous sputum appears, which complicates breathing, and is also accompanied by strong wet cough. Such symptoms are typical for the following diseases:

• bronchitis,
• pneumonia,
• laryngitis,
• sinusitis,
• tracheitis.

Important to remember! If you do not help the body in the process of removing sputum, then the recovery process will be long, and normal life is complicated by difficulty breathing and severe chest cough.

It is worth noting that it is necessary to select an effective cough remedy only with the help of a competent doctor, but no one denies the opportunity to gain knowledge on their own.

Unlike an adult, a child is more susceptible to harmful influence medicines, therefore, choosing an effective remedy, you need to carefully study both its pros and cons. After all, what is good for an adult can be bad for a baby. Some doctors insist on treating coughs without medication. But if this is not possible, it is worth deciding which syrups are acceptable and which ones should not be used.

List of expectorant cough syrups

All expectorant syrups are divided into two types:

1. Reflex type - they have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, which accelerates the process of mucus production in the respiratory tract. In addition, peristalsis in the bronchi improves, stimulating the excretion of sputum from small bronchioles into large ones, and then into the trachea. As a result, we get a productive wet cough, which effectively clears the bronchi of stagnant mucus. Such reflex properties are mainly found in vegetable syrups.
2. Direct resorptive nature - these are most often synthetic and combined syrups. After a full-fledged absorption process of the healing substances of these same expectorant syrups in intestinal tract, the bronchial mucosa is irritated, which provokes an increase in the secretion of liquid sputum, stimulating its rapid excretion.

note! Basic important feature children's cough syrups is their ease of use and pleasant taste that does not repel the child.

vegetable origin

When choosing an expectorant syrup of plant origin, pay attention to the useful and negative consequences, after all, not every herbal remedy may be suitable in your case.

As practice shows, vegetable syrups are an inexpensive way effective treatment cough. They have high quality characteristics at a minimum negative impact. It is especially good to use various kinds of syrups with a single component if there is intolerance to any synthetic ingredient of other drugs.

Important! The use of herbal syrups is permissible only if there is no allergy to the constituent parts of the drug. To check, you can give half a single dose and look at the reaction of the child's body. If no unnatural symptoms are found, you can use the medicine according to the instructions.

Synthetic

There is a false opinion among parents that synthetic medicines are worse than natural synthesizing syrups. However, it is not. Many synthetic drugs, although they have contraindications, they also allow you to treat newborn babies, which is not shown to everyone with herbal formulations due to a possible allergic reaction.

Worth paying attention! Any synthetic drug requires significant fluid intake, this will increase healing effect and the mucus will clear up faster.

Combined

If you can’t cope with the disease with herbal syrup, and you need an additional active element that enhances the expectorant effect, choose combined preparations in which beneficial features components of plant origin and additional synthetic auxiliaries.

Combined syrups are good way, using a herbal ingredient to quickly cope with a cough, accelerating the process of discharge of mucous accumulations from the bronchi.

Parents should understand all responsibility when choosing expectorant syrups on their own without first consulting a pediatrician. Only a doctor can correctly determine the characteristics of an ongoing disease, and, in accordance with the indications, determine an effective treatment.

To keep your baby safe unintended consequences an incorrectly prescribed drug, you should consult a doctor you trust or get a professional opinion from several specialists in your field.

Properly selected syrup will stimulate the liquefaction of sputum, and help the child cough it up more easily. Thus, all bacteria and pathogens from the bronchi will be removed much faster.

Help for parents

Faced with a cold, parents wish for their child a speedy recovery. Choosing the path of treatment with syrups, we help the body to extinguish the focus of the disease and get better soon. However, there are a number of measures that have a positive effect on the well-being of a sick child, and is an excellent incentive to increase the effectiveness of the drugs used.

Let's give experienced and young parents a couple important tips, which will help the child get rid of the cough as soon as possible:

• by the most an important factor to liquefy and remove accumulated sputum remains plentiful drink. It is necessary to provide the baby with a constant warm drink, preferably with the addition of natural antiseptic ingredients: chamomile or honey. In relation to drugs, this is very effective method to enhance the effect of the drug.
• The next factor is fresh air. To normalize heat transfer and saturate the body with oxygen, cool air is important, thanks to which the lungs receive more oxygen. If the child is constantly in a stuffy room and breathes air that is already filled with pathogenic microorganisms, the recovery process will be hopelessly delayed. Take care of airing the baby's room, humidifying the air and the possibility of walking outside. Even if the baby is sick, it is not necessary to deprive him of the opportunity to take a walk, especially if he wants it and does not show symptoms of a complete breakdown.
• When a person becomes ill, he refuses to eat. And he does it right. In order to fight the disease, the body needs to spend significant amount energy. By eating large portions of food, you deliberately complicate the process of recovery. Children who suffer from a wet choking cough need to reduce the amount of food they take, thereby leaving the strength to fight the infection. A positive effect will be from taking milk cereals, mashed potatoes, radishes, grapes. Drinking grape juice with honey will help relieve your cough.

