Coughing is a common childhood ailment considered chronic when it lasts for more than two weeks, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Most of the time the cause of a chronic cough in kids can be pinpointed, and treatment can begin. Understanding the causes of chronic cough in kids can help parents determine treatment options.
Understanding the Cough Reflex
Although the medical community understands the cough reflex primarily thanks to animal studies, there is still much to learn. Specialist Medical Officer Pok-yu Chow and Dr. Daniel K. K. Ng of Hong Kong's Kwong Wah Hospital Department of Pediatrics report in a 2004 Singapore Medical Journal article that the role of the brain in coughing is still not fully known. What is clear is that the cough reflex begins when irritants enter the respiratory system and trigger rapidly adapting irritant receptors. When those receptors are stimulated, the bronchial smooth muscle will contract and mucus will be secreted.
Causes
A chronic cough in kids is usually the result of asthma, postnasal drip caused by allergies or acid reflux, according to the Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. An asthmatic cough is often worse when a child is asleep and can begin shortly after exposure to exercise or cold air. Postnasal drip-related cough is often accompanied by a runny or stuffy nose and itching on the roof of the mouth or around the eyes. With acid reflux, the cough may manifest with heartburn or a hoarse voice.
Children ages 2 to 4 often develop a chronic cough after accidentally inhaling a foreign body. The Keep Kids Healthy website says a post-viral cough eventually goes away on its own. A dry daytime “habit” cough in teens is sometimes brought on by stress. An irritant cough is caused by exposure to a pollutant such as cigarette smoke or car exhaust.
Coughing Benefits
Although a chronic cough is usually a sign of something wrong that requires treatment, coughing serves a purpose. According to the Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, coughing is the body’s way of removing mucus and irritating substances from the respiratory tract.
Treatment
The Singapore Journal of Medicine article stresses that chronic cough treatment depends on the underlying cause. Fortunately, parents whose children suffer from chronic cough and particularly those whose cough interferes with sleep can take action.
Parents can add moisture to the air and help a dry cough with a room humidifier and eliminate exposure from common irritants such as cigarettes by asking adults to refrain from smoking around the child, according to Keep Kids Healthy. Short-term use of over-the-counter cough suppressants or decongestants may help if a cough is interrupting sleep. The Food and Drug Administration advises parents not to give over-the-counter cough medicine to children younger than 4.
When to See a Doctor
Parents should schedule a doctor’s visit if a child’s cough persists longer than two weeks, according to the Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. In addition, if a cough occurs with choking or bleeding or interferes with daily activities, it is important to call a doctor.
