Coughing helps the body clear mucus and irritants from the throat. Coughing may also be a sign of a serious or chronic medical condition. The type of cough and accompanying symptoms can help narrow the cause and possible treatments for your child's cough.
Description
The body uses coughing to clear mucus, irritants and foreign matter from the respiratory tract, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. The body increases mucus production when it is fighting off an infection, which contributes to coughing, says Dartmouth Medical School on its website Child Health Guide. Coughing usually worsens at night. When you child lies down, mucus can accumulate in the back of the throat and trigger the cough reflex. Coughs generally begin suddenly and may last a few days or linger for several weeks, depending on the underlying cause.
Causes
Colds and flu are the most common causes of cough in children, according to the University of Maryland. Other respiratory infections, for example, bronchitis or pneumonia, are also common causes of cough. Postnasal drip from sinus infections triggers cough, as does asthma and allergies. Children also cough when a foreign object lodges in their windpipe, or when they are choking.
Types
Child Health Guide describes four types of coughs, distinguished mainly by their sound. Dry, hacking coughs are typically caused by upper respiratory infections, such as common colds. A harsh, barking cough is characteristic of croup, a common condition in young children resulting from a viral infection of the trachea, or windpipe. A wet cough that brings up phlegm or other secretions signals an infection of the lower respiratory tract. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a viral disease that produces a distinctive cough. Pertussis begins as a cough associated with a common cold, but then worsens into frequent fits of several short, rapid coughs followed by a deep intake of breath. As the child inhales, she will often make a "whoop" sound and may have difficulty catching her breath.
Remedies
Cough treatment consists of quieting the cough while treating the underlying cause. Cough suppressants help in some cases but they are not recommended for children younger than 6 years, notes the University of Maryland. Decongestants ease breathing and reduce postnasal drip. Antihistamines help relieve allergy-related coughs and bronchodilators are useful for asthma. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids to thin mucus. A vaporizer or standing in a hot shower help reduce coughs. For dry or croup coughs, have your child breathe cold air, for example, near an open window or in front of an open refrigerator, suggests Child Health Guide. Home cough remedies include honey, peppermint, eucalyptus, thyme, marshmallow and licorice.
Cautions
Seek immediate medical assistance if your child is having trouble breathing or is turning blue, recommends the University of Maryland. Also seek immediate help if your child's cough is violent, if your child is making a "whooping" sound, coughing up blood or thick, foul-smelling phlegm, or has abdominal swelling. See your health care provider if your child is vomiting, has chest pains or a fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 72 hours. Seek medical help for an infant younger than 3 months with a cough lasting longer than 72 hours, or for any child whose cough worsens or lingers more than 3 weeks. Never give honey to an infant younger than 1 year of age.
