Expectorant herbs for children, harmless antitussives. Expectorants for children - how to choose the best expectorant for children 4 years old

Many colds cause a child to develop a cough, attacks of which torment the child throughout the day and night. For treatment children's cough Expectorants have been used successfully. They are available in the form of tablets, capsules, syrups, suspensions and drops, which are intended for the treatment of children different ages. Expectorants are prescribed for acute respiratory viral infections, colds, bronchitis, which occurs with the appearance wet cough and poorly produced sputum.

It should be remembered that medications for children must be prescribed by a doctor. Self-treatment may lead to complications.

Expectorants are prescribed to a child if there is a wet cough with poor mucus discharge. When dry, nonproductive cough These medications should not be given.

Expectorants are usually prescribed for the following diseases:

• Sinusitis;
• ARVI;

Expectorants for children with a wet cough promote the natural release of mucus that is in the respiratory system. Along with sputum, pathogenic bacteria are released, which provoke inflammation in the trachea, bronchi and lungs.

The health of a sick child improves due to the fact that medications cause a change in the consistency of sputum. In some diseases, there is viscous mucus in the child’s bronchi, which cannot come out on its own due to its thick consistency.

Types of medications

All medications that are prescribed for the treatment of wet cough are divided into two types.

Mucolytic agents.

For viscous sputum with a thick consistency, doctors usually prescribe mucolytics, which thin the mucus and promote its removal from the respiratory tract. If a child has a productive cough with profuse sputum, mucolytic agents are not prescribed. The main feature of the drug is that while liquefying sputum, mucolytics practically do not increase its volume.

Medicines can be administered orally or used as inhalations.

The most popular mucolytic drugs:

The medicine thins sputum and has a weak antitussive effect. Prescribed when acute bronchitis, tracheitis and pneumonia. Bromhexine is prescribed to young children in the form of syrup. From the age of six, a child can be given the drug in tablet form. Bromhexine solution is used for inhalation.

ACC 100 and ACC syrup. The medicine is prescribed for diseases of the respiratory system that cause cough with highly educated viscous mucus that is difficult to come out. For children under two years of age, the medication should be prescribed only under the strict supervision of the treating pediatrician. Available in the form of granules, which must be dissolved in water, or syrup (for children over 2 years old). For inhalation treatment, the drug is prepared in the form of a solution.

This medicine is intended to treat a cough with sticky sputum that hardly comes out naturally. The drug can be prescribed for expectoration of sputum in children from 1 year of age. It increases the volume of mucus and helps it come out. The release form is granules that dissolve well in water. The medication is also available in ampoules, which are intended for inhalation.

. This is a new generation medicine that effectively treats cough. It can even be given infant. The drug is taken for acute bronchitis and pneumonia. It is available in the form of a solution, which is given to children to drink before meals or used for inhalation.

Refers to mucolytic drugs with a pronounced expectorant effect. Lazolvan is used for expectoration of sputum in children from 1 year of age.

Important! For children under one year of age, medications are prescribed whose main active ingredient is ambroxol. Bromhexine-based drugs are used to treat cough in older children.

Expectorants

These are medications that facilitate the removal of phlegm from the bronchi and lungs when coughing by diluting the mucus formed in the respiratory system. They are appointed when acute diseases, which are not accompanied by a large amount of mucous discharge. Expectorants are mainly medicines based on the components plant origin:

Medicines that promote expectoration are prescribed for oral administration. Also, for wet coughs, hot inhalations using decoctions of expectorant herbs or essential oils are useful. However, these procedures are contraindicated for children under 3 years of age.

They are also used to treat wet and dry coughs. homeopathic medicines(for example Stodal syrup).

To treat productive cough, hot rubbing with various medications is used.

The composition of ointments for rubbing includes special essential oils, which help increase blood flow to the pulmonary lobes, stimulate the bronchial glands and irritate skin covering. The preparations are rubbed into the skin of the baby’s chest and back. Hot rubs can be used to treat children from six months of age.

Additional Treatments

There is a large number folk remedies, which have long been used to eliminate unproductive and wet cough in children. These include:

• Decoctions medicinal plants for steam inhalation and drinking;
• Hot rubbing;
• Compresses;
• Hot baths for feet.

Many parents prudently prepare medicinal herbs for decoctions and teas on their own in the summer.

Makes it easier general state massage also promotes a speedy recovery of the child. It improves drainage function tissues and glands of the bronchi, helps remove phlegm and mucus from them.

These methods are great for auxiliary method treatment of cough or in its initial stages.

Remember that only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis; do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor.