As a conclusion, I would like to note that any cold requires proper treatment, cough is no exception. You should not try to cure the crumbs on your own, it is better to take the advice of a competent doctor who will correctly select an expectorant syrup that has the necessary effect.

You are only required to provide all possible assistance: ventilate the room, try to humidify the air with improvised or specialized means, provide the child with constant drinking, and also adhere to nutritional standards. It will be important to provide the child with vitamin C, which is found in citrus fruits.

arise this symptom maybe by different reasons. Depending on the type of cough, a drug is selected for treatment. If a respiratory infection accompanied by a productive cough, expectorant drugs are prescribed.

Expectorants are meant to treat if the sputum is not thick. With a wet cough, drugs are taken to expel sputum, but not to block it.

Expectorants have two actions: reflex and resorptive:

1. With a reflex action, the drug contributes to irritation of the stomach, but vomiting does not occur. Against the background of excitation of the cough and vomiting center, mucus is produced in the respiratory tract, which affects the performance of the epithelium. As a result of this, sputum is removed and moisture is eliminated from the bronchi. The group of such drugs includes syrups with extracts of the following plants: coltsfoot, plantain, oregano, elecampane, licorice, etc. Such drugs have a minimum of contraindications.
2. Expectorant drugs that have a resorptive effect, after absorption by the body, irritate the bronchial mucosa and contribute to the further elimination of mucus. The action is manifested after absorption into the blood of the active substance. After entering the vascular bed, the substance spreads throughout the body and has the necessary effect on the human organ or system. The basis of such preparations may include special enzymes, substances containing sulfur, vizicin derivatives. Taking into account the action and condition of the patient, expectorants are selected.

Review of the best expectorants for children

Drugs with expectorant action are available in different dosage forms. For children, medicines in the form of a syrup are most available. Some of them contain dyes that improve the taste of the drug. The choice of the drug should be approached carefully if the child has a food allergy.

Popular expectorants for children are:

• Bronchicum C. The active ingredient is a liquid extract of thyme. For the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, it is allowed to use the drug from 6 months.
• . The drug in the form of a syrup can be used for children from 2 years old, and in the form of drops - for children under one year old. The basis of the drug is an extract of ivy leaves. Does not contain dyes, so the appearance allergic reactions not fixed.
• . This is combined remedy, which includes various plant components: turmeric rhizome, elecampane root, licorice, terminalia fruits, cubeba peppers, etc. The drug has a slight anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and vasodilating effect.
• . Drug with antimicrobial action with the extract of thyme, thyme and plantain included in the composition. Contraindicated for use in children under one year old.
• Tussamag. Medicine containing liquid thyme extract. At correct reception quickly liquefies and removes mucus. This drug is quite strong, so use for children under 5 years old a teaspoon 2-3 times a day.
• . One of the most common drugs for the treatment of pathologies of the respiratory system. The syrup has a pronounced expectorant, enveloping and softening effect. Can be taken by infants. Children under 2 years of age are prescribed 3-4 drops at a time, and older children half a teaspoon of syrup. The drug must be diluted with water.
• Alteyka. A preparation containing marshmallow root extract. Vegetable raw material stimulates bronchosecretion and envelops the inflamed areas of the mucosa, as a result of which swelling and irritation in the bronchi are relieved. Can be taken by children up to one year old.
• . The drug is used to treat broncho-pulmonary diseases, which are accompanied by sputum difficult to separate. The active ingredient is ambroxol hydrochloride.

Any expectorant should be taken only after a doctor's prescription. It is better for parents not to experiment with the choice of the drug.

Medicines with an expectorant effect should not be given to children with. In this case, mucolytics will be needed to thin the sputum.

Many pediatricians believe that it is not recommended to give expectorants to children under one year of age. At this age, the child does not know how to breathe properly, and expectorants increase sputum production. Mucus will accumulate in the bronchi, as a result of which pathogenic microorganisms will actively multiply.

Expectorants should not be given together with antitussives.

During treatment should be used a large number of fluids and control body temperature.Parents should know that it is strictly forbidden to take expectorants for inflammation of the respiratory tract. There is no sputum in the bronchi, and the use of the drug provokes its appearance and the risk of complications increases.

