Suggest A Remedy For Painful Throat And Cough In A Child

Posted on Thu, 7 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 7 Jan 2016 Answered on

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My son is six and half years old and 23 kg weight. He has throat pain and fever. He has fever since last 3 days and its touching 102 F and not going down below 100/99.5. Crocin was being administered so far for fever. But fever doesnt seem to go down below 100 F even after 5 hours of administering 12 ml of Crocin syrup. I have given him 5ml of Meftal P. Doc has adviced 5 ml of Azithral 200 syrup to be administered only after another 48 hrs if fever and soar throat doesnot subside.His coughing is seeming to increase with a painful throat. Moreover is it ok if I administer Please help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Give 7.5 ml of Meftal 8 hourly and 250 mg of paracetamol 6 hourly

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

I can understand your concern.Most common cause of cough/cold with fever in this age is some viral infection.In viral infection fever is usually of very high grade during initial 3-4 days and then it starts declining.
The dose of paracetamol is 60 mg/kg/day and it can be given in 4-6 equally divided dosage.If fever does not respond to paracetamol mefanemic acid(meftal)can be given.The dose is 25 mg/kg/day in 3 equal divided dosage.
So you may give 250 mg of paracetamol(Crocin DS 5 ml/half tablet of 500 mg)4 times a day.You may even give it 6 times a day.If fever recurs in less than 4 hours give meftal 7.5 ml(each 5 ml contains 100 mg).
Give plenty of fluids to keep him well hydrated.Warm saline gargle and steam inhalation helps in cold and throat pain.
As already three days has been passed and fever/sore throat is still persisting;I would like to give some antibiotic like Azithromycin(Azee).The dose of azithromycin is 10 mg/kg/day in single dose for 3-5 days.So 6 ml of Azee will do.
Giving decongestant with antiallergic like chlorpheniramin and phenylephrine combination( 6-7 ml three times a day of Maxtra/Timinic) will provide early relief.

I hope with all these measures he would soon be fine back again.

I shall be glad to help if you have any more doubts.
Wishing for his early recovery.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (22 hours later)

Thank you doctor for your valuable advice. I went ahead accordingly last night. Last NIGHT i HAD GIVEN HIM 5ML of meftal P at 10 oclock. Fever got fully remitted by 11.30 pm. Around 3.30 am he got 102 fever again and I gave him 1/2 tablet of Calpol (250mg). fever went down around 6 am. full remission. Around 7.45 he had 100 F so gave him 6ml of Meftal P as he had exam at school today and had to go. Today around 4.00 pm he got back fever 100.4 and by 6pm today it one up to 102 F. Again i gave him 1/2 tablet of Calpol (250mg).fever went down to 100.6 by 8 pm and is at 100.3 now i.e. 9.30 pm. Planning to give him Meftal P by 10.30 pm before bed. Please look into above record and advice. Moreover i have given him Azithral 200 5ml at 8.30 pm. As for the cough syrup I have Simbadol syrup ....is it safe for him or should I stick to Maxtra/Timinic...please help.

Thanks & Regards

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You may give some bronchodilator like salbutamol

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

I have gone through the details and I really appreciate the way you are managing.
This is the right way to control the fever.
You may also do tepid water sponging to bring down the temperature.
For cough you can give some mucolytic with bronchodilator like ambroxol and salbutamol combination.
I am sorry but I don't know the exact constituent of simbadol syrup.I also tried to search it out but failed.
Continue azee and maxtra as advised.

I hope he would get well soon.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar