What are the cough medications for children?
Apr 27, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
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.
Generally, children's cough medications include children's cough syrup, dextromethorphan hydrobromide and guaifenesin syrup, Pulike mixture, children's febrile cough and asthma oral liquid, and ambroxol and clenbuterol oral solution. However, these medications should be used under the guidance of a physician. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Children's Cough Syrup
Children's cough syrup mainly contains ingredients such as licorice fluid extract, platycodon fluid extract, ammonium chloride, and orange peel tincture. Components like glycyrrhizic acid in licorice fluid extract can cover the surface of the inflamed throat mucosa, reduce the stimulation of local sensory nerve endings, and thus exert a cough-suppressing effect; platycodon fluid extract can stimulate the gastric mucosa, reflexively increasing bronchial secretion, diluting sputum, and achieving expectorant and cough-relieving effects.
2. Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide and Guaifenesin Syrup
Dextromethorphan is a centrally acting antitussive that primarily suppresses cough by inhibiting the cough center in the medulla oblongata; guaifenesin is an expectorant. After oral administration, it stimulates the gastric mucosa, reflexively increasing bronchial secretion, reducing sputum viscosity, and exerting dual effects of expectoration and cough suppression.
3. Pulike Mixture
Pulike mixture mainly consists of ingredients such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Peucedanum praeruptorum, Stemona tuberosa, Gentiana lutea, Ficus root, Hedyotis diffusa, and Psychotria rubra. Baicalin and other components in Scutellaria baicalensis have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, which can reduce airway inflammatory responses; compounds like praeruptorin A in Peucedanum praeruptorum can relax bronchial smooth muscles, alleviating cough symptoms. The synergistic effects of multiple drugs provide functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, relieving cough, and eliminating phlegm.
4. Children's Febrile Cough and Asthma Oral Liquid
Children's febrile cough and asthma oral liquid mainly contains Ephedra sinica, bitter apricot seed, gypsum, and licorice. Ephedrine in Ephedra sinica can relax bronchial smooth muscles, alleviate bronchospasm, and reduce cough symptoms; gypsum has heat-clearing and fire-purging effects, eliminating heat pathogens from the lungs; amygdalin in bitter apricot seeds decomposes in the body to produce trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide, which mildly inhibits the respiratory center, calming respiratory activity to achieve cough-suppressing and asthma-relieving effects.
5. Ambroxol and Clenbuterol Oral Solution
Ambroxol and clenbuterol oral solution consists of ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride. Ambroxol hydrochloride can dilute sputum and promote its expulsion; clenbuterol hydrochloride is a selective beta-receptor agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscles, enhances ciliary movement, dissolves mucus, promotes sputum discharge, and strengthens respiratory muscle contraction, helping alleviate cough symptoms.
In daily life, attention should be paid to weather changes, and clothing should be adjusted timely to prevent colds and subsequent coughs in children. Additionally, maintaining indoor air circulation, regularly ventilating rooms, and keeping appropriate temperature and humidity levels can help reduce respiratory irritation.