Cough is the most common respiratory disease in children. Attacks most often occur during the cold season - autumn and winter. Every parent wants to purchase the best expectorant, which will help in a short period and has a minimum of contraindications. What do pediatricians think about this, and what pills do they prescribe to young patients?

How to help your child with a wet cough

Any expectorant helps remove mucus from the lungs. Due to the liquefying effect, mucus with harmful microbes leaves the body without difficulty. A cough expectorant can be prepared at home. They are suitable for children 2 years and older. Up to 1 year, homemade mixtures and decoctions should be given only after consultation with an experienced doctor.

Expectorants for children are offered in a variety pharmaceutical companies. Self-medication is not the best choice therapy for young patients. In 60% of cases, such actions only worsen the child’s condition and lead to chronic diseases.

If the baby is not yet 5 years old, then bronchospasm may indicate bronchitis. This disease is characterized by severe swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs. Warming up in this case is contraindicated. It is advisable to call ambulance or a local pediatrician who will select competent therapy.

Expectorants for dry coughs: what are they?

It is difficult for a child who is not yet one year old to cope with the disease on his own. Weak respiratory muscles of the bronchi cannot always push out mucus. Therefore, parents need to understand how to make the spasm productive. A remedy for dry cough is prescribed only if there is no discharge.

Expectorants for children under 5 years of age are presented in the form of syrups. Any baby drinks them easily. Effective medications are often combined with procedures - inhalations, herbal decoctions and rubbing. If the child is already 7 years old, then therapy is carried out with tablets. These can be cheap drugs or more expensive ones, it all depends on the financial capabilities of the parents.

Expectorants for children under 5 years of age are presented in the form of syrups. Any baby drinks them easily. Effective medications are often combined with procedures - inhalations, herbal decoctions and rubbing. If the child is already 7 years old, then therapy is carried out with tablets. These can be cheap drugs or more expensive ones, it all depends on the financial capabilities of the parents.

How to choose medications for a baby

Expectorants for wet cough presented in variety. Most often, the pediatrician prescribes the following drugs that remove mucus from the respiratory tract:

1. Marshmallow is a cough syrup for children based on a natural extract. These are expectorant drugs, they reduce spasms and relieve inflammation. If the baby is one year old, the drug is given strictly according to the instructions. Cough remedies for children made from natural ingredients may cause an allergic reaction. In this case one year old child You need to show it to your pediatrician and change your treatment dramatically. Side effects of Althea also include nausea and vomiting.
2. Liquorice root - expectorant, which can be easily found in pharmacies. Decoctions of this remedy quickly remove phlegm, thinning the mucus. Such antitussive drugs should be given carefully to children. If there is no regular intake of fluid into the body, then mucus will accumulate in the lungs, this is a sure path to pneumonia.
3. Pertussin - which was used in times Soviet Union. This inexpensive medicine, available to any family. The syrup promotes expectoration and calms attacks. This good remedy, it is included in many modern medicines, the price of which is above 300 rubles per bottle. But even such effective syrups have contraindications - allergies, rashes and nausea.
4. Gedelix is ​​an expectorant that thins mucus. For children under one year of age, it is actively prescribed in many clinics across the country. This is an effective expectorant based on plant extracts. Contraindications include diarrhea and allergies.
5. Stoptussin-Fito – improves expectoration and relieves inflammation. This cough suppressant is made from plants. Therefore, it is possible that a rash may appear (an allergic reaction to the ingredients).

What cough remedies for children are best to use in treating the disease?

In rare cases, expectorant syrups can cause swelling. In this case, you need to immediately call an ambulance. The doctor will need to tell you which cough expectorant caused this reaction.

Doctors' warnings

For coughs for children over 1 year of age, more than extensive list medicines. Folk remedies are also acceptable for bronchospasms, but it should be understood that young patients are sensitive to products such as honey, raspberries and other allergens.

Up to two years respiratory system The baby is not fully developed. Any sputum expectorant in the wrong dosage can worsen the condition. This must be taken into account and never experiment with medications from the pharmacy. Cough medicine for children who are 0-24 months old is prescribed only by a pediatrician.

It is important to know that in 2010, health care in France and Italy banned cough expectorants from being prescribed to patients under two years of age. This is due to the fact that the respiratory system does not remove mucus to a large extent, but distributes it throughout the body. In this case, a common cold develops into a dangerous disease.

In this case, children need to be given more drinks for cough. These can be decoctions of chamomile and other medicinal herbs. The best remedy is walking fresh air, regular ventilation of the room and wet cleaning.

List of products for children over 2 years old

Cough medicine for children over 1 should also be used after seeing a doctor. At this age, the drugs listed above also help. A folk remedy for cough using honey and chamomile decoction will also be effective. These ingredients are simply mixed and given to your baby as a daily drink.

