Child's persistent cough. Cough in a child: etiology, classification, methods of treatment If the baby has a cough

Date: 01.07.2020

Every child coughs. Parents usually begin to worry if the cough is persistent, then they do their best to help the child stop coughing. But a cough is almost always a blessing, it helps clear the airways. Therefore, in most cases, it is necessary not to suppress the child's cough, but to help him cough up better. The baby's upper respiratory tract constantly produces special mucus. All foreign particles in the air they breathe, for example, dust, microbes, adhere to it. An equally constantly produced mucus is removed with the help of microscopic cellular cilia, which propelled it upward.

In diseases of the respiratory tract, the secretion of mucus increases, the body seeks to "throw out" pathogenic microbes, as it were. But those tiny cilia, which in a healthy body were engaged in the movement of mucus, stop working with illness. Therefore, if it were not for the cough, the baby would have choked with mucus. When coughing, help is needed only when the phlegm becomes thick, sticky and difficult to remove. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the viscosity of the sputum. Not only sick children, but also healthy children very often cough. It is estimated that a child of eight to twelve years of age coughs about 11 times a day. Coughing up mucus that accumulates, especially overnight, is quite normal.

This type of cough is an absolutely natural physiological phenomenon and does not require treatment. Its function is to cleanse the respiratory tract of mucus and foreign particles that accumulate in them throughout the day. During the coughing process, the air leaves the respiratory tract under great pressure, taking with it mucus and foreign bodies (dust, crumbs, etc.). A healthy child can cough up to 20 times a day, babies - even more often due to the fact that their swallowing reflex is still poorly perfected and milk can fall into the “wrong throat”. It is important to distinguish a physiological cough from a pathological one, since the use of expectorants on a "false alarm" can only intensify its manifestation. Physiological cough is determined by the following symptoms:

Lack of influence on the child's activities (coughing, he continues to play or do other things).
Short duration (cough lasts a few seconds and does not recur in the near future).
Frequency (cough repeats regularly throughout the day, while its duration and timbre do not change).
Lack of fever and other symptoms that signal the onset of the disease.

To be convinced of the physiological nature of cough, it is enough to observe the condition of the child for two to three days. If during this time you did not find any signs of an illness (fever, decreased activity, poor appetite, insomnia), you do not need to worry.

Pathological cough

This type of cough has a pathological nature, acting as a symptom of various diseases. A pathological cough can be caused not only by diseases of the respiratory system, it can be associated with disorders of the cardiovascular and digestive functions or be the result of a congenital anomaly. Nevertheless, in most cases, pathological cough in children under the age of one year acts as one of the symptoms of ARVI. In parallel, the child has a high fever, loss of appetite, restless sleep, and frequent unreasonable crying.

Unlike a physiological cough, which is of the same type and does not affect the child's activity, a pathological cough may differ in nature as the disease progresses: for example, abrupt coughs, similar to sobs, can turn into a prolonged, "barking" cough.

The pathological type also includes a cough caused by the ingress of pieces of solid food or foreign bodies into the respiratory tract. Coughing up becomes strong, intense, the child begins to choke. In this case, urgent measures must be taken to remove the foreign body.

A separate subspecies is distinguished by the so-called. psychogenic cough, which manifests itself as a reflex that has arisen after a long illness or as a result of dysfunction of the ANS (autonomic nervous system).

Cough against the background of a cold

A slight cough is an accompanying symptom of ARVI, or, in simple terms, a cold. Depending on the presence or absence of discharge when coughing, two types of cough are distinguished:

Productive (with the release of phlegm from the respiratory tract);
Unproductive (dry) cough without mucus.

Colds in children are most often accompanied by an unproductive cough. This is due to the fact that the causative agents of respiratory infections are introduced into the epithelium lining the respiratory tract, and use it as a "testing ground" for active reproduction. The virus enters the destroyed cells of the epithelium and, when coughing, is released outside - this is how ARVI is transmitted from the carrier to a healthy person. Depending on the nature of the cough, you can preliminarily determine the type of concomitant disease:

"Barking" cough is often observed with pharyngitis and laryngitis. The child complains of pain and sore throat, his voice becomes hoarse. Due to the strong irritation of cough recipes, coughing attacks become prolonged and cause severe discomfort to the child.
A paroxysmal cough accompanies diseases such as bronchitis and tracheitis. Each coughing fit is accompanied by pain in the sternum.

