Cold cough is a complaint that often affects children. So that coughs and colds do not interfere with your Little One's activities and reduce his joy, there are simple steps you can take to alleviate this condition, without using drugs.
Cough colds are generally caused by viruses or bacteria that infect the nose and throat. Cough colds due to viral infections can heal itself within a few days, so it does not need to be treated with antibiotics. What needs to be treated with antibiotics is a cold cough due to a bacterial infection.
Although generally harmless, a cold cough can disrupt a child's activity and rest. Little who is usually cheerful can also look lethargic and uninspired. If it's like this, you as a parent would feel sad and want your little one to get back to health.
Handling Cold Cough at Home
If your child has a cold, you are advised to consult a doctor first, especially if your child is not yet 2 years old.
Even so, you can still help alleviate his complaint with the following simple efforts:
1. Make sure you get enough sleep
When a cold coughs, the child's body needs more energy to fight off viruses or bacteria that cause infections. Therefore, make sure your child is getting enough sleep and rest. Make his bedroom comfortable so he can sleep more soundly. In addition to recovering energy, sleep is also needed by the child's body to recover.
2. Position the head higher when lying down
When you have a cold, the child may experience nasal congestion making it difficult to breathe, and may become cranky due to insomnia. So that your child can breathe more easily, position his head higher when he sleeps. Use extra pillows to support the head and shoulders.
3. Give more water
If your child is more than 6 months old, give him to drink more water. Water will help thin the phlegm in the respiratory tract, making it easier to remove. In addition, by drinking enough water, your child will avoid dehydration which can trigger various other health problems.
You can also give him warm drinks, like tea, as a distraction. In addition to relieving cold coughs, warm drinks can relieve sore throats.
If your child is still drinking milk, continue giving. Breast milk can help babies recover faster from flu.
4. Give honey
Since a long time ago, honey has been believed to relieve cough and sore throat. In fact, many believe that this sweet-tasting drink is more effective than cough medicines that are sold freely. It's just that honey can only be given to children whose age is over 1 year.
To relieve a cold cough, give a child half a teaspoon of honey before he sleeps. To make it easier for Little One to consume, you can mix 2 teaspoons of honey with lemon juice or warm tea.
5. Apply a special balm for children
Another way to relieve a child's cold cough is to apply balm to his chest, neck and back. However, make sure the balm you use is specially formulated for babies or children. Baby balm usually contains menthol, eucalyptus, chamomile, and camphor. These natural ingredients are believed to be safe and effective in relieving coughing colds in children.
Although the simple steps above can relieve a cold cough, you still need to be vigilant and see a doctor, especially if your child is still less than 3 months old.
You also need to immediately see a doctor if a child's cold cough does not improve after 10 days, accompanied by high fever (more than 38 degrees Celsius), shortness of breath, phlegm and snot yellow or green, or if your child does not want to eat and suckle .
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