How to help a child if a cough provokes vomiting

There are other antitussives that can be used by children over one year of age:

1. Mucaltin are tablets that are best prescribed by doctor's prescription.
2. Dry cough syrup for children over 2 years of age – the powder is diluted with warm water according to the instructions. The product must be used after meals, after 15-20 minutes. The dosage is also prescribed in the instructions.
3. Linkas syrup is the best expectorant, according to many parents. It is made on the basis of natural ingredients - violet, marshmallow and hyssop. This cough remedy for children 1 year of age is well tolerated and has a minimum side effects.
4. Syrup "Dr. Theiss" is prescribed to thin sputum. Made from plantain leaves.

It is also permissible to use folk remedies. These are various decoctions and mixtures. The best remedy that has come from ancient times is boiled milk with the addition of a spoon of honey. The drink is not suitable for children suffering from allergies to these products.

Medicines for wet coughs for children from five years old

Children from 5 years old can boast more good health. But this does not stop parents from thinking about which remedy to choose to overcome a cough. Children from 4-5 years old can be prescribed tablets. While it is difficult to get 3-year-old children to use them, older children can easily eat such drugs.

When coughing up sputum is difficult, you need to choose the following medications:

1. Thermopsol - prescribed from 5 years of age, these are tablets. The course of treatment is 5-7 days, as prescribed by the pediatrician. The drug is also suitable for adults.
2. Codelac Broncho with thyme - this remedy can be used if the child is over 10 years old. You need to take one pill a day, the course of therapy should not exceed four days. From the age of 5, the drug is prohibited, as severe complications may occur - suffocation, allergies or diarrhea, causing dehydration.
3. The herb wild rosemary is a folk remedy that has been known since ancient times. The mixture should be brewed and drunk 3 times every day, there should be about 100 ml in a glass.
4. Bronchicum S syrup - it can be drunk by children up to 2 years old, but it is better to start from the age of 3 years. The drug is considered powerful, especially when the recommendations of the treating pediatrician are followed.
5. Bromhexine – has a mucolytic property and is an excellent sputum thinner. The drug should be given taking into account the patient's age.

Autumn and winter are the traditional season for children's colds. Cough is a common manifestation of this disease. It may be viral or bacterial nature. A dry, non-productive cough is especially painful. When it turns into a wet state, it continues to bother not only the child, but also parents who are concerned about his health. To deal with this problem you will need serious treatment. for children occupy a central place in therapy.

Indications for the use of an expectorant

Expectorants should not be used for a dry cough; this will only cause harm to the child’s health. With a non-productive manifestation, viscous sputum accumulated in the bronchi is not expelled. It fills the lumens of the bronchi, preventing them from functioning normally. The microbes that have settled on their walls continue to multiply, and the child’s condition worsens. There are several recommendations to alleviate the condition of a small patient:

• Remove all objects that collect dust from the apartment or room where the child is.
• Ventilate the room frequently.
• The room temperature should not be higher than 20 degrees.
• The air in the apartment should be humid; you can hang a wet towel on the radiator in winter or use a special humidifier.
• Give the child enough liquid: water, cranberry juice, currant and raspberry jelly, tea with honey, if there are no allergies.
• Use drinking and inhalation with mineral alkaline water, after releasing the gas.
• In the absence of allergies, give decoctions of medicinal herbs: , .

Common reason cough - accumulation in respiratory tract viscous and difficult to separate sputum. Healthy respiratory organs secrete up to 100 ml of liquid secretion called mucus per day. It is necessary for their proper functioning, normal gas exchange, protection from various pathogens, dust, dirt and others. harmful substances. When a large number of bacteria enter the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, the secretion of mucus increases sharply, and its consistency changes - it becomes viscous and difficult to separate.

Diseases that cause coughing:

• Diseases of the lower respiratory tract of an infectious nature: pneumonia, acute and chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis.
• Inflammation caused by external factors or internal processes: bronchospasm, allergies, bronchial asthma.
• Diseases of the upper respiratory tract, in which viscous sputum appears: sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, rhinitis.
• Diseases of the ENT organs: otitis media, sinusitis.

For all these pathological conditions, it is necessary to use expectorants. They can be of plant origin and synthetic. Parents should not choose them themselves. Even the most harmless herbal remedy can cause an allergy in a child and only worsen the condition. Expectorant drugs should be prescribed by a doctor: pediatrician, pulmonologist, otolaryngologist.

Type of expectorant drugs

Cough relievers are divided into the following groups:

• suppressing irritation of cough receptors;
• expectorants;
• mucolytic.