A feature of the treatment of a cold cough is the translation of its unproductive form into a productive one. An important therapeutic measure for ARVI is the removal of dead epithelial cells, and this happens precisely with the release of sputum.

Treatment of cough in children

Curing a dry cough quickly, even in adults, is a difficult task. What can we say about children whose respiratory muscles are not developed enough to cough up dried lumps of sputum. To facilitate the coughing process, it is necessary to dilute the sputum:

a) with the help of medicines;
b) by means of non-drug measures (to provide appropriate indicators of air humidity in the nursery, to walk with the baby in the fresh air every day, to give the child plenty of tea and vitamin broths, etc.).

Drug therapy in the treatment of cough in children involves the use of two types of drugs:

Expectorants (mucolytics);
Suppressive cough reflex.

Medicines of the first type affect the structure of the phlegm, thinning it and thereby facilitating the process of expectoration. A feature of their action is increased coughing in the first hours after administration: this is natural and is explained by the fact that the active components of the drugs thin the mucus, from which it increases in volume and "asks out". Drugs that block the cough reflex are prescribed much less frequently and are necessary when the intensity of the cough does not depend on the amount of sputum in the lungs.

First aid for a child with a cough

Self-administration of expectorant drugs to a child is undesirable: it is better to wait for a doctor's visit. But it is possible to reduce the cough reflex, making the child's condition easier, without medication. With a strong cough, the body is dehydrated, so it is necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of fluid. Give the child warm (but not hot!) Tea or vitamin broth, in extreme cases mineral water without gas will do.

A proven first aid for coughing is warm milk with honey (a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water). Honey acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, "soothing" irritated airways, and milk helps to drain mucus. But it is worth remembering that if a child has an allergy to bee products, you cannot give honey when coughing! Instead of it, you can add mineral water "Borjomi" in a concentration of 1/1 to milk.

For a cold cough, foot baths and steam inhalation are also effective (a time-tested method is to breathe over freshly boiled potatoes). However, if a cold is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, any thermal procedures, including baths and inhalations, are not recommended.

Treatment of cough in a child at home

Since cough is a natural defense process of the body, therapeutic measures should be aimed primarily at alleviating its course. There are many home remedies and procedures available to relieve coughing, which can be divided into three main groups:

Medicines;
Traditional medicine recipes;
Therapeutic procedures (inhalations, compresses, mustard plasters, banks, etc.).

Before choosing this or that method of treatment, you should determine the nature of the cough - productive or unproductive (wet or dry).

With a wet cough with an abundance of mucus waste, doctors prescribe drugs from the mucolytic group. A wet cough, accompanied by scanty discharge from the respiratory tract, is treated with expectorant drugs based on natural ingredients (menthol, peppermint, etc.). With an unproductive cough, depending on the severity of its form, drugs are prescribed that block the cough reflex or topical antitussives (warming ointments, balms). Before using any of the pharmacological agents (even if these are relatively harmless cough drops), be sure to consult your pediatrician.

Folk remedies for the treatment of cough

There are several hundred popular recipes for fighting coughs, but not all of them are suitable for children. The safest and most effective are the following:

Black radish juice... This root vegetable contains a high concentration of lysozyme, an enzyme with a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Black radish juice is an effective natural expectorant. Its relative disadvantage is considered to be not the most pleasant taste for a child, but it can be balanced by adding honey or sugar. For the treatment of a cold cough, children are given 1 tsp. freshly squeezed radish juice 3-4 times a day. Attention: cough treatment according to this prescription in children under three years old is possible only with the approval of a pediatrician.

Onion... Another not the most delicious, but amazingly effective recipe for traditional medicine against cough. The easiest way to make an onion-honey gruel is to chop 1 medium-sized onion in a blender and add 1 tablespoon of honey. Give the resulting mixture to the child a teaspoon several times a day (depending on how strong the cough is). With a lingering cough, the onion-honey mixture can be prepared for future use:

0.5 kg. chop onions and pour into a glass jar;
Add 2 tbsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. honey with a slide;
Boil 1 liter. water, cool slightly and pour the resulting mixture. Insist for an hour.

