Newborns are susceptible to external factors that can cause respiratory diseases. Phlegm in the throat is one of the signs of respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, etc. Clearing phlegm in the throat helps reduce the risk of it spreading to the lower respiratory tract.
1. Causes of Phlegm in the Throat for Newborns
Newborns' immune systems are not fully developed, making them easily affected by external factors, especially the respiratory system. Additionally, when sick, their ability to expel phlegm is weak due to an underdeveloped cough reflex.
There are many causes and factors that can lead to phlegm in the throat of newborns, including:
- Rhinitis: Newborns with rhinitis may have allergies, viral, bacterial, or fungal infections, causing the body to produce more nasal mucus to eliminate the pathogens. The mucus can cause a runny nose, nasal congestion, and may flow down the throat, causing coughing, hoarseness, or even lower respiratory tract infections.
- Bronchitis: This condition involves inflammation and increased mucus production in the bronchial tubes. Newborns with bronchitis often have a lot of phlegm, and in severe cases, they may experience difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and wheezing.
- Common Cold and Flu: Both conditions are caused by viruses, but different types of viruses. The common cold usually presents milder symptoms and has a better prognosis, with symptoms such as coughing, fever, runny nose, and nasal congestion appearing after exposure to cold. The flu, on the other hand, often causes high fever, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, and irritability, and can lead to complications such as lower respiratory tract infections.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux: Due to an underdeveloped lower esophageal sphincter, newborns often experience reflux when food is not digested properly. This condition can cause frequent coughing, vomiting, and damage to the throat lining, leading to phlegm production.
- Some factors that increase the risk of phlegm in the throat for newborns include: exposure to cold, environments with cigarette smoke, pollution, dry weather, and sudden weather changes.
2. How to Clear Phlegm in the Throat for Newborns
When newborns have phlegm in their throats, it can cause concern for parents. However, medications are often limited for use in newborns unless necessary. To quickly clear the throat and remove phlegm, you can apply some of the following methods:
Ensure Adequate Hydration
If the baby is exclusively breastfed (under 6 months old), you can increase the frequency of breastfeeding. For babies over 6 months old who can drink water, you should give them additional water daily. When the body is well-hydrated, the mucus will become thinner, making it easier for the baby to expel through coughing or sneezing.
Use Nasal Aspirators
When phlegm accumulates in the throat, it can make the baby uncomfortable and irritable, and can lead to complications such as middle ear infections or pneumonia. You can use safe tools to remove phlegm from the nasal and throat cavities, such as rubber bulb syringes, soft-tipped nasal aspirators, or nasal suction machines. Ensure these tools are cleaned before use and kept hygienic to avoid infections. Use separate tools for each child to prevent cross-contamination.
Before using a nasal aspirator, you can thin the phlegm by instilling a few drops of saline solution into the baby's nostrils. When using the aspirator, elevate the baby's head slightly to avoid choking, and suction one nostril at a time.
You can repeat the suction process 2-3 times a day.
Instill Saline Solution
Besides thinning the phlegm to make nasal suction easier, saline solution helps disinfect the nasal and throat cavities for newborns and young children.
Instill 2-3 drops into each nostril, then position the baby upright to allow the mucus to drain out easily.
Chest Percussion
Chest percussion helps loosen phlegm, stimulating coughing to expel it. Position the baby so you can gently tap on their back.
Cup your hand and gently tap on the baby's back to help loosen phlegm in the respiratory tract. When performing chest percussion, only tap gently on the lung area, avoiding the spine and abdomen.
Maintain a Clean Environment
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, dust, mold, or anything that can cause allergies in the baby to reduce the risk of recurrent illnesses. Regularly clean the baby's bedding, clothes, and other household items, especially carpets, which can harbor many disease-causing microorganisms. Cleaning and removing allergens will help reduce the risk of respiratory diseases in newborns.
Use Essential Oils
Essential oils such as eucalyptus or lemon can help humidify the room, reduce nasal congestion, and decrease phlegm production. You can diffuse essential oils in the room or apply a small amount to the baby's bedding, clothes, or pillows to help them breathe easier.
