Dry and throaty, wet and chesty, intermittent or unrelenting: children's coughs may possess a variety of qualities. When they interfere with daily life or keep the family up all night, some kind of remedy is necessary. Parents should contact their pediatrician who can determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
CDC Recommendation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines for children and cough medicines in 2008. Parents should not administer over-the-counter cough remedies to children under the age of 4.
Ingredients
According to AskDrSears.com, cough medicines typically have a one or more of the following components: decongestant, anti-histamine, cough suppressant or expectorant. Parents should treat only their child's symptoms. A child with a dry cough does not need a decongestant.
Options
Cough remedies are generally prescription, over-the-counter or some form of natural or alternative treatment. Tannate is a prescription cough medicine that combines an antihistamine with a decongestant. It is safe for children under age 4. Side effects may include drowsiness or sedation.
Diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan are over-the-counter remedies. Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, is safe for children over the age of 1, according to AskDrSears, but dextromethorphan, usually sold as Robitussin, Triaminic or Vicks, may only be given to children over age 4. Side effects include drowsiness or excitability. The National Institutes of Health warns parents that these drugs may improve their child's symptoms, but they will not treat the underlying cause or decrease recovery time.
Honey possesses antibacterial properties, coats the throat and is a safe natural remedy for children over age 1. It may be taken alone or blended with hot water and lemon. Alternative health magazine "Natural Solutions" recommends blending it with slippery elm bark, which possesses expectorant properties, when appropriate.
Research
A 2007 "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine" study reports that honey is more effective at soothing children's coughs than prescription or over-the-counter cough medicine. In fact, "Pediatrics," the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reported in 2004 that over-the-counter remedies dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine are no more effective than placebo at controlling cough in children.
Prevention
Parents can teach their children simple steps to avoid catching cough. Frequent hand washing, coughing into the elbow instead of the hand and bundling up when appropriate all prevent transmission of illness. "Natural Solutions" also recommends a healthy diet supplemented with a multivitamin and a DHA supplement.
Warning
A cough that fails to improve with treatment could signal a serious condition such as upper respiratory infection. If a cough sounds excessively wheezy or has a whooping sound, it could signal croup or pertussis. Parents should contact their pediatrician immediately.