Milk... This product is a real treasure trove of substances effective for colds. Its components have an expectorant, astringent and anti-inflammatory effect. There are many popular milk-based recipes, here are the most common ones:

Milk + butter. Dissolve 50 g of butter in a glass of warm milk and give the child before bedtime.
Milk + honey + soda. A tablespoon of honey and a pinch of soda are added to a glass of warm milk. This drink can be used to relieve coughing throughout the day, and always before bedtime.
Milk + banana. This recipe is suitable for treating coughs even in babies. The banana is chopped in a blender until smooth, a little honey is added and poured with warm boiled milk. The mixture is given to the child before bedtime.
Milk + figs. Milk broth of figs is an excellent expectorant, antipyretic and diaphoretic. For its preparation, you can use both fresh and dried figs, the main thing is to rinse them thoroughly. From fresh fruits, the broth is prepared as follows: 3-4 medium figs are poured with a glass of milk and boiled for a minute. If you use dried fruits, then they should first be poured with cold milk, insisted for half an hour and only then boiled. The dosage for the treatment of cough is half a glass 30 minutes before meals.

Cough compresses for children

Compresses are one of the most popular therapeutic treatments for coughs. But their use will be effective only if they are set correctly:

Be sure to grease the place of setting with baby oil (in case of emergency, vegetable oil is also suitable).
The components of the compress are never applied to the naked body - only through a gauze layer.
It is necessary to ensure sufficient fixation of the compress and its thermal insulation: cover the top with plastic wrap and wrap the place of setting with a warm shawl or scarf.
Do not apply a compress to the heart area.
Compresses should not be placed at high temperatures.

The most popular types of compresses for treating colds in children are:

Honey (gauze for a compress is dipped in honey heated in a water bath).
Oil (oil is melted in a water bath and gauze or linen napkin is dipped in it).
Salt (prepare a solution at the rate of 100 g of salt per 1 liter of hot water, dip gauze or a thin towel in it and attach to the baby's body).
Potato (boil potatoes in their uniforms, put them in a tight plastic bag, tie and mash without turning into mashed potatoes. This mass can be wrapped in a towel directly in the bag and used to set a compress).

Cough inhalation

The so-called "pot therapy", i.e. inhalation of hot steam over freshly boiled potatoes is effective only when exposed to the upper respiratory tract. If the cough is caused by diseases of the lower respiratory tract (asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis), special devices are used for inhalation - nebulizers.

Basic rules for inhalation for a cold cough:

The duration of the procedure for treating children should not exceed 3 minutes;
It is not recommended to drink or eat within an hour after inhalation;
The procedure should be carried out at least an hour after eating and active physical activity.

The mechanism of steam inhalation is as follows: after inhaling a portion of the healing steam, you must hold your breath for a couple of seconds, then exhale until the lungs are completely empty.

Steam inhalation is contraindicated in the treatment of cough in infants because it can block the upper airways by increasing the volume of mucus. You can not do inhalation also at elevated body temperature and the presence of blood clots in the sputum.

The selection of medicines for hardware inhalation (using a nebulizer) should be carried out only under the supervision of a physician. The same goes for herbal decoctions.

Cough mustard plasters

The beneficial effect of mustard plasters is based on the stimulation of blood flow in the places of installation. In this case, the autonomic nervous system comes to a state of tone, activating the protective functions of the body. If a cold cough in children is not aggravated by an increase in temperature, nasal congestion, ears, often it can be dealt with only with the help of mustard plasters.

Rules for setting mustard plasters:

With a dry cough, the mustard plaster is placed on the chest, avoiding the heart area.
The best time for the procedure is before bed.
The skin in the place where the mustard plaster will be placed must be intact: without irritation, scratches, pustules.
You cannot put mustard plasters if, when measuring the temperature, the thermometer shows 37.5 and above.

You can buy ready-made mustard plates at the pharmacy, or you can make mustard plasters at home. The recipe is as follows: 2 tbsp. mustard powder, pour a glass of warm water, cover and let it brew for 20 minutes. Then the resulting infusion must be diluted with a liter of warm water, abundantly moisten the diaper with it, squeeze it slightly and wrap the baby's chest. A blanket is wrapped around the child. The maximum time for the procedure is 10-15 minutes; after this time, the baby will start to be capricious because of a burning sensation. The diaper is removed and the place where the mustard plaster is placed is thoroughly rinsed with warm water, after which the child must be wrapped again.

