Cough syrups such as Triaminic, Tylenol, and Vicks are found to be extremely useful to treat this respiratory problem in children.
Coughing is often an indication of a viral infection such as common cold or it may occur due to exposure to allergens. A cough resulting from respiratory tract infections, is productive (wet) that expels accumulated mucus (phlegm) in the respiratory system. On the other hand, dry cough in children means the presence of foreign particles that are irritating the throat.
Cough Syrup for Children
The cough syrups given below should be given to children who have crossed 10 years of age.
Triaminic
Triaminic products are specially designed to treat cough in children. Triaminic syrups reduce nasal and chest congestion associated with cough. It is especially useful to lessen cold cough and allow the child to get a good night’s sleep. The syrup contains cough suppressants that provide relief from coughing due to minor lung infections.
Tylenol
When wet cough is accompanied by fever, a reliable product that can work effectively to improve the child’s health, is Tylenol. Tylenol contains expectorant that helps to thin out mucus, thereby making it easier to expel. It is also available in a wide variety of flavors, thus helping to cure cough in a delicious way. It also relieves headache associated with common cold.
Vicks
This is another cough medicine for children that can work wonders to control dry cough. Taking Vicks cough syrup, will calm the dry cough immediately. As it contains natural ingredients like honey, it helps to suppress the cough.
Cough Remedies for Children
Along with medicines, parents can also take the help of some natural remedies to relieve cough of their children. For instance, increasing fluid intake by drinking water and soup can help to loosen up the mucus, thus allowing the child to clear out the mucus easily. Grape juice containing honey can also relieve cough and soothe the irritated throat. Giving a mixture of honey and lemon to children who are more than 12 years can also benefit to relieve cough.
Giving over the counter medicine for infants or for children under 4 is not at all recommended. Those available in the market and labeled as ‘infant cough medicine’, have not received any FDA approval. It is not safe to give any cough medicine to children under 4. Instead, administering saline drops in the nose and then removing them out by the force of suction, will allow your child to breathe properly. Installation of humidifier in the room can make the surrounding environment more conducive to breathe easily.
On the whole, giving the medicine in appropriate amounts daily, is essential to cure an irritating cough. Overdose or excessive use of cough syrup can cause serious side effects. So, parents should ensure that their child is given the medicine in the prescribed dose only.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.