Useful reflex
Let's first ask ourselves what is a cough? The answer is very simple: it is a strong reflex exhalation, aimed at restoring the patency of the airways. It can be disturbed by anything: foreign objects, inflammation, mucus, which is produced in the bronchi, more simply, phlegm, which can stagnate due to the fact that it slips badly through the bronchial tree or because of too intensive synthesis of its components. In short, coughing has many different causes. But its function is always the same: protective. Before you get a lot of cough medicine for a small child, you should first visit a doctor.
Oil painting
In the vast majority of cases, cough is caused by an infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract. Therefore, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis and even inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - all this is accompanied by a cough. As a rule, everything starts with a so-called "unproductive" cough, when there is no sputum. It is rather painful - dry and barking. Prevents the child from playing, sleeping and even eating. As a rule, this phase lasts for several days. Then the cough becomes different, productive. Outgoing and long seizures go away. Cough is already much easier, because sputum begins to expectorate. In viral infections, it is most often dense and light, with a slightly yellowish tinge. If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the sputum is colored quite intensively - it is yellow or yellow-green.
Color variations
Sometimes it happens that first a light sputum gets some color. This suggests that a secondary bacterial flora has joined the viral infection. By the way, it is on this scenario and the majority of SARS proceeds. Mucous, weakened by the dominance of viruses, easily undergoes a bacterial attack. As a result, the infection is mixed - both viral and bacterial. Therefore, the timing of the disease becomes longer. The malaise lasts about 10-12 days. Then comes the turn of the so-called "residual phenomena". As a rule, it is weakness, apathy, not very good appetite and, of course, cough. Rather, coughing with the departure of a small amount of light sputum. This is how most acute respiratory infections occur. In this case, the "cough period" is not more than three weeks.
Chronic inflammation can occur due to the fact that the family smokes. Many problems with children's lungs are associated with passive smoking. If parents smoke, then they should do it outside the house - this requirement is indisputable and necessary. Otherwise, the child will have constant exacerbations of bronchitis. Its main symptom is a cough. As a rule, he is dry, persistent and rather torturous. Major attacks are observed in the morning and evening.
There are several methods for preventing childhood respiratory diseases. The first place here is "home ecology". The house can not smoke "you need to do a wet cleaning, as well as use special apparatus: air purifiers and ionizers
Correct ionizers
Ionizers are the basis for the prevention of respiratory diseases, especially for children. You need to use them correctly. First of all, choose a suitable place. This is important. Too close to the ionizer can not be. Beside him, everything becomes dirty. This is because negative ions precipitate the "dissolved" dust in the air, which settles on the ionizer itself and on all surfaces adjacent to it. It is dangerous to be in this area: you can provoke an exacerbation of the disease. So do not put the ionizer near the bed. Better set under the children's table or on the window. True, you will have to regularly wash the curtains and wash the glass. Each model has a minimum allowable distance from the instrument to the user. Its value should appear in the hygienic passport of the device. If this number is not there, then it can be calculated independently. To do this, it is necessary to divide the working voltage of the electrode by 10. If the ionizer has a voltage of 10 kV, then the minimum distance is 1 meter, if 0.5 kV, then 50 cm. The more powerful the device, the farther away it should be. If everything is done correctly, the probability of acute respiratory infections and exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases decreases by 25-30%.
Chronical bronchitis
There are also chronic respiratory diseases. In this case, the cough lasts three or more weeks. He can torture a child even for several months. Most often this pattern is observed in chronic bronchitis. Until recently, such a diagnosis was made only by adults, as a rule, smokers with long experience. But a few years ago, chronic bronchitis entered the official list of childhood diseases. There was it for several reasons. In the first place there is a bad ecological situation. That's why doctors are first of all asking about where the sick children live. Very often their apartments are located on the ground floors. This is a huge risk factor, since all harmful substances, in particular, nitric oxide, accumulate at the bottom. It has a very bad effect on the condition of the bronchi, and there is a chronic inflammation.
Thermal procedures are contra-indicated when the temperature is raised
The Dangerous Bath
Recently, all are fond of baths and saunas. They are used not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of already begun disease. Some parents prefer to steal their child well. This is permissible if the child is older than 10 years, he does not have a temperature and the time spent in the steam room is not more than 60-70 seconds. But you need to carefully monitor that the baby does not talk in the sauna and breathe only through the nose. It is only necessary to inhale the hot air of the sauna through the mouth - and the bronchi become vulnerable to any infection.