Cough banks

In Soviet times, banks were considered one of the most effective anti-cold procedures, but now their popularity has faded due to the large number of contraindications and the doubtfulness of the therapeutic effect in general. The fact is that the curative effect of cans is based on creating a vacuum in the area of the staging, as a result of which there is a more powerful stimulation of blood flow than with mustard plasters. The autonomic nervous system in young children is still too weak to withstand such loads, so most experts do not recommend placing cans for children under 12 years old (and even after - with great care). Therefore, this method of treating a cold cough has long been considered ineffective and even dangerous.

Coughing in a child is a fairly common phenomenon encountered by parents of infants and already grown children. This is the main danger. Many parents do not perceive wet or dry coughing in a child as a serious illness. But it does not arise just like that, spontaneously. Any cough, even a mild one, has its own reasons. It is impossible to cure it qualitatively without knowing the prerequisites. There are several reasons for coughing in childhood.

Coughing in a child: causes

For starters, it is worth noting that sometimes coughing in young children is considered the norm, especially if it occurs in the morning. If this phenomenon does not occur more than 10 times a day, then you have nothing to worry about. It usually does not affect the health of the child.

But if it takes place during the day, then you are faced with any disorder in the baby's body. The reasons for this phenomenon may be hidden in the following:

Bronchitis.
ARVI.
Pneumonia.
Runny nose.
Allergic reactions.
Severe inflammation of the adenoids.
Whooping cough is a particularly dangerous cause of cough. It occurs if the child suffers from shortness of breath, and the attacks are repeated up to 50 times a day.
Bronchial asthma.
Diseases of the respiratory or circulatory system.
Bronchitis.
Foreign body stuck in the respiratory tract.
Nervous tension.

Nervous coughing in a child is quite common. It is usually quiet, short, and without additional symptoms. If your child is stressed, you should pay attention to this. Perhaps he is constantly under stress. You need to eliminate the factors that provoked this in order to avoid future mental health problems.

Particular attention should be paid to the child if there is a prolonged coughing.

Prolonged cough in a child

Sometimes it happens that moms and dads forget to pay attention to important factors. For example, when a child started coughing. They do not know what to do at the beginning of the disease. Then the cough becomes long lasting.

This usually occurs with an exacerbation of various diseases. If there was no treatment for the pathology or was prescribed incorrectly, the disease does not recede and the child's coughing continues. It can be considered protracted if the condition lasts more than a month.

Constant coughing for a long period of time requires a serious examination, which clarifies the circumstances under which the disease developed, the child's living conditions and the individual characteristics of the child's body. The kid must pass several tests, as well as undergo an examination using an X-ray.

Most often, in this case, the diagnosis is made by excluding the least probable diseases from the list of possible ones.

The child began to cough: what to do with a dry cough

A dry cough is characterized by the fact that it does not produce phlegm. It can be a symptom of the initial stage of development of many pathologies. Usually a few days after its appearance, the formation of sputum begins. But until this happens, it is necessary to begin to find out the cause of the dry cough. The prerequisites for its occurrence include:

Bronchitis, laryngitis, or tracheitis.
A strong and painful dry cough that appears periodically in the form of attacks may indicate the occurrence of whooping cough.
A rough and intermittent cough is a sign of diphtheria.
A dry cough can be a symptom of tuberculosis.
If a dry cough is accompanied by tears and a persistent runny nose, you are dealing with an allergic reaction. In this case, you need to remove the allergen from the child's reach.
If the room in which the child lives is too dusty or the humidity is below normal, then in any case, a dry cough will occur.
Any paints, cigarette smoke, all kinds of detergents can become irritants.
If the baby suffers from abdominal pain or heartburn, which occur in parallel with attacks of dry cough, then the reason for this is gastroesophageal reflux.
An agonizing cough with shortness of breath can be a signal that a foreign object has entered the respiratory tract.

Parents are often worried about the fact that the child is constantly coughing at night. There is a scientific explanation for this.

