Coughs don't take a holiday in summer — on the contrary, with unpredictable weather and excessive exposure to air conditioning, cases of children affected by this complaint during the summer months are increasingly common.
It may seem contradictory, yet that is exactly the case: the sharp alternation of temperatures that has characterised the start of summer encourages the onset of respiratory tract infections. In the last week of June alone, around 70,000 Italians were forced to stay in bed with cold-like symptoms. Care must therefore be taken during these summers of unsettled weather, especially for the youngest children, who are more susceptible to the effects of temperature swings and may therefore be the first to show certain symptoms.
Added to this is the fact that, as soon as the heat and humidity return, air conditioning is frequently used at very low temperatures — at home, in the car and in shops. Excessive use of air conditioning can, however, be inadvisable and cause complaints such as coughs and sore throats. In such cases, homoeopathy may be particularly appropriate.
For all types of cough, the homoeopathic syrup Stodal is recommended, as it allows the frequency and intensity of the complaint to be reduced quickly. It is a syrup also suitable for children under two years of age, as it contains no mucolytic substances. The dosage for children is 5 ml (one measuring cup or one teaspoon), while for adults it is 15 ml (three measuring cups, or one tablespoon), taken three to five times a day.
There are also several common-name medicines that can help in the case of a cough: in the presence of a dry cough, for example, the most suitable medicine is Spongia tosta 9 CH, while if the cough is accompanied by a burning sensation in the sternum, Bryonia 9 CH is suggested. Both medicines should be taken at a dosage of five granules every three hours.
In some cases, a particularly chesty cough can also cause nausea, especially in children; for this eventuality, Ipeca 9 CH is recommended, five granules every three to four hours. When a cough occurs at night, disrupting sleep and rest, it is advisable to take five granules every three hours of Drosera 9 CH.
A sore throat is an inflammation of the oral cavity that in summer is caused mainly by high humidity levels and temperature swings, which encourage the proliferation of viruses and bacteria in the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. In such cases, Aconitum 9 CH is prescribed. In the event of widespread throat inflammation with laryngeal pain, Phytolacca 7 CH is recommended. When the throat is dry, burning and particularly red, the most appropriate medicine is Arum triphyllum 9 CH. The dosage is the same for all medicines: five granules every two to three hours.