Antitussives suppress dry, nonproductive cough. And the action of expectorants is aimed at reducing a productive cough with well-discharged thin sputum.

Mucolytic drugs alleviate the condition with a productive cough, but with viscous and difficult to separate sputum due to its dilution.

According to the mode of action and the effect obtained from expectorant drugs, they can be divided into 3 types:

• reflex;
• resorptive;
• mucolytic.

The first two types of expectorant drugs irritate the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract, thereby producing an increase in the amount of mucus, diluting it, and facilitating its removal into the trachea by improving the peristalsis of the bronchial muscles. Mucolytic expectorants help thin sputum by disrupting the structure of mucopolysaccharides, but do not increase its quantity. Due to the high risk of bronchospasm, the use of all these medicines prohibited for children under 2 years old.

All expectorant drugs are selected by the doctor, guided by the diagnosis, the age of the child, taking into account accompanying illnesses. It takes into account drug compatibility and possible allergic reactions. As a rule, treatment begins with the appointment of mucolytics. If the child’s condition is not serious, the doctor limits himself to the use of herbal preparations. They act gently and cause less adverse reactions. Many of them have a triple effect:

• thins mucus;
• improve mucus evacuation;
• have anti-inflammatory properties.

Mucolytic drugs

The table shows herbal expectorants.

Name	Active substance	Features of the action
Prospan, Gedelix, Gerbion	Syrups with ivy leaf extract.	Relieves bronchospasm, thins mucus, and facilitates its removal.
Dr. Theiss	Syrup with plantain extract. Lollipops with sage extract.	Anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, bronchospasmolytic agent. Pronounced bactericidal effect.
Bronchipret, Bronchicum	Extracts of thyme herb and primrose roots.	Good for thinning mucus. Do not take with antitussive medications.
Marshmallow syrup Mukaltin	Marshmallow root extract. Tablets based on marshmallow root extract.	It thins mucus, accelerates its secretion, reduces inflammation, and has an enveloping effect. The effect is the same as that of syrup.
Pertussin	Syrup based on thyme extract with potassium bromide.	Transforms a dry cough into a wet one, thins sputum.
Bronholitin	Syrup with basil oil, ephedrine and glaucine.	Antispasmodic and antimicrobial drug.
Licorice root syrup		Treats dry and wet cough.

There are combined herbal preparations based on several means at once:

• – contains 11 medicinal plants;
• Amtersol – contains extracts of licorice and thermopsis herb;
• Linkas – contains 10 medicinal herbs.

A drug	Photo	Price
		from 156 rub.
		specify
		from 144 rub.
		from 172 rub.

Synthetic mucolytics

Sometimes the child’s condition requires additional use of synthetic mucolytics. Of the variety of synthetic expectorants that have a mucolytic effect and are intended for children, 4 groups of drugs can be distinguished:

• based on acetylcysteine ​​- Flymucil;
• based on bromhexine hydrochloride - Bronchosan, ;
• based on carbocisteine ​​- Libexin-Muco, Fluicort;
• based on ambroxol - , .

A drug	Photo	Price
		from 141 rub.
		from 249 rub.
		from 380 rub.
		from 121 rub.
		from 173 rub.

There are also combined agents, consisting of several active ingredients both synthetic and plant-based. They have not only antitussive, but also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

The table shows synthetic mucolytics.

A drug	In what form is it produced?	How to use	Peculiarities
Bromhexine	Syrup and tablets.	Regardless of food intake.	Strengthens the effect of antibiotics. Do not combine with antitussive medications.
ACC 100	Granules.	After eating. For inhalation, dilute in saline solution.	Do not drink along with antibiotics; there should be a 2-hour gap between taking them.
Fluimucil	Granules, solution for inhalation.	Diluted in water.	Dissolve only in glass containers.
Rinofluimucil	Nasal spray.		Do not use for more than a week.
	Solution for inhalation and internal administration.	During meals, dissolve in a small amount of liquid.
	Syrup, tablets.	During meals, add to any liquid.	Mucolytic and expectorant drug.

Reflex and direct action expectorants

After mucolytics, and sometimes together with them, drugs that promote the removal of sputum are prescribed - expectorants. They produce increased secretion liquid sputum in the bronchi due to increased work of the bronchial glands, irritate ciliated epithelium bronchi and enhance peristalsis of bronchioles. All this stimulates the expectoration process and improves mucus removal. Many of the mucolytics have an expectorant effect to one degree or another.

Among the reflex-action drugs that irritate the gastric mucosa, thereby reflexively enhancing the work of the bronchial glands, the most herbal remedies. They are prepared from the following medicinal plants:

• thermopsis herbs and;
• marshmallow and licorice roots.

