Pediatria pre prax 6/2013

Current treatment of cough

The article reviews current knowledge on drugs and preparations for treatment of dry and mucus-producing cough which are currently available in the Czech Republic. In the introduction, there are given some suggestions concerning frequent and inappropriate combination of antitussive and mucoregulating drugs. The part of the article is denoted to antitussives, with respect to mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of opioid-derived antitussives. Another part reviews the drugs for treatment of mucus-producing cough with respect to categorization according to the major mechanism of action, adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, and additive actions of distinct drugs. By conclusion, it is suggested not to use opioid-derived antitussives in children but rather butamirate or levodropropizine and also some suggestions on use of mucoregulating drugs in children.

Keywords: antitussives, expectorants, mucolytics, mucoregulators, children.