I. Coughing means be sick
Coughing is a protective reflex of the body, but not all coughs are caused by illness. Except for respiratory infections, coughs can be triggered by smoke and irritating gases.
ii. Coughing cause to pneumonia
In fact, pneumonia as a respiratory infection can trigger a cough. When cough persisting and be accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, and depression, parents need to be alert to pneumonia. However, cough does not cause to pneumonia. On the contrary, cough helps to clear the respiratory tract and helps to recovery.
III. Taking cough medicine promptly when coughing
For children, especially those who under 6 years old, the effectiveness of cough medicine is not proven and may cause serious adverse reactions. Parents should not give cough medicine to children under 6 years old, while for older children and adults, cough medicine only be used for relieving cough and does not change the direction of progression of the disease.
Post-cold cough is the longest lasting of all symptoms of a cold and the slowest to resolve. As the inflammatory response in the respiratory tract decreases and secretions being reduced, the child's cough will gradually become less frequent or disappear. If the cough persists, parents need to be alert to other illnesses and send the child to hospital promptly.
IV. Drink plenty of water for coughing
There is no evidence that drinking more water helps to the recovery of cough. On the contrary, respiratory syncytial virus infection may cause abnormal levels of antidiuretic hormone. Taking much fluid may also cause problems such as hyponatremia. For children over one year of age, drinking honey water before bedtime may relieve nighttime coughing, but children do not need to purposely drink excessive amounts of water.
V. Coughing with green sputum indicates a bacterial infection
Whether the infection is bacterial or viral，which cause the immune system to respond-for example, white blood cells engulf the virus or bacteria and then release iron-containing proteins back, and cause the sputum to turn green. There is no need to take antibiotics just because you see your child coughing with green sputum.
VI. Patting the back can help expel phlegm
None of the current studies have found that physical therapy such as back patting is helpful in improving the condition.