Among the direct-acting drugs that directly stimulate the functioning of the bronchial glands, essential oils from anise, fennel, etc. are often used.

Traditional methods of treating cough

The arsenal of folk remedies is quite large. They can be divided into 3 groups:

• for oral administration;
• inhalation;
• compresses and ointments.

Black radish is most often used for oral administration. Medicine can be prepared from it in different ways. The easiest way is to remove some of the pulp from a washed root vegetable with a whole tail and put honey there. The resulting juice is drunk 1 tsp. 5 to 6 times a day. You can cut it into pieces and bake it in the oven, sprinkled with sugar. Take the resulting juice in the same way as in the first case.

Warm milk, to which a teaspoon of honey is added, also helps. Drink this remedy at night. You can mix a third of a glass mineral water“Borjomi” at room temperature (from which gas has been released) and the same amount of hot milk. Drink in one go. The mixture is prepared fresh each time.

It is not always possible to persuade children to drink or eat tasteless medicine. You can choose other means for them. They have no less effect, and children will take them with pleasure.

Delicious medicines for little patients

It can be taken with water or added to tea. The dosage rate is a teaspoon several times a day.

For four figs you will need 3 glasses of milk with a high percentage of fat. Boil in milk until a third of the liquid has evaporated. Cover and let it brew. Drink half a glass of the decoction before meals. You also need to eat figs.

In fruit juice prepared according to traditional recipe, add honey - a teaspoon per glass. Drink 3 times a day.

A child's illness, even if it is the most common cold, is a real test for parents, especially when the baby suffers from a cough and feels obvious discomfort. In this case, in addition to proven tea with lemon, you can use expectorants for children.

These can be aromatic lozenges or numerous fruit-flavored syrups. The main thing is to remember that even the most good medicine V childhood poses a potential danger. Mucolytics and expectorants can only be used selectively, after receiving recommendations from a doctor. If possible, it is better to do without medications altogether, giving preference to folk remedies.

The most popular expectorants and their features

Expectorants, or secretomotor drugs, stimulate the production of mucus, facilitating its movement through the respiratory tract. They slightly irritate the receptors located in the mucous membranes, which causes active contraction of the muscle fibers of the bronchi. At the same time, the activity of the bronchial glands increases, so the secretion becomes more abundant and fluid. In the vast majority of these products, herbal components act as a medicinal base.

• . A product based on ivy leaf extract gives a quick expectorant effect. Syrup is allowed to be given to children from the first days after birth. A single dose is 2.5 ml of the product. Infants up to one year old are given it once a day, children up to 4 years old - 3 times a day, children up to 10 years old - 4 times a day. For the treatment of children aged 2 years and older, drops are allowed to be used. They are given three times a day: up to 4 years - 16 drops, up to 10 years - 20 drops, after 10 years - 30 drops. For infants, it is recommended to dilute the product with baby tea or fruit juice. Older children can drink the medicine undiluted after meals with plenty of water.

Advice: Gedelix is ​​used for at least a week. Even after the cough disappears, it is necessary to continue taking the drug for another 2-3 days in order to completely remove phlegm from the bronchi.

• Syrup, which is allowed to be used only for the treatment of children over 3 years of age. Up to 5 years it is prescribed half a teaspoon, up to 14 years – a teaspoon. Reception is carried out three times a day. Despite the fact that this product liquefies sputum very actively, to obtain a longer-lasting effect, it is recommended to use additional drugs in combination with the composition.

• Mukaltin. Tablets based on medicinal marshmallow extract. Such expectorants for children are used only if the baby is already one year old. It is given to children 2-3 times a day before meals. Up to three years, use 1 tablet, after which - 1-2. For kids, grind the tablet to a powder, which is dissolved in a third of a glass. drinking water or sweetened syrup.

• Liquorice root. Cough syrup is suitable for children of any age. It is taken three times a day: up to 2 years - up to 2 drops, up to 6 years - up to 10 drops, up to 12 years - up to 50 drops. For children under 6 years old, the product is first diluted in a teaspoon of drinking water. For older children - a quarter glass of liquid. Preparations based on licorice root extract are taken after meals. The course of treatment ranges from a week to 10 days. An important point During the therapy period, it is necessary to provide the child with plenty of warm drinks. The composition of the medicine includes ethanol!

• This is a powder that comes in sachets containing single dose, and glass bottles. It is given to children after meals, after diluting it in chilled boiled water. The use of the product is prohibited for up to 6 months. Dosages are selected by the attending physician.

