Child Cough - Things to Know as a Parent

What Are Coughs?

Coughing in children is one of the common symptoms of childhood illness. They may sound awful at times, but they usually are not a symptom of any serious condition. Instead, they are the body's built-in mechanism for protecting and clearing the airways and fighting infection. There are many types of coughs, and viruses cause most of them. If the children have viral infections, they may cough multiple times a day or have coughing episodes persisting for up to a few weeks. However, if the cough lasts more than two to three weeks, see a doctor immediately.

What Causes Cough In Children?

Coughing in children can be acute or chronic:

Acute Cough (Lasting Two Weeks or Less):

• Most children have brief, repeated coughing periods due to viral upper respiratory tract infections, like a common cold. On average, healthy preschool children can have up to eight viral respiratory infections with coughing per year, each lasting about ten days. Occasionally, a cough can occur because of a foreign object in the airway following an episode of choking. But, in some cases, the choking episode may go unnoticed, especially in younger children.

Chronic Cough in Children

There are many different causes of a persistent or chronic cough in children.

• Asthma: Asthma symptoms can vary from child to child, making its diagnosis tough. However, most children with asthma have inflamed or swollen airways, which causes wheezing. The wheezing cough can worsen at night. The other symptom can be a cough with increased physical activity, play, or cold.

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• Nasal Disease or Sinusitis: It can cause a persistent chronic cough, with other symptoms, including a runny nose, itchy throat, watery eyes, sore throat, or rash.

• Acid Reflux: In some children, chronic cough can occur due to movement of stomach fluid back up the throat (acid reflux). The other symptoms may include coughing, frequent vomiting, a bad taste in the mouth or spitting up, and a burning sensation in the chest known as heartburn. In addition, some children may develop hoarseness in their voices or choking symptoms.

• Viral Infections: Colds, flu, and croup can cause cough for weeks in healthy children. While a cold tends to cause a mild to a moderate hacking cough, the flu leads to severe, dry cough; croup often causes a "barking" cough, commonly at night with noisy breathing.

• Bacterial Infection of the Lower Airway: Sometimes, bacteria can infect the lower airways, causing irritation and cough. It is unclear why this happens, and sometimes the course of action is also not clear.

• Habit Cough: This persistent cough has no apparent physical cause. It can occasionally occur after a viral respiratory infection. Usually, the cough is dry or repetitive or a "honking" cough, often when the child is awake and not sleeping. A neuromuscular tic may also lead to this type of cough.

• Irritant Cough: A child may also cough after being exposed to irritants like tobacco smoke, smoke and exhaust from wood burning, air pollution, and exhaust from vehicles. This type of cough may even worsen the cough associated with asthma or rhinitis.

How Are Coughs in Children Diagnosed?

Reach out to a doctor if concerned about a child's cough. Depending on the type of cough, its duration, and other symptoms, the doctor may prescribe a treatment plan. Usually, hearing the cough is enough for the doctor to diagnose or rule out a serious problem.

How Are Coughs in Children Treated?

The following ways can treat coughs in children:

• Coughing due to a viral respiratory infection requires no specific treatment. It usually goes away in one or two weeks.

The treatment for chronic cough is based on the underlying cause:

• Over-the-counter mucous thinning agents like Guaifenesin and cough suppressing medications, including Dextromethorphan, can be taken. However, most over-the-counter cough medications are not believed to be particularly effective; they may work better in a child than in other children.

• Asthma treatment depends on what is causing it and includes avoiding triggers or allergens, such as pollution, smoke, or perfumes.

• Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections because these medications only work against bacteria. But these infections can be managed with other medications.

• Treatment for acid reflux depends on a child's age, health, and other issues. It often includes removing trigger foods from their diet. Ensure that the child eats his food at least two hours before bedtime in smaller meals.

• Whooping cough is best treated with antibiotics.

• Coughing from sinusitis can be managed by avoiding allergens, including food, pollen, pet dander, and dust. The doctor may also recommend allergy drugs or allergy shots.

Important Tips:

The following tips can make a coughing child feel better:

• Never give a child an over-the-counter cough medicine without consulting a doctor. Cough medicines are generally not recommended for children under six years old.

• Do not give over-the-counter combination medicines to children as they are more likely to get side effects than adults and can have an overdose of the medicine.

• Cough drops can be given to older kids, but avoid giving them to kids younger than three years old as they can choke on them. Instead, consult a doctor first to ensure they are safe for the child.

• Avoid giving cool beverages, such as orange juices, cold drinks, or soda, to coughing children as these can hurt a throat that is already sour due to coughing.

• A cool-mist humidifier in the child's bedroom may help with their sleep.

Conclusion:

Hearing a child cough may make a parent feel uneasy. But an occasional cough is not always a sign of a problem. Instead, coughing is a healthy reflex that helps clear the airways in the throat and chest by removing mucus, infections, and irritating substances. Schedule a visit with a doctor if a child has a cough for more than two to three weeks. A proper understanding of the different types of coughs in children can help parents know better when and how to handle them at home and when to seek medical help.