Your child's cough isn't always a cause for alarm. Coughing is actually a helpful reflex that protects your child by getting rid of infections, mucus and irritants, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, or the AAAAI. Your child may cough multiple times throughout the day or have a cough that lingers for a few weeks if she is recovering from a viral infection, but a cough that lasts longer than two or three weeks may be a sign of another problem, says the AAAAI.
Common Causes
Common causes of long-lasting coughs in children are asthma, irritants such as tobacco smoke and exhaust, nasal and sinus diseases that produce postnasal drip, acid reflux, bacterial infections and inhaled foreign bodies such as food or small toys, according to the AAAAI.. Occasionally, a long-lasting cough may be habitual with no known physical cause. In rare cases, long-lasting cough may be caused by conditions such as cystic fibrosis and abnormal cilia, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Complications
Children with long-lasting coughs are likely to feel symptoms beyond chest and throat irritation. According to MayoClinic.com, persistent coughing can lead to sleep disruptions, depleted energy, excessive sweating, headaches, dizziness, urinary incontinence and---in severe cases--rib fractures. Children may also vomit after big coughing fits, according to pediatric health website AskDrSears.com. If coughing frequently leads your child to vomit, she may not be taking in enough nutrients and she is at increased risk of dehydration.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The pediatrician will likely take your child's temperature and examine your child's ears, nose and throat in an attempt to pinpoint the culprit of the long-lasting cough. She is also likely to ask you questions about your child's cough--what it sounds like, what seems to trigger it, whether or not he coughs at night--to narrow down the possibilities. If the pediatrician rules out a viral or bacterial infection, she may use a trial-and-error method and prescribe a treatment for a common cause such as allergies, asthma or acid reflux, says MayoClinic.com. If the trial-and-error process doesn't seem to be treating the problem, the pediatrician order a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a lung function test or a scope test, says MayoClinic.com.
Lifestyle Factors
Your child's long-lasting cough may be caused by a problem that can't merely be fixed with medication. If someone in the household smokes, he may need to either quit smoking or not smoke when he is near the child. If acid reflux is the culprit, medication may help but your child may also need to avoid food triggers, eat three hours prior to lying flat, eat smaller meals and maintain a healthy weight, says MayoClinic.com. Also, if your child's cough can't be treated with medication, the doctor may recommend treatments such as cough drops, warm tea with honey and chest rubs.
Warning About Cough Medicine
Cough medications aren't recommended for children younger than age 4, according to KidsHealth, a part of the Nemours Foundation. Additionally, children over age 4 may not need cough medicine unless their coughs are causing problems such as trouble sleeping. Cough medicine only treats coughing as a symptom, never the underlying problem.
