What should children eat to recover quickly from coughing?

Apr 24, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In general, there is no specific food that can quickly relieve a child's cough. However, children with cough can eat foods such as pears, loquats, lilies, tremella mushrooms, and radishes. Medications such as dextromethorphan hydrobromide tablets, benproperine phosphate tablets, pentoxifylline citrate tablets, loratadine tablets, and montelukast sodium chewable tablets may also be used according to a doctor's instructions. It is also important to maintain fresh indoor air and frequently ventilate by opening windows.

Generally speaking, there is no specific food that can quickly relieve a child's cough. Children with coughs can eat pears, loquats, lilies, tremella fungus, radishes, and other foods. They may also take medications such as dextromethorphan hydrobromide tablets, benproperine phosphate tablets, prenoxdiazine citrate tablets, loratadine tablets, and montelukast sodium chewable tablets as directed by a physician. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Pears

Pears help moisten the lungs, relieve dryness, and reduce phlegm and cough. They contain abundant water and vitamins that can soothe the respiratory mucosa, alleviate discomfort caused by coughing, and improve symptoms. Pears can also be cooked into soup or prepared as rock sugar stewed pears for better results.

2. Loquat

Loquat, which is cool in nature, has the effects of moistening the lungs, relieving cough, and reducing phlegm. It contains amygdalin, which produces hydrogen cyanide in the body and helps relieve cough and asthma. Eating loquat directly or using it to make loquat syrup can help alleviate cough symptoms.

3. Lily Bulb

Lily bulb has the effects of moistening the lungs, relieving cough, clearing the mind, and calming the nerves. It contains colchicine and other alkaloids that can improve lung function and alleviate discomfort caused by coughing. It can be cooked into lily porridge or combined with other ingredients for consumption.

4. Tremella Fungus

Tremella fungus is rich in nutrients such as tremella polysaccharides, which can nourish yin, moisten the lungs, strengthen the stomach, and promote body fluid production. It can enhance the respiratory tract's resistance and relieve cough caused by dryness. It is usually cooked into tremella soup or porridge for children to consume.

5. Radish

Radish has the effects of clearing heat, reducing phlegm, regulating qi, and widening the chest. It contains various enzymes and dietary fibers that aid digestion, promote phlegm expulsion, and reduce cough symptoms. It can be made into radish soup or consumed as a cold radish salad.

II. Medications

1. Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Tablets

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide is a central-acting antitussive that suppresses cough by inhibiting the cough center in the medulla. It is suitable for dry cough caused by upper respiratory tract infections, acute or chronic bronchitis, and other conditions.

2. Benproperine Phosphate Tablets

Benproperine phosphate is a non-narcotic antitussive that primarily blocks the afferent sensory nerve impulses from the lungs and pleural receptors. It also directly suppresses the cough center. It has a strong antitussive effect and is suitable for irritating dry coughs.

3. Prenoxdiazine Citrate Tablets

Prenoxdiazine citrate selectively and directly acts on the cough center to block the cough reflex. It also relaxes spasmodic bronchial smooth muscles and can be used for dry cough caused by various reasons.

4. Loratadine Tablets

Loratadine tablets are antihistamines that can relieve airway hyperresponsiveness caused by allergies, reduce congestion and edema of the airway mucosa, and decrease secretions, thereby alleviating cough symptoms. They are suitable for allergic cough.

5. Montelukast Sodium Chewable Tablets

Montelukast sodium chewable tablets are leukotriene receptor antagonists. They selectively inhibit the activity of leukotriene peptides in airway smooth muscles, effectively preventing and suppressing increased vascular permeability, eosinophil infiltration in the airways, and bronchospasm caused by leukotrienes, thereby alleviating cough symptoms. They are especially suitable for cough caused by cough-variant asthma.

In daily life, it is important to keep indoor air fresh by frequently opening windows for ventilation, reducing indoor allergens and pathogens to lower the risk of respiratory infections. Adjust children's clothing promptly according to temperature changes to prevent colds and subsequent coughs.

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What are some home remedies for children with cough and phlegm?

Under normal circumstances, dietary therapies for children's cough with phlegm include rock sugar stewed pears, Sichuan Fritillary Bulb stewed loquat, radish honey water, lily bulb and tremella mushroom porridge, steamed oranges, etc. Pears are sweet in taste and cold in nature, possessing functions of moistening the lungs, clearing lung heat and phlegm, relieving cough, and nourishing blood to promote tissue regeneration. Rock sugar can invigorate the spleen and stomach, and moisten the lungs. When used together, these two ingredients can effectively alleviate symptoms of cough with phlegm in children, especially suitable for cough caused by heat-dryness.

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What are the medications for children's cough?

In general, children's cough medications include Compound Pholcodine Oral Solution, Pediatric Cough Syrup, Cefaclor Granules, Amoxicillin Granules, and Amantadine Hydrochloride Syrup. When selecting cough medication for children, choices should be made based on the child's condition and guidance from a physician. At the same time, maintaining good lifestyle habits and proper dietary management can also help alleviate cough symptoms.

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What are the cough medications for children?

In general, children's cough medications include pediatric cough syrup, dextromethorphan guaifenesin syrup, Pulike mixture, pediatric lung-heat cough and asthma oral liquid, ambroxol and terbutaline oral solution, etc., but they should be used according to medical advice. It is also important to pay attention to weather changes, dress children appropriately to avoid catching a chill or cold, which may cause coughing. Additionally, maintain good indoor air circulation by regularly opening windows for ventilation.

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夏季小儿CoughWhat to do

Under normal circumstances, children's cough during summer may be caused by dry respiratory tract, inhalation of irritant gases, common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other factors. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and follow the doctor's guidance for general treatment, medication, and other treatment methods. Normally, it is important to maintain good indoor air circulation, as well as appropriate temperature and humidity levels.