Phlegm in the throat among infants can be a problem which makes it difficult for the child to eat or sleep. An infant who cannot sleep keeps all members of the family awake, thus making further problems.
A cough with or without phlegm is not a serious problem. Most cases can be caused by flu or common cold viruses and usually heals after a few days. It can also due to mucus secretion in the throat. Sometimes, it can be caused by an allergic reaction to dust and pollutants present in the air. Coughing can be due to infections in the respiratory tract that causes development of mucus in the affected areas such as the throat and the lungs. The buildup of mucus due to dust and pollutants will result to the development of phlegm in the throat. This can cause severe congestion among infants. Phlegm can clog up the lungs and airways and makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.
Sometimes, the cough can be accompanied by fever, wheezing and fast or hard breathing. If the child has these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. An excessive amount of phlegm or mucus in the throat of the baby can result to choking, coughing, gagging and frequent swallowing.
Treatment of phlegm in the throat
- Let the baby rest for the fast healing of the condition. Give the baby some cuddly toys and spend time with the baby.
- Make sure the baby is fed with liquids all the time in order to keep the body well hydrated and also prevent making the phlegm from becoming too thick. Liquids help relax the throat of the baby and make swallowing easier. Another way is to breastfeed the baby since the antibodies present in the milk of the mother facilitates the fast recovery of the condition.
- Make the baby sleep with a slightly inclined position by rolling up a blanket and place it under the mattress. Another way is letting the baby sleep in an infant car seat. If the baby is awake, hold him/her in an upright position against the shoulder in order to help in preventing postnasal drip and minimize coughing at night.
- Give the baby a steam bath. By inhaling the steam, it helps decongest the throat and lungs of the baby and there is no difficulty in coughing up phlegm. Run a hot shower and fill the room with the steam. Take the baby into the shower room and stay there for at least 10-15 minutes twice a day until the baby feels better.
- Install a cool mist humidifier in the room of the baby since it helps decongest the chest, nasal passages and allows the baby to sleep better and minimizes coughing.
If the baby is coughing up greenish, yellowish or reddish colored phlegm, sore throat, there is difficulty in eliminating mucus secretions and the cough lasts for more than 10 days, it is time to seek medical help immediately.
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https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/how-to-get-rid-of-phlegm