• Sweet syrup for children different ages give in quantities from half to a full dessert spoon. The main thing is to wash down the product with plenty of drinking water.

The listed cough remedies rarely cause side effects in children. You just need to make sure that the baby does not have an allergic reaction to the main substance.

Modern mucolytics and rules for their use

Mucolytic agents are designed to dilute viscous and dense sputum, characteristic of obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and a number of others pathological conditions. The volume of mucus does not increase. It is important to remember that it is strictly forbidden to combine mucolytics with antitussives! Such a mistake can lead to tragic consequences due to the fact that phlegm will accumulate where it should not.

• This can be syrup, tablets or inhalation. For children under two years of age, only syrup can be used. Children over two years old can receive inhalations. Only children over 6 years old are allowed to give tablets. Drinking plenty of fluids increases the properties of bromhexine. The drug itself enhances the properties of antibiotics if combined with them. It is worth considering that the therapeutic effect of taking the drug occurs no earlier than 2-3 days from the start of treatment.

• Available in granule and inhalation form. The former are used to make syrup. In the case of children under 2 years of age, such mucolytics are used only with the permission of a doctor. Inhalations are presented with a 10% solution, manipulations are carried out 2-3 times a day. The drug ACC 100 is incompatible with a number of antibiotics, which are allowed to be taken at least a couple of hours after taking the mucolytic orally.

Advice: When choosing cough medications for children over 6 years of age, it is better to give preference to lozenges and tablets. Syrups, although they taste more pleasant, contain many sweeteners that negatively affect tooth enamel, provoking the development of caries.

• In pediatrics, cough granules and inhalations are used, and each form has its own characteristics. The granules are dissolved in a third of a glass of drinking water and given to the child. In this case, you should only use glassware, avoiding metal and rubber accessories. The solution for inhalation is sold in ampoules; it should be used for 5-10 days, no less. These drugs are useless for the treatment of dry cough, which is accompanied by the production of only a small amount of sputum.

• The solution for inhalation and oral administration is used only with the permission of a doctor, especially if we are talking about a child under 2 years of age. In case of independent use of the drug, the duration of treatment should not exceed 4-5 days.

• Available in the form of drops, which, in accordance with the dosage prescribed by the pediatrician, are added to water, fruit juice, tea or milk. The product can also be used for inhalation, but it is first diluted with saline solution. Therapeutic effect occurs within 20-30 minutes after taking the drug and lasts up to 12 hours.

According to some experts, mucolytics should not be given to children under 2 years of age due to the risk of developing severe complications occurring in the respiratory tract. Pediatricians recommend replacing this approach with drinking plenty of fluids, rinsing the nose, and intensively humidifying the air.

Effective folk remedies with expectorant properties

To treat cough, it is not at all necessary to use mucolytic and expectorant drugs. In some cases, folk remedies are sufficient. They are also tasty and pleasant, like syrups, they quickly and gently relieve an obsessive cough, and do not provoke the development of side effects. True, it is not recommended to use them earlier than 1.5-2 years.

• Grind a ripe banana with a blender or grind through a sieve, add a teaspoon of sugar. We dilute all this with three tablespoons of drinking water and mix thoroughly. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool the finished thick syrup until warm state and give it to the baby. A nutritious drink can replace one meal. And its special enveloping texture promotes rapid removal of phlegm.

• Take one medium-sized root vegetable and cut it into two parts. In one of the halves we make a small depression into which we place a teaspoon of honey. We leave the workpiece for several hours until the juice mixed with honey accumulates in the hole. It can be given to a child every 4 hours in the amount of one tablespoon.

• Milk drink with goat fat and honey. Before preparing such a drink for children, you need to make sure that they are not allergic to goat fat. Usually if skin test gives a negative result, there is no food response either. You can, of course, do without such a specific component (replacing it with butter), but its benefits for child's body, languishing from a cough, is endless. Heat the milk until the fat begins to melt (no more than a tablespoon per glass). Then cool the drink to body temperature and add a tablespoon of honey. Ready product We give it to the child before bed to not only ease the cough, but also provide the little one with a restful sleep.

• Herbal tea with honey and raspberries. It is not recommended to give black or green tea to children; it is better to really choose children's drink. For a glass of liquid, take a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of fresh or dried raspberries. Jam in in this case It is not recommended to use it, the drink will turn out so sweet that it will only irritate the throat more and provoke thirst.

Additional effect of folk remedies prepared using only natural products, manifests itself in the fact that they saturate the little patient’s body with vitamins and microelements that strengthen his immunity. True, to obtain the most pronounced positive result, you will have to give your baby at least 3-4 cups of the medicinal drink per day for 5-7 days. However, it cannot be sweetened. And if you plan to combine the composition with medications similar action, it is better to consult a doctor.

Cough is defense mechanism the body, ensuring the removal of excess mucus and foreign particles from the respiratory tract. It is extremely necessary for the body for a speedy recovery.

Sometimes the duration of manifestation this symptom prolongs, or the cough becomes painful for the baby. In this case, it is recommended to use medications that will differ for wet and dry types. In the first option, mucolytics and expectorants are used for children.

In contact with

There are many cough expectorants. Self-prescription of medication by a parent without medical education, is fraught with the development of serious complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure.

In addition, under a normal cough there may be hidden not only a complication in the form of whooping cough, diphtheria. The last two serious diseases are not uncommon nowadays, as the percentage of parents who refuse routine vaccinations against these infections is growing.

Parents treating their child on their own may miss the symptoms of whooping cough, diphtheria, pneumonia, which can be fatal!

Children's cough expectorants are divided into two subgroups, differing at the point of application:

1. The action is direct resorptive. In case of a wet cough, the compounds enter the bronchi through the bloodstream and cause a cough.
2. The action is reflexive. A remedy for phlegm for children acts on the gastric epithelium, the center of vomiting. Irritation spreads to the center of the cough.

Most products for removing sputum in children have a reflex effect. Medicines with a direct resorptive effect contain sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride and other substances.

Up to 1 year

It is generally accepted that expectorant medications should not be prescribed for children under 1 year of age. Since it is possible that the child’s condition may worsen when taking medications for phlegm. The reason lies in the imperfection of the structure of the respiratory apparatus.

Newborns often develop a physiological runny nose. Mucus drips onto the walls of the throat, causing coughing. Therefore, the first priority measures for children under one year of age are measures to create conditions for a speedy recovery:

• room temperature is about 21 degrees;
• frequent ventilation of the room where the child is;
• walks in the fresh air, preferably twice a day, if the body temperature is within normal limits;
• rinsing the nasal passages with saline solutions and removal of mucus with an aspirator (up to 4 times a day);
• raising the head end of the crib by 30 degrees to prevent mucus from flowing into the throat;
• massage the child's back, use light tapping, vibration massage;
• drinking plenty of fluids, including chamomile tea (if you are not allergic).

After reaching a year, the doctor may prescribe a good cough expectorant from those discussed below.

Preparation with ivy extract (Prospan, Gedelix)

It also has an antispasmodic and thinning effect. Features are due to the presence of saponins ( organic compounds, present in plants with surfactant properties). Admission is possible from birth. It is recommended to use after meals, dissolved in a small amount of water. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, but not less than 7 days. Whenever allergic reactions Immediate cessation of use and seeking medical help is indicated.

Althea

More often, dry is prescribed, which also contains licorice, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride and anise oil. Dissolve the powder of one sachet in a spoon of water.

Medicine containing Ambroxol (Ambrobene, Lazolvan)

Use after meals, no more than five days. There is a form for inhalation. If the pediatrician allows, it is possible to inhale the solution through a nebulizer.

Thyme (Bronchicum C)

Another name for thyme is common thyme. It also has antispasmodic and bacteriostatic effects. It is approved for use from six months of age.

Remember that the drugs listed above cannot be combined with cough suppressants!

Classification of pharyngitis

At 2-3 years

In this age group, all of the above medications are used, with dose adjustment (see table below). The doctor’s arsenal includes an extended list:

1. Ivy extract: , .
2. Althea extract. This group includes: Dry cough syrup for children, Althea syrup, Alteyka syrup. Mucaltin tablets should be taken before meals, after being dissolved in liquid.
3. Ambroxol: , .
4. Thyme (thyme) extract: , Tussamag syrup.
5. Plantain leaf extract. Has expectorant, anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic effects. These are expectorants for children over 2 years old: (combination with thyme).

Of the variety of solutions presented, only a doctor is able to determine effective remedy, suitable for your baby.

For children of senior preschool and school age

For children from 3 years old, all of the previous ones are prescribed age group. In addition, your doctor may recommend:

1. Medicines from the herb Thermopsis. Take up to 5 days. These include Thermopsol.
2. Licorice preparations. Typically this is combination medications: . In addition to licorice root, its composition includes: chamomile, wild rosemary, violet, mint, calendula. All other breastfeeding is not recommended for children due to the possibility of allergies.
3. Plantain syrup, coltsfoot, is allowed from the age of six.
4. Remedy made from plantain and thyme (Stoptussin, Eucabal). Allowed from three years. The duration of the course is a week, unless the attending physician prescribes a different regimen.
5. Guaifenesin: Coldrex Broncho, Ascoril (combination with salbutamol and bromhexine). This is a semi-synthetic substance that has an expectorant effect.
6. Products from thyme herb: use thyme herb (from 3 years), Bronchicum S in the form of syrup (from 6 months) and lozenges (from 6 years), Pertussin (course up to 2 weeks), Tussamag.

