My 5-month-old baby has a dry cough. How can I manage it?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a five-month-old baby who had a cold four days ago. It has improved with cold syrup, but now the baby has been suffering from a dry cough for the last two days.

The doctor has suggested giving 1.5 ml of Hisover LS cough syrup (Ambroxol hydrochloride combination syrup) twice a day for three days. Is this dosage correct? My baby weighs 16 pounds.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern

According to the information that you provided, there is nothing to worry about right now, and the dosage suggested by your doctor may be correct for a five-month-old child weighing 16 pounds, especially considering that the prescription came after the actual consultation.

As far as children are concerned, the dosage of medicine depends on their age, body weight, symptoms, and the strength of the syrup. Hence, it would be wise to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

Having a dry cough for a couple of days after being ill with a cold is quite typical. This is due to the fact that the throat and air passages still have some irritation even after the improvement of the disease.

The Ambroxol combination syrup is usually administered in order to thin the mucus and help with coughing. Kindly take the drug as prescribed for the next three days, and please do not increase or modify the dose without consulting a doctor.

Another way you can help your baby recover is to ensure that he or she is well-fed and hydrated, uses saline nasal drops if necessary, is held in an upright position after feeding, and is kept away from any smoke or dust.

Please consult a doctor immediately if your baby exhibits signs of rapid breathing, wheezing, fever, poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, or increased coughing.

However, if your baby is active and feeding well and is breathing okay, it is most probably a case of mild post-viral cough, which will get better with time.

I hope this is helpful.

Thanks.