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- Asthma
- Bronchiolitis
- Chickenpox
- Colic
- Common Cold
- Constipation
- Cough
- Croup
- Diaper Rash
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Eye Infections
- Fever in Children
- Fifth Disease
- Fluoride
- Head Injuries
- Head Lice
- Immunizations
- Lead Poisonings
- Lyme Disease
- Nosebleeds
- Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac
- Poisonings
- Scabies
- Sensitive Skin or Eczema
- Sore Throat/Strep Throat
- Thrush
- Vomiting
Caring for Children: Cough
Coughing is a reflex that protects the lungs. It helps to remove substances that may have been accidentally inhaled, and it helps to remove excess secretions that may build up in the airways. Coughing in children is usually associated with respiratory illnesses such as colds, bronchiolitis, croup, or pneumonia. Allergies can cause coughing because mucus drips down the back of the throat causing a cough, especially at night. Children with asthma have a recurring cough and may also have wheezing and a feeling of tightness in their chest. Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke in the home also have more coughing problems. A cough that lasts for more than three or four weeks may occur after a child accidentally inhales a small object such as a peanut into the lungs.
Some home treatments for cough:
- Use a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air. Be sure to clean it and change the water daily to prevent the growth of bacteria or molds.
- Raise the head end of the child's mattress by placing a rolled blanket under the mattress.
- Over the counter cough medicines vary widely in their ingredients. Most cough syrups contain a combination of several ingredients, including expectorants, decongestants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants. While cough suppressants may make the child sound better, secretions are not coughed up and more severe illness may result. In general, providers will prescribe a cough suppressant only when discomfort is severe or if the cough prevents sleeping.
Call the pediatrician if:
- There is wheezing or difficulty breathing.
- The child is an infant under two months of age.
- There is coughing with a fever for over 24 hours.
- The cough lasts longer than 10 days.
- The child appears ill.
- The cough interferes with sleep or school performance.
- The coughing begins after choking on a food or other object.
