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Cough and lots of phlegm

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Health Care Issues

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kawmm

Newbie

Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 28, 2008 - 03:14 PM
Post subject: Cough and lots of phlegm

Hi,
I have just relocated in Shanghai Puxi 3 weeks ago. My 5-year-old girl has bad cough and a lot of phlegm after 1 week here. I had brought her to Parkway Health Clinic and the doctor said it might be because of the poor air quality here. She has prescribed ventolin for her as she said she has mild asthma.
Anyone ever encounter the same problem? Any suggestions or recommendations? Will air purifier help?
Please help as she does not seems to recover yet and the school starts very soon...Thanks

Magnolia
Board Biatch

Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31083

Posted: Aug 29, 2008 - 11:11 AM

get a second opinion regarding the asthma prognosis.

it is not uncommon for people to have a few weeks of adjustment to the air.

an air purifier may help, it all depends on her sensitivity.

hope she feels better soon!

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CoffeeHawk_0
Board Buddha

Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 14444

Posted: Aug 29, 2008 - 11:51 AM

this is probably obvious to a mother, but, check for a fever in case it's bronchiatis or some other type of infection in the lungs. I had it twice in the first year I moved here, never had it in 40 years in my home country. An x-ray is inexpensive here to see if the lungs are 'full'.

disconbobulated

Reacher

Joined: Sep 26, 2007
Posts: 341

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 29, 2008 - 07:01 PM

Coughing and spitting phlegm sounds like she is adjusting culturally!

Snippets

PopStar

Joined: Apr 09, 2005
Posts: 1100

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 29, 2008 - 10:24 PM

Sadly, it mostly is a bad reaction to the air [lack of] quality here.

I am surprised the doc just gave her ventolin.

She needs to also be on an antihistamine like Zyrtec, and Flixonase nasal spray.

Only try to keep her on the ventolin for as short as possible and/or only use if she is having bronchial spasms and uncontrolled cough.

Also, start using a humidifier in her room when she sleeps at night; it will help dramatically. Keep it on high and make sure the air is quite moist.

It also would not hurt if she used a saline nasal spray before she goes to bed and first thing in the morning before using the Flixonase nasal spray. Stick with Flixonase - do not think I am suggesting ANY nasal spray - only flixonase because it isolates its actions to the nasal area and does spread around the body like other steroidal nasal sprays do.

I would also not go back to the same physician.

Everything I suggested is available over the counter here in China.

blondesands

Reacher

Joined: Nov 21, 2007
Posts: 208

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 29, 2008 - 11:09 PM

The air quality in most of China is bad, but especially in Shanghai, if you go around the high traffic areas, with all the cars spewing out fumes. Young lungs are less developed, and are easily affected by pollution. Most people I know have phlegm and a cough, for no good reason, other than the poor air quality. For asthma, make sure that your child does have it, before taking asthmatic medication. Definitely get a second opinion, xrays, a lung capacity test (spirometer), and check for allergies. Good luck