A cough is generally an indication that you have an irritant in your bronchial airways. Coughing is an important and generally healthy reflex that protects your lungs from outside contaminants. With children, repeated coughing can be an indication of some type of allergen or the onset of an upper respiratory illness. While most coughs and upper respiratory conditions can be treated at home, sometimes a trip to the doctor for an accurate diagnosis is necessary.
Symptoms
A cough is an easily recognized bodily function, but the sound of the cough along with other symptoms can determine the severity. When your child coughs, he is expelling mucous and phlegm from the lung and airways to help clear breathing passageways. The cough reflex kicks in and forces air out from the lungs. A barky sounding cough is often the result of a swollen voice box and can sound like a dog barking or contain hoarseness. Sometimes a stridor or musical sound is heard in conjunction with a barky cough. A congested cough occurs when the lungs are filled with fluid; you can hear the mucous breaking up as your child coughs. In many cases, wheezing is present in between coughs. In cases of upper respiratory illness, fever, runny nose and gagging can occur.
Causes
Learn to recognize the two types of coughs – non-productive and productive. A non-productive cough is a dry cough and generally indicates the start of a cold or infection. A productive cough is generally wet and pushes phlegm out of the lungs into the mouth and is the result of an infection in the lungs or bronchial tubes. Repeated coughs may be caused by allergy irritation, asthma, bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis, post nasal drip, chronic bronchitis and repeated upper respiratory infections.
Precaution
In some cases, a persistent cough in your child could be the sign of a serious medical problem. Asthma can be chronic in children and start off as a mild or irritating cough. Asthma should be treated medically, and asthma sufferers should carry an emergency inhaler at all times in case of airway swelling. Being exposed to allergens can also trigger a cough. If your child is allergic to specific substances -- such as pet dander or grass – exposure could trigger a cough. Untreated or prolonged respiratory infections that generate coughing can lead to infection in the lung, including pneumonia, which may require hospitalization. A cough leading to trouble with breathing, a high fever or coughing up blood needs immediate medical care.
Solution
If the cough is allergy related, the use of antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays may help prevent a full-blown allergy attack. If your child’s cough is caused by a viral infection, a cough suppressant may control repeated cough. Bacterial infections may be treated with antibiotics and cough expectorants to break up mucous so it can be coughed up. Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine, work at breaking up clogged sinuses that could be triggering post-nasal drip. The FDA warns against the use of many over-the-counter cough medicines for children 4 and under, so speak with your child's pediatrician before administering.
References
- Kids Health: Your Child's Cough
- Pub Med Health: Discrimination of Productive and Non-productive Cough by Sound Analysis; Murata A, Taniguchi Y, Hashimoto Y, Kaneko Y, Takasaki Y, Kudoh S.; Sept 1998
- MayoClinic.com; Cough Causes; Sept. 3, 2010
- Pub Med Health; Asthma - Children; May 1, 2011
- Familydoctor.org: Allergies: Things You Can Do to Control Your Symptoms
- FDA: Using Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products in Children