Many people know that every cough requires individual treatment. And certainly, if you have a nonproductive cough, you should not prescribe substances that promote expectoration. If there is no secretion in the respiratory tract, then there is nothing to cough up. As with wet conditions, antitussive drugs are contraindicated. Because they can provoke stagnation of sputum in the bronchioles, up to the development of edema and pneumonia!

Treatment medications must be prescribed by a doctor

When coughing is productive, doctors sometimes combine sputum thinners and expectorants. Sometimes only the first ones are prescribed:

1. Acetylcysteine ​​is included in: , Acetylcysteine, Vicks Active Expectomed. Use from the age of two.
2. Bromhexine: Solvin, Bronchosan.
3. Bromhexine in combination with salbutamol and guaifenesin: Joset, Ascoril, Cashnol.
4. Carbocisteine, from two years: , Bronchobos, Fluifort, .

Medicines for dry cough are called antitussives. They depress work cough center. These include: Sinekod (from 2 months), Panatus (from 6 months), (from 1 year), Glycodin (from 1 year), (from 3 years), (from 3 years), Bronholitin (from 3 years).

Top best products

Let us consider in table form the top best expectorants that can be used to treat cough in children.

A drug	Dose and frequency of administration
	0-1 year	1-3 years	From 4 years
Gedelix	2.5 ml once a day	2.5 ml 3 times/day	2.5 ml 4 times/day
overslept	½ tsp. 2 r/day	½ tsp 4 r/day	1 tsp 4 r/day
Gerbion	-	one tsp 3 r/day	one tsp 3 r/day
Ambrobene	½ tsp 1 r/day	½ tsp 3 r/day	one tsp 3 r/day
Bronchicum S	2.5 ml twice a day	2.5-5 ml 3 times/day	5 ml 3 times/day
Mukaltin	-	½ tab 2 times a day	one tab 3 r/day
Althea syrup	half a teaspoon 1 r/day	Half 3 times a day	One teaspoon 4 times a day
Alteyka	One teaspoon 1 r/day	2.5 ml 3 times/day	5 ml 4 times/day
Thermopsol	-	-	One tab. 3-5 r/day
Chest collection No. 4	-	-	1 tbsp *3 r/day
Plantain and coltsfoot syrup	-	-	From 6 years – 5 ml 3 times a day
Eucabalus	-	-	From 5 years – 1 tbsp 2 times a day
Stoptussin phyto syrup	-	1 tsp 3 r/day	1-2 tsp. 3 r/day
Coldrex broncho	-	-	5 ml, can be repeated after 3 hours
Thyme herb	-	-	1 tbsp. 2 r/day
Bronchicum C lozenges	-	-	From 6 years – 1 pc. 3 r/day
Pertussin	-	-	½-1 tsp. 3 r/day
Tussamag	-	2 ml 3 times/day	2 ml 4 times/day
Ascoril	-	5 ml 3 times/day	5 ml 3 times/day

The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, but, as a rule, it is no longer than 10 days.

The table above should not be taken as a list of drugs ranked by effectiveness. The variety of medicines presented in pharmacies is explained by their differences, therefore the most the best remedy does not exist. Moreover, sometimes it is necessary to experimentally determine which expectorant drug is more effective for a particular child.

The most effective options

The best expectorant will be individual for each baby, but, of course, combination drugs cope with their task more effectively: Ascoril, Joset, Kashnol, Codelac broncho.

Inexpensive medicines

In some cases, patients ask to prescribe inexpensive remedy From cough. Such medicines can also relieve the disease (listed in order of increasing cost):

• Mukaltin;
• Thermopsol;
• Plantain herb;
• Thyme herb;
• Alteyka syrup.

All this - medicinal herbs, so be vigilant, do not leave your child alone. Allergic reactions are possible.

Among the new methods, recipes for warm milk with honey, cocoa, banana, and the use of black radish have earned particular popularity. Often all kinds of cakes are used on the child’s back, chest and feet. Not the last place steam inhalations with herbal decoctions.

Conclusion

1. Treating a child for cough is sometimes not an easy task.
2. Fortunately, there are medications that can significantly speed up his recovery. One of these are expectorants.
3. Expectorants by themselves do not cure anything. Therefore, they should be used exclusively as part of complex therapy prescribed by a doctor.