Remedy for child's cough?

Question

Six year old boy, thick wet cough and when he breathes you could hear the phlegm. Allergic to Robitussim. Any home remedies that can take out that mucus? Please help!

Answer 1

At six, he should be able to have honey. If he's not allergic to any of these ingredients, I would make him a cup of hot tea, (green tea will take toxins out of your body, so that may be a good one to try, if you can get him to drink it,) with lemon and honey in it, (one tsp or so each.) If he won't drink tea, just use hot water with lemon (fresh if possible, but lemon juice in a bottle will work,) 1/2 a lemon, squeezed and 1 tsp honey.
The honey soothes his throat, and the lemon cuts the phlegm.
Like they said, if the phlegm has color, he has an infection, and will need an antibiotic. Echinacea is a natural one, but some people are allergic to it, too. Garlic is another, but don't know how much to use. Especially on a kid. Ask your dr. or a call health food store. (There are websites for alternative meds...)
The vaporizer with Vicks vapor... will do wonders. If you don't have one, make the bowl and tent thing the one person suggested, or boil water on the stove, and drop a little Vicks in it. I really hope some of this works for you, I have used it for years. Hope he gets better soon.

Answer 2

It sounds as if he has postnasal drip. this could be caused by an underlying defect in his sinuses ie: even an untreated minor sinus infection- Or it could be a result of various allergies (has he been tested)?- Does he run even a low grade fever? Is he asthmatic? Does he have Cystic Fibrosis? Does he get many ear infections? Does he still have his tonsils and adenoids? Is he healthwise 'normal' in every other sense? Does he experience 'night terrors'? I know, I know- too many questions; and we aren't supposed to answer a question WITH a question. Sorry about that. So I shall start with the most common offender here... If this could be an allergy, please immediately change his linens and pillow too. (You can get a great hypoallegenic pillow at Sears- bed linens too)- I had to do this for my youngest daughter as she was coughing also; and pretty much as you have descibed above- except she sounded like a seal! If his mattress is an old one you might want to purchase a new one; (once again buy a hypoallergenic one). Costly but effective too. AND I would vacuum his room, thoroughly, every day, while he is at school- or at least away from his room; giving it at least 2 hours to 'settle' before he reenters it. I don't know where you live, but if the changing of the seasons would have an effect on him, please also include a vaporizer when it cools off outside- to keep the humidity up. This will keep his sinuses and also his eustachion tubes (ears) draining if they need to. (And they absolutely 'need' to, or you will also have chronic infections in your boy). Use "STEAM DISTILLED" water only- (not just plain old distilled either) And if this all continues, please consult another doctor. (Yours seems to have stock in the Robitussin Group)! Personally, I don't much care for a doctor that cannot make a diagnosis, but wants to throw medicines at symptoms anyway. What does this say about his ability to diagnose? Isn't that what they are supposed to do??? Your body coughs for a reason! Why cover it up with medications that might only be adding to his problems? Take care. Good luck... ...And God Bless you both! Anne

Answer 3

Have you taken him to the doctor? Does he have problems breathing? That's the first thing.

But it's tough to break a cough. Here are some things to try at home.

A surgical mask, especially while sleeping. It makes a mini-greenhouse environment so the child breathes warm, wet air.

The steam bath works. You could try putting a little Vicks in, or a drop or two of lavender OR tea tree OR eucalyptus oil. Or one drop of each. Don't overdo.

Gargle with warm salt water (2 tsp. of salt to 1 c. warm water; adjust if necessary). Sometimes coughs are caused by post-nasal drips, and this gets rid of the nasties before they can tickle the throat.

Rest, good hot foods (esp. soup and teas), and being kept comfortably warm are also good things. Oh, and if you use a humidifier, make sure it is clean.

Answer 4

How do you know he is allergic to Robitussin? Define this allergy, I find so many times when I hear that it isn't a true allergy anyway. He has a wet productive cough which is better than a dry cough. He needs to be encouraged to cough that out and really an expectorant would help with that. If it is thick, yellow or green, he's running a fever or he appears really sick he needs to be seen by a doctor before he develops something more serious.

Answer 5

Sure. Get out a big bowl and fill it with boiling water. After a few minutes have him sit over it with a towel covering his head and the bowl and just have him breath in through his mouth and out his nose. Sit there until the water cools off. When he gets up, all that garbage is going to be really loose so he can cough it up and blow his nose. And you can do this a couple times a day.

No drugs!

Answer 6

this is going to sound dumb...but it works. buy a bag of balloons and get him interested in having fun trying to blow them up. this makes the lungs stronger and will help the coughing to stop. he should then start to only cough so much when he is coughing phlegm up.

another little trick is to lay him across your lap...cup your hand and pound his back firmly. the phlegm has a tendency to get stuck to the walls of the chest. with the increase in the strength of his lungs from the balloons and you helping to loosen the phlegm hopefully he will get some relief.... good luck.

Answer 7

Take juice of 1 lemon and mix it with 4 teaspoon honey and keep it at one night, take it at next day Morning before any food or drink. Take it 7 days continuesly.It will help you.

Answer 8

Give him 1 tea spoon of AgasthyaRasayanam Daily Morning and Evening.

Answer 9

I like the lemon and honey syrup remedy. It's always helped me and my children. Also, honey and cinnamon before bed will help the child sweat out toxins while they sleep.

Answer 10

I've found that a humidifier works well. Also, with lungs that little, its hard for them to get a lot of that junk up!-- Just give it time! It'll clear up! :)