If syrups do not help: what to do?

Usually the course of treatment with an expectorant is about 7-10 days. If, after the course of treatment, the cough does not go away, then you should definitely contact your pediatrician.

Can be used at home folk remedies that help expel mucus. Some of them are more effective than medications.

Effective methods to facilitate the removal of sputum from the lungs:

• . Inhalations can be carried out with medicines, and herbal decoctions. Such procedures help to get rid of cough and remove sputum. The pharmacy sells ready-made fees or you can cook it yourself. You should take a teaspoon of eucalyptus leaves, birch and pine buds, herbs and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Then boil for 5 minutes. The child should bend over the pan and inhale the vapors. This procedure should only be performed on older children. Inhalations for young children are recommended to be performed with a nebulizer.
• An effective expectorant is warm milk with honey. It can be used only if there is no allergy to products. In addition, you can mix radish juice and honey (for 2 tablespoons of juice, 1 teaspoon of honey).
• Compresses. Compresses help with many diseases of the respiratory system. Take homemade cottage cheese, wrap it in gauze and heat it up. Then lay on the chest, avoiding the heart area. Cover the child under a blanket.
• Rubbing. You can perform rubbing with lard or fat. It's old but very effective method getting rid of cough.

Tips for parents: what to do if the child coughs heavily

Useful video - Expectorants for coughing

If there are wheezing, complaints of chest pain, green sputum appears, then the child should be placed in a hospital. In the hospital, the child will be examined and antibiotic therapy will be prescribed.

Prevention of cough in children

Preventive measures of any cough in children are aimed at strengthening immunity and healthy lifestyle life:

1. The child should be taught to hardening from the first days of life. Walking on fresh air should be regular. When bathing, avoid overheating and use very hot water. There is no need to wrap the child in warm clothes when the temperature is “plus” outside. It is important to avoid hypothermia.
2. It is necessary to maintain a constant humidity of 50-70% in the child's room. Dry air in the room negatively affects the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. pathogens easily penetrate the body of the child and begin to multiply rapidly. To humidify the room, you can use a household humidifier or hang a wet cloth. In addition, you should regularly ventilate the room.
3. AT warm time older children can walk barefoot on the grass and swim in the river. It's a good stimulus immune system. For body resistance viral infections need to be outdoors more.
4. The nutrition of the child should be complete and balanced. The diet should contain sufficient essential vitamins and minerals.
5. Immunity can be increased by special vitamin complexes. They should be consumed in the spring-winter period, when the defenses are reduced.
6. Make it a rule to wash your hands regularly. This daily procedure will prevent the spread of infection.

The most effective anti-allergic drugs for children

Expectorants for children should be in the medicine cabinet for any mother. Therefore, there are practically no such children who manage to be healthy throughout their happy childhood. That is, they do not get sick from a cold or SARS (acute respiratory viral infections).

What causes cough in children

Usually, with a cold in children, the “entrance gates of infection” are first affected. This is the throat, tonsils, nasal mucosa. Local Clinical signs depends on where exactly the enemy has infiltrated. If a vile virus has penetrated the nasal mucosa, then the body begins to try with all its might to protect itself from its further penetration deep into the body. It is cleared by producing abundant mucus. That is, the child starts a runny nose.

But the throat and tonsils cannot produce mucus in the same way as the nose. They react to the invasion of a foreign microorganism by reddening. As well as an increase in temperature at the site of inflammation. And fever all over the body.

The brain receives a signal: "Pain, throat needs help." At this stage, acute respiratory infections are prescribed treatment aimed at sanitation of the throat and nasal mucosa.

Conditions for dry cough

There are many types of ARI viruses. One of them can insidiously infiltrate. And then to capture new territories of the respiratory system of your child. It actively multiplies and descends from the throat below. into the trachea, causing tracheitis. If the virus infects the lymphoid tissue of the pharynx along the way, then pharyngitis begins. If the larynx - laryngitis begins.

Due to throat irritation inflammatory process, the child begins to cough. It happens that a worried mother runs to the pharmacy, bypassing the doctor, for expectorants for her child. After all, the cough seems to be dry, there are no wheezing, and a visit to the doctor was not included in my mother's plans.

What will help or not help with a dry cough

The pharmacist will be happy to advise you modern medicine. Still, the most newfangled, but expensive. And a very "effective" and safe expectorant. With good intentions, the mother will begin her treatment for the baby. And all in vain! Expectorants for laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis do not help!

