On 03/12/2007, Carvalho <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Recently in the US, over-the-counter cough syrups have been discontinued, for being (a) at times detrimental (b) actually quite useless in curing colds.
When my daughter was sick in Goa with the common cold, albeit one that had turned a bit nasty with green substances oozing from the nose, the doctor had no qualms about prescribing two different cough syrups for her, one to treat her cold and the other he said was "anti-bacterial". Should parents in Goa be cautious about cough syrups for very young children or are they perfectly safe? --- Dear Selma, Do not know which 'cough syrup' is 'anti-bacterial'. However - attached herewith - from the local media - a dated article - needs some revision. . good wishes jc QUESTION: My daughter is 4 years old and has been coughing for a few days. There is no fever, runny nose, or congestion, only the cough. How do you know whether to give a cough suppressant or an expectorant? How long should I try the cough syrup before I take her to the doctor? ANSWER: Ah! the cough. It exhausts the poor children, irritates the dads, and worries mums no end. And yet, without the protection of cough, our lungs and we'd be in big trouble. In a child older than one year of age, for a dry cough, I'd recommend a home remedy like warm water with a little honey. Many coughs respond to this simple mixture. We would do well to bear in mind that often times, cough mixtures do not stop the cough. On occasion, the cough worsens. Mothers are often the best judges of when their child needs to see a doctor. And while some mothers rush their children to the doctor at the first sign of a cough, and others wait forever, most mothers make fairly good calls. When their child is getting no better, and it's already been a week, or at any time the child appears worse, the Mums know that it is time to visit the doctor. Having said that, here are a few pointers that we may wish to remember: 1. Cough is protective. It clears mucus secretions and gets rid of infections which might affect our lungs. Coughs also alert us that there is a problem in our airway, and that our body is trying to deal with that problem. 2. Children cough for all kinds of reasons. Most coughs are caused by viral infections. Other causes include asthma, allergies, croup, sinusitis and some chest infections. 3. Our attention should primarily be directed towards treating the cause of the cough and not at suppressing it. Treatment of coughs 4. Expectorant mixtures are advertised as being useful to help break and bring up mucous. How effective they really are, remains a subject of much debate. 5. If the child is a known wheezer (asthmatic), it is best to try a wheeze relieving medicine like Ventolin or Berotec at the onset of the cough. When is it time to visit the doctor? 6. Anytime the child looks very ill or short of breath. 7. If the child is coughing up green or yellow mucus, or blood. 8. If there is persistent fever. 9. When two weeks have passed, the runny nose has stopped but the troublesome cough persists. It is possible that the child has inhaled a peanut, or the child has a 'walking pneumonia'. These are some thoughts that surely will cross the doctor's mind. In the mean time, we must all ensure that: 10. We do not expose the child to smoke and smokers, strong perfumes, to dust, burning garbage and drafts of cold air. Cough is a common and troublesome problem. A viral infection is the most common cause. Children usually pick up these infections from other children at school. No wonder they are so well during the holidays, and start their coughing series when back at school. Many times these infections are avoidable, sometimes not. Some parents have no option but to carry their sick children to the school. Every other child starts coughing soon thereafter. Sure, immunity to infection develops by this method. But a lot of coughing and sleepless nights occur in the mean time. That is the enigma called cough. It protects our lungs from infection but keeps us awake at night. The preceding article is for general information purposes only. This information should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your child's pediatrician. José Colaço,MD 2005