Keep the Baby Warm
Cold weather can promote the growth of many microorganisms that can cause illness in the baby, and mucus production will increase. One of the care measures when the baby has phlegm in the throat is to keep their body warm, especially during the winter months.
Humidify the Baby's Room
If the environment is too dry, it can make the baby more susceptible to illness and make mucus thicker and harder to expel. Increasing the humidity in the baby's room helps maintain moisture in the respiratory tract, making phlegm thinner and easier to expel, providing comfort for the baby.
Use Herbal Remedies
For newborns, you can use some herbal remedies to help thin phlegm, remove it, and clear the throat more quickly. Some recipes you can apply include:
- Quince, Ginger, and Rock Sugar: Quince has a sour taste and warm properties, helping to thin phlegm. Ginger has warm properties, boosting immunity, reducing cold symptoms, and alleviating nausea. You can cut the quince in half, remove the seeds, add a few slices of ginger and rock sugar, and steam the mixture for the baby to drink 3 times a day.
- Pear, Licorice, Ginger, and Rock Sugar: For babies with a lot of thick, yellow phlegm, you can use this recipe. Licorice has warm properties, helping to thin phlegm, reduce cold symptoms, and has antibacterial properties that can eliminate some disease-causing bacteria. You can make this syrup by cutting a pear into small pieces, adding a handful of licorice, a few slices of ginger, and rock sugar, and steaming the mixture. Give the baby this syrup 3 times a day. If the baby can chew, you can let them eat the pear pieces.
- Lemon Basil, Quince, and Rock Sugar: Lemon basil is a very effective remedy for respiratory infections, with warm properties that help thin phlegm, disinfect, and reduce coughing. Combining it with quince and rock sugar enhances its phlegm-thinning effects. You can use a handful of lemon basil leaves, a few halved quinces, rock sugar, add water, and boil for about 10 minutes. You can make a larger batch and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Give the baby this syrup 3 times a day with warm water. Choose clean herbs, wash them with salt before making syrup for the baby. Babies under 1 year old should not use honey due to the risk of botulism, but for babies over 1 year old, you can replace rock sugar with honey to enhance the effects.
Massage the Baby
You can use essential oils or diluted warm ginger water to massage certain acupressure points on the body. This helps warm the body, reduce phlegm formation in the throat, as according to traditional medicine, phlegm is mainly produced due to cold. The areas you should massage include the back (corresponding to the phế du acupoint), the soles of the feet (dũng tuyền acupoint), and the elbows (khúc trì acupoint). Massage each area for 1-2 minutes. Consistently perform this for 7 days, once a day, to reduce phlegm production and boost the baby's immunity.
3. When Should You Take the Baby to the Doctor?
Implementing home remedies is an effective way to clear phlegm in the throat. However, always monitor the baby's condition for any unusual developments to provide timely treatment. If the baby has phlegm in the throat accompanied by the following signs, you should quickly take them to a healthcare facility for examination and treatment:
- Phlegm in the throat has an unusual color such as green, brown, or red-brown, which may indicate a bacterial infection or blood in the phlegm.
- Signs of respiratory distress due to phlegm obstruction or serious conditions such as cyanosis around the lips, difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid shallow breathing, chest retractions, or nasal flaring.
- Frequent vomiting, inability to keep
- Loss of appetite, poor feeding, lethargy, or irritability.
- High fever, body temperature above 38.5°C, and signs of infection such as dry lips, bad breath, and a coated tongue.
- Cough or phlegm lasting more than 2 weeks, excessive coughing causing fatigue, affecting the child's daily activities and sleep.
- Ear discharge due to complications of otitis media.
Clearing phlegm in the throat helps the child feel more comfortable and also reduces the risk of the disease worsening. Therefore, if you notice phlegm in the nose and throat of a newborn, you should take the above measures to help remove the phlegm. Additionally, closely monitor the child, and if there are any abnormalities, seek medical attention immediately for early treatment.
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