Home remedies and a little precaution will keep your children away from cold and cough that are so common these days

With yet another spell of monsoon, children are again prone to cold related ailments. However, certain precautions and care at home can avoid further snag. City doctors recommend different measures to aid a child recover.

"Warm water with honey is the best preparation. However there are three types of colds — dry cough, wet cough and cough with chest congestion. For dry cough use suppressants like codeine, dextrometharphan. In case of chest congestion and associated whizzing we recommend broncho dilator and salbutamol and if it is wet cough then the best way to remove the expectorant is light chest tapping. The patient should also be kept away from dust, smoke, pollen and other allergic elements," says Dr Pramod Jog, professor of pediatrics at DY Patil Medical College.

Dr Jayant Naurange, pediatric, says, "Precaution is anyday better than cure. In the first place, an enclosed area should be avoided. Keep the child dry and warm. It is very important that the child is examined before being medicated and should be given a decongestant medicine during the initial stages. Pseudo ethidrine and anti cold preparations are recommended. Parents can wait up to three days and if minor sneezing is observed then medication might not be needed. However if there is fast breathing, vomiting or even slight fever they should immediately consult the doctor."

Dr Avinash Bhondwe president of Indian Medical Association, Pune branch suggests that cold, in any case takes at least seven days to cure completely.

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