With such a cough, it will be useful to treat the throat with harmless scuba diving for children .

And also plentiful alkaline drink. I also like the therapeutic effect of dry cough from inhalation with mineral water. Essentuki No. 17 has a high soda content. It is very good at alleviating dry coughs. Facilitates general state. Inhalations should be carried out with a nebulizer. Then your child will quickly get rid of dry cough. And it will be safe!

Previously, mustard plasters were still prescribed for dry coughs. calf muscles. This remedy still works. But not every child will agree to such a procedure.

Cough lozenges have a good expectorant, that is, cough drops. I like Doctor Mom or Pectusin. Although, they must be used as prescribed by a doctor. However, like other means, too. note that last resort should be kept refrigerated.

When to Use Expectorants

It is a completely different matter when a viral (or microbial) infection captures the territory of the bronchi. Then tracheobronchitis or bronchitis will begin. If the correct measures are not taken immediately upon the initial entry of the virus into the child's body, tracheobronchitis can begin quite quickly.

The bronchi are protected from inflammation in the same way as the nasal mucosa. They produce mucus, that is, phlegm. , which happens not only during the day, but also at night too. Cough is paroxysmal, coughing attack may occur from a loud conversation or laughter. This stage is an indication for the appointment of expectorants.

But before you run to the pharmacy, show the child to the children's doctor. The fact is that if expectorants are not given, the sputum will become thick and will be difficult to cough up. The child will suffer from an excruciating unproductive cough.

What is the danger of self-treatment of a child

Some expectorants thin the sputum very intensively, which is also fraught with consequences. Liquefied sputum, if it has accumulated a lot, will come out, filling the lumen of the bronchus from the inside. This condition is called bronchial obstruction, which, of course, will not bring anything good for your baby.

Mom must understand that the baby can not always talk about his feelings. So, during treatment with expectorants, you need to see a doctor. The specialist will understand where your child hurts. Where did the inflammatory process develop?

It will solve the issue of prescribing not only an expectorant needed for treatment at the moment. But also directed against the pathogen - a virus or a microbe. As well as other symptomatic remedies that alleviate the general condition of your baby.

What expectorant is desirable to have at home

It is useful to have ascoril in my mother's first aid kit. This is combination medicine against cough. Ascoril contains three active substances: salbutamol, bromhexine and guaifenesin. Of course, these substances can be used one at a time. But in ascoril they complement each other, easing coughing fits as quickly as possible.

Salbutamol dilates the bronchi, preventing an attack of bronchospasm. Bromhexine is a well-known expectorant, it dilutes sputum well, facilitating its exit from the bronchi. Guaifenesin, which is part of ascoril, is also included in the drugs "Tussin", "Coldrex broncho", "Terraflu KV". This substance also has an expectorant effect.

Ascoril should not be used for a long time, more than 7 days. It cannot be used simultaneously with antitussives. Before buying ascoril in a pharmacy, mom needs to read the instructions for the drug, especially contraindications.

Herbs help too.

It is also useful to have expectorant herbs at home. It could be breast collection#1, #2, #3, or #4. The composition of these fees includes various combinations of herbs. All of them have not only an expectorant effect, anti-inflammatory, but also a general beneficial effect on the body.

If a child has an allergy, then it is better not to use the collection of herbs, but to have one or two proven expectorant herbs in stock. It can be wild rosemary, licorice, marshmallow, pine buds and others. Expectorant herbs should be given to children in age dosages and on the advice of a physician.

Seemingly simple but effective pills

Another simple but effective expectorant: "Cough pills." This medicine has been prescribed since Soviet times. Soda (sodium bicarbonate) provides an alkaline environment in which sputum is better expectorated. And the thermopsis herb is an expectorant.

Cough tablets were prescribed for a dry cough to turn it into a wet one and cure it. First you need to determine the dose. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor. Then, treatment dose brewed in boiling water like tea and taken in small sips.

Even these plain pills have contraindications and are given to children only as prescribed by a doctor.

Medicine does not stand still, new medicines are being created to relieve coughs. Combined expectorants are available. In any case, a competent doctor should help with the choice, after examining the child, and not a pharmacy pharmacist.

Do you know a good expectorant? Write to us in the comments about its action and cost.

Hello. I am the author of this blog Elena Gennadyeva, nurse 1 category. My children are an adult son and a little daughter. When I started writing articles here, my daughter was only 4 months old. I was on leave to care for her. Often I had to deal with some problems that I competently and successfully coped with. What I regularly wrote on my blog. I am sure that my articles will help many parents to solve similar problems just as easily. https://vk.com/club72813640