Objective To investigate the curative effect of Xiaoqinglong Tang Huatai combined with budesonide on children with cough (syndrome of wind-cold blocking lung). Methods 90 children with cough (syndrome of wind-cold blocking lung) treated in our hospital from October 2022 to October 2024 were selected as the study objects. The children were divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 45 cases in each group. The control group was treated with budesonide aerosol inhalation. Observation group was treated with Xiaoqinglong decoction on the basis of the control group. The efficacy, occurrence of adverse reactions, time of symptom disappearance and TCM symptom score of the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results The total effective rate of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the adverse reaction rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the disappearance time of fever, cough, sputum and pulmonary signs in the observation group was significantly shortened (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of TCM symptoms of cough, sputum and tachypnea in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment, and the scores of TCM symptoms in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Xiaoqinglong Tang Huatai combined with budesonide can improve the curative effect, promote the disappearance of symptoms, reduce the score of TCM symptoms, and have high safety in the treatment of pediatric cough (wind-cold blocking lung syndrome).