Fact
On the bronchial mucosa there are microscopic cilia, which protect against dirt, dust and bacteria. They consist of a protein that folds at high temperature. Cilia die, bronchi become "bald" and can no longer protect themselves
Juice from ARI
The second line of defense against "cough infections" is folk remedies. If the child has a tendency to respiratory diseases, then in the cold season it is possible to resort, for example, to rinsing out the brewed eucalyptus leaves. Their bactericidal action is three times greater than that of penicillin, so this method of treatment is characterized by a rare efficacy. Gargle should be rinsed several times a day throughout the peak of ARI.
Very good result gives and decoction of herbs celandine. They need to gargle 2-3 times a day for a week. Propolis has a noticeable disinfecting and immunostimulating effect. One teaspoon of its water tincture should be dissolved in a glass of warm water and give the child gargle with such a solution.
You can make applications: at night attach a piece of propolis to the baby's root teeth. But you can do this only to those children who have never had an allergy to honey and bee products.
Of great importance is diet. With an inclination to respiratory diseases, orange and pomegranate juices are very useful. The latter must be diluted and drunk softly through a straw, so that the acid does not damage the tooth enamel. It is good to regularly eat cranberry and cowberry morsels, and, oddly enough, doctors recommend cocoa with milk and sugar. This drink also reduces the likelihood of respiratory infections.
To clear your throat
As expectorants use decoctions of medicinal herbs: mother-and-stepmother, ledum, elecampane, black radish juice with honey, plantain juice, anise fruit extract and thyme. Also herbs of thermopsis, marshmallow, licorice, essential oils. Well-proven preparations from the leaves of ivy - awning and gedelix. One of the best mucolytics is ambroxol.
Do not annoy me!
Coughing is a protective reflex. Using it, sputum, bacteria, toxins are excreted from the bronchi. If all this remains inside, then the illness is delayed for a maximum period. For this reason, doctors do not like to prescribe cough medicine for a small child. They benefit only in one situation - when the child is tormented by a dry paroxysmal cough, which prevents the baby from sleeping, playing.
A long-lasting cough is caused by excessive irritability of the bronchi. It turns out a vicious circle, which can be broken with the help of special antitussive drugs. They can appoint only a doctor
Local vaccines
If to speak about medicinal prophylaxis of "cough infections", then on the first place there are so-called "local" vaccines. These are drugs that contain parts of bacteria that cause respiratory diseases. They stimulate the production of antibodies, and the child becomes protected from most infections. Local vaccines include ribomunil, bronhomunal, imudon.
Ribomunyl helps to develop immunity against the most common pathogens of pulmonary diseases. He is appointed if the baby is often sick with respiratory infections. The drug is taken by the course: the first 4 days of each week for three weeks. Then - the first 4 days of each month for 5 months. Treatment lasts six months. Imudon is prescribed for children older than 3 years. The drug is a chewable tablet with a taste of lemon. They can be given in the guise of candy. Children from 3 to 14 years old are given 6 tablets a day, they should be taken at intervals of two hours. In a year it is desirable to undergo 3-4 courses of treatment. This is the prevention of bronchitis, SARS, sore throats, laryngitis.
Best cough syrups
When a baby "hits" a cough and you do not know what to do to help, your heart becomes bleeding. Nevertheless, before giving crumbs to the cough syrup, consult a doctor and keep in mind that before you go to bed, you need to give the syrup at least 30-40 minutes before the baby goes to bed. Otherwise, it can awaken cough.
Erespal
Orange syrup, which is recommended not only for cold cough, but for allergic, with bronchial asthma. Applied with laryngitis and bronchitis.
Tussamag
Produced in the form of syrup and drops from cough. Used for the disease of the upper respiratory tract. Contains a thick extract of chestnut leaves, glycerin.
Bronchosan drops
for oral administration. It can be given to children with tea, with fruit drinks in obstructive and tracheobronchits. Contains anise and eucalyptus oil.
Gedelix
The preparation of plant origin, contains an extract of ivy leaves. Available in the form of syrup and in drops. Improves breathing. Homeopathic remedy for cough. It helps with prolonged bronchitis, when the cough lasts more than a month.