Medicine for a cough

[smurff]

Hi, my son who is 2yrs old had a viral infection a few weeks ago, he had a terrible hacking cough which kept him awake at night and led to vomiting when coughing. Once he started coughing he would carry on for 30 mins. After 2 wks it was eventually getting better but in the last few days it's returned. Calpol does nothing for his cough, any suggestions on medicine to help him?

 

[misspriss]

In the US, there are no approved medical cough syrups for children under 6. On the advice of my ped, I give my children a weight appropriate dosage of benadryl for a wet cough, it seems to dry it up if they need to sleep. I do use a homeopathic, honey based cough syrup for tickly coughs, dry coughs, and with the benadryl for wet cough. Not for children under 1 though. I would ask your doctor about the benadyl. Actually over 2 I use zyrtec, longer acting. It is OTC for 2+, benadryl is not but my ped has been willing to recommend it easily.

Also a vaporizer or humidifier may help, especially in the winter. Good luck!

 

[MindUtopia]

If it's a dry cough, a humidier in his room or bowl of water on the radiator might help. Otherwise, I think there are cough syrups here, but I would be careful about the ingredients. You in theory don't want to give them something that prevents them from coughing because they cough to clear the airways, so if you stop them from coughing, it might make it worse rather than better. We find calpol usually does the trick for us, but also a vapour rub on bottoms of feet with socks over or the humidier/water bowl might also help.