coughing & runny nose - please help

Posted by Germaine WS (190 days ago)

My son who is 11 months old has bee coughing with phelgm and runny nose for a week now. Been to the doctor 3 times this week. The last visit being Saturday.

The runny nose is still here although more controlled but he is still having alot of phelgm.

When it is time to take medication, it is BAD. ( really really bad). He struggles to get free.

Is there anything that I can do to make him feel better.?
Also if anyone has suggestion on how I can feed him his medication without causing him to cry the hosue down, it will be so much appreciated.

Thanks
Thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by omaharrison (190 days ago)

Have you tried mixing the medicine with some food that you give him?
Make sure that the colour of the stuff from the nose is not green.
Maybe even try some herbal/homeopathic drops which are specifically for babies to stop the runny nose, but make sure you dont over do this because that could lead to over dry nose which is also not good.
Another thing is- if you went to the doctor three times and a whole week passed without improvement, maybe concider changing a doctor. The doctors here are very different from eachother in their practice and medicines they give ( I still find it very odd that the doctor is the one who also sells you the medicines he is prescribing)
The rest you probably know as a mother.
All the best and hope he will get over it ASAP.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flowers-daffodil (190 days ago)

when my daughter had a runny nose & cough the doctor gave some antihistamine to stop the runny nose and cough medicine. my daughter also had phlegm. her runny nose stopped and gradually the cough went away after taking the medicine.

my daughter also struggled when i gave her the medicine - either by spoon or by syringe. i know it can be a real battle to get your son to take the medicine but the only thing i can suggest is what i did and this is the only way i could get my daugther to swallow her medicine. someone would hold my daughter firmly and another would give her the medicine. no matter how much she struggled and cried she would be held tightly and her head held back and the other person would squirt the syringe or use the spoon to feed her the medicine. after giving the medicine i'd then comfort her with hugs, praises and playtime and she would be back to normal.

my daughter is better with taking medicine now perhaps she is more used to it and i believe that encouraging her to take medicine by praising her really helps. when giving her the medicine i also usually say that this tastes like strawberry or this tastes like orange and that its yum yum etc....

it's like taking our kids to the doctor to get their injections, they wont like it but it's got to be done

just persevere!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mumbloxy (190 days ago)

My 10-mth baby has had 2 flus in the past few months, first of which was a minor runny nose which got better by itself with 1 day of medicine. Doc was not keen on giving medicine unless the body couldn't fight it off. We mainly gave saline drops to free his clogged nose and Bramamine for his cold/cough. The 2nd time however wasn't as easy and as much as I didn't want to, we had to give antibiotics as the cough wasn't clearing and doc was concerned it would develop into a significant cough/bronchitis. We even tried a mild antibiotic first which didn't work and used a stronger 2nd one. With the meds, it helps if one person cradles your baby and another person distracts him from up top with his favourite toy. Syringe in the meds at the moment of distraction. Good luck & hope your baby gets well soon.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (189 days ago)

Our helper mixes up ginger&cinnamon tea for our currently sick house. Soothes throat greatly for everyone from my wife to our 9 month old. It won't heal you of course but it will make you feel better.

Adult portion. Just make smaller for children. Use sippy cup for baby.
- Take a lump of fresh ginger (ca 2x2x1 cm), peel and cut into about four pieces. Put in cup.
- Take 1-2 cinnamon sticks and break in half. Put in cup.
- 1 tablespoon honey. Put in cup. For baby under one year, use brown sugar instead (babies under 1 should not have honey at all ever).
- Add hot water to the brim. Obviously make sure it's cooled before serving to a child.

Another thing you can do is add an air purifier to the bedroom. It won't heal you but the HK air certainly makes things a but harder for your respiratory tract. We bought some great Sharp "Ion Shower" ones at Fortress.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Germaine WS (186 days ago)

thank you all for your responses. took him to the doctor again. his runny nose is getting better but still blocked sometimes. i was considering changing doctor but hesitated. but i certainly will if he does not get better within the next 2 days. the good thing is that his appetitie is still as good if not better and he is still having a great time at home with his nanny

yes i have been feeding him with the syringe in the same manner, his nanny will hold him/pin him down and I will be shooting the meds.

painful to watch though.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (186 days ago)

"the good thing is that his appetitie is still as good if not better and he is still having a great time at home with his nanny"

A good sign. Kids can sometimes be sick for weeks. It's annoying for all parties but as long as they still play and eat they're normally fine.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Germaine WS (186 days ago)

axptguy 38 thanks for the encourgagment. certainly hope that he gets better soon.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (186 days ago)

No problem. Just be happy your husband isn't sick. As my wife likes to say, nobody complains as much as a sick adult male. ;)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Germaine WS (186 days ago)

my husband is sick too! and i TOTALLY AGREE with your wife.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (186 days ago)

Well, for him you can make up the adult version of the tea above. Replace the ginger and cinnamon with a dollop of whisky/whiskey. ;)

(I am based in Hong Kong)