Objective To explore the characteristics, patterns, and mechanisms of professor Liu Xiaowei's clinical differentiation and treatment of pediatric cough. Methods Clinical cases treated by professor Liu Xiaowei for pediatric cough were collected, and the characteristics and patterns of the prescriptions were analyzed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Computing Platform V 3.0 software. Based on network pharmacology, KEGG pathway analysis was performed to identify potential signaling pathways. Results A total of 106 cases were collected, involving 106 formulas and 85 Chinese medicinal herbs. The top five herbs used were Glycyrrhiza (Licorice), Zingiber (Ginger), Armeniacae Semen (Bitter Apricot Seed), Platycodon (Bellflower), and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Tangerine Peel). The properties of the herbs were primarily warm and cold, with bitter and pungent flavors dominating. The majority targeted the lung meridian, and the most frequently used herbs were those for resolving phlegm, stopping cough, and relieving wheezing. Clustering resulted in five core herbal combinations. KEGG pathway analysis identified the main pathways as the HIF-1 signaling pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. Conclusions Pediatric cough is often characterized by deficiency and excess patterns. It is essential to eliminate external pathogens such as wind, cold, and heat while also drying internal phlegm-dampness and tonifying the spleen and lung Qi. Network pharmacology analysis indicates that the potential signaling involved in the clinical experience formulas for treating cough is related to airway hyperreactivity, which involves inflammatory cells, inflammatory mediators, and cytokines.