Children who have been suffering from a chronic case of common cold with a runny nose or blocked nasal cavity, severe sinus pain and a persistent cough suffer from a terrible build-up of mucus in the respiratory tract. This usually leads to bronchitis, or an inflammation of the bronchial tubes usually caused by the same virus that is responsible for the cold and cough. The mucus builds up with the swelling of the inner lining of the bronchial tubes, making the child cough harder in an attempt to get rid of the mucus. This congestion can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as extreme fatigue, fever and difficulty in breathing. There are several home remedies that help to treat this congestion better than most antibiotics doctors prescribe.
The first and most important step towards treatment of a chronic cold, cough and congestion is the increase of liquids in the diet. The increased liquid helps to thin the mucus in the system, thus making it easier for the child to cough it up or for it to be flushed out naturally from the system. It also helps to soothe the irritation in the throat caused by the build-up of mucus. You should make your child drink a minimum of 4 glasses of 8 oz capacity of liquids. While there is no liquid better than water, you can alternate water with some fresh fruit juices or coconut water which is high in mineral content and will provide energy to the child. You can also give your child plenty of hot soups, especially chicken soup which not only soothes the chest but also helps to eliminate the mucus effectively. If your child can tolerate pepper, you should prepare and serve hot soups laced with pepper and garlic to help clear the congestion. A mixture of a spoonful of honey mixed with freshly extracted onion juice taken 3 to 4 times a day is also beneficial for treating congestion. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and not only helps to fight the infection but also helps to clear the mucus from the system. You should also try and increase the humidity in the immediate environment to as much as 70%. This will help to ease the labored breathing especially at night when your child is sleeping. You can also prop up your child by placing a pillow under his or her head at night. Alternately you can raise the head of the bed by placing a couple of bricks under the legs. This raised position will make it easier for your child to breathe at night.
answered by G R