All parents want their kids to remain healthy, but no matter how fastidious you are, your child will get sick and probably have a cough. "Coughs are one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness," notes KidsHealth from Nemours. And when your child is coughing at night, it can be exhausting. You can rest assured, though, that coughing is normally not a sign of a serious condition, but you should call your pediatrician if the cough persists or interferes with your child's breathing.
Types
There are many different types of coughs. The barky cough comes from croup and is a result of the swelling of the larynx and trachea. This cough can start suddenly at night. Childhood asthma may also trigger nighttime coughing because the airways are more irritable and sensitive at night. The whooping cough is a cough in which your child takes a deep breath after the coughing spell, which makes a whooping sound, reports KidsHealth from Nemours.
Causes
Most coughs get worse at night due to the mucus from the nose and sinuses draining down the throat and triggering a cough during sleep, notes KidsHealth from Nemours. The barky cough usually is a result of a virus, although it may be a result of allergies or a change in the temperature at night. A virus, such as the common cold, can also trigger an asthma cough. The whooping cough stems from the bacteria named bordetella pertussis. This cough is due to an infection of the airways and results in your child having spells of back-to-back coughs without breathing in between.
Treatment
Since viruses are the root cause for most coughs, doctors usually do not give antibiotics for the cough; the virus needs to run its course. According to KidsHealth from Nemours, cough medicines are not needed unless your child can't sleep due to the coughing. Call your pediatrician before giving your child any cough medicine. Drinking plenty of fluids and breathing moist air may help your child with her cough, notes MayoClinic.com.
Prevention
It is important for your child to wash his hands regularly and avoid contact with other children who have been sick, advises MayoClinic.com. Since most coughs are a symptom of a virus, the best treatment for a cough is to avoid coming into contact with the virus that causes the cough.
Considerations
You should contact your doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is breathing more quickly than normal, has high fever, is an infant who has been coughing for more than a few hours, is coughing up blood, makes a whooping sound or has wheezing associated with the cough or is having trouble sleeping or eating due to the cough, advises KidsHealth from Nemours.