Why does a child cough at night

When the baby is lying, mucus flows towards the respiratory tract, so the main symptoms of diseases appear precisely at night. At the same time, the most painful coughing fits appear. They talk about the initial stage of development of pathologies.

But sometimes a night cough indicates that there is an allergen in the baby's room, provoking the development of corresponding reactions. This could be:

The detergent you use to wash your child's bedding.
Nightwear or bedding made from low-quality fabrics.
Toxic substances hidden inside a pillow, blanket or mattress.
Toys near the bed made of inadequate rubber or plastic.

To identify an allergen, periodically remove suspicious objects from the child's room. When the coughing stops, the problem is considered solved.

A cough is almost always accompanied by a high fever. However, if this symptom is absent, you need to find out why.

Cough without fever

If the child is constantly coughing, and this is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, you need to sound the alarm, since the reasons for this phenomenon can be hidden in the following problems:

Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis.
Tracheitis.
Tonsillitis.
Bronchial asthma. This pathology occurs if, in parallel with coughing, the child develops attacks of suffocation.
The presence of an allergen in the house or an increased concentration of dust in the air.

However, the most dangerous reason is the ingestion of a foreign object into the respiratory tract. This phenomenon should be discussed in more detail.

Foreign matter in the airway

If the child suddenly began to torment with signs of suffocation, you need to call an ambulance. Most likely, a foreign object has entered the respiratory tract.

If the child's complexion has changed, you can no longer hesitate. Pull the foreign body out of the respiratory tract by hand or with tweezers.

Before carrying out these manipulations, it is necessary to put the child in a horizontal position. Only then can the airway be emptied.

Infant cough

If a cough develops in a baby, it indicates the presence of the same diseases as a cough in older children.

But sometimes this phenomenon is physiological. Mucus is constantly accumulating in babies' bodies. Coughing is necessary in order to clear the airways from it. If it is repeated no more than 20 times a day, then there is no cause for concern.

Also, the reasons for age can be dry air in the room or teething.

However, sometimes this phenomenon can indicate the presence of serious pathologies, so it cannot be ignored. If you are not sure that coughing in a baby is an absolutely safe symptom, show the baby to the doctor who will conduct an initial examination. If there is no cause for concern, you will return home safely. But if there are suspicions of the presence of complex diseases, the doctor will prescribe an additional examination for the baby, based on the results of which a diagnosis will be made and treatment prescribed.

It is necessary to get rid of a cough immediately after it appears. Treatment depends on the cause.

Treatment for coughing in children

Methods for treating coughing in a child are as follows:

Dry or too warm air is the main cause of coughing. Purchase a special humidifier and put it in the nursery.
If allergic reactions occur, the allergen must be detected and removed from the child's reach.
In case of colds, it is necessary to consult a doctor, since the treatment involves the use of special drugs, such as Lazolvan or Doctor Mom. Syrup is the most effective form of cough medicine available. Sometimes doctors will prescribe multiple massage sessions. "Doctor Mom" is a syrup that does not cause side effects, it can be used without a doctor's prescription if you are sure that the cough is caused by a cold.
Drink plenty of fluids.

If you have serious pathologies such as tuberculosis, you need to see a doctor.

Any cough does not occur as a separate disease. It is a symptom of a pathology developing in the child's body. If you are not sure if you can correctly identify the cause of a baby's cough, see your doctor for advice. To avoid the appearance of side effects, do not self-medicate.

A cough in a child always causes caution and anxiety in parents. What caused the malaise, how and how to treat the baby - such questions, probably, have visited each of us more than once. Some use traditional medicine recipes, others rush to the pharmacy for a miracle cure. Who is right and how pediatricians advise to treat cough in children, we will consider below.

Varieties of cough

Many parents know firsthand how difficult it is to get rid of a malaise, especially in young children. After all, most medications are prohibited for young patients, and folk remedies often cause allergies. Therefore, the selection of treatment methods should be dealt with by a pediatrician.

Only a doctor is able to make the correct diagnosis, and, depending on the age of the child and the type of cough, prescribe the necessary medicine. But parents have a great responsibility. To make it easier to understand the pathological process, we will consider the main types of cough in children, find out how dangerous they are and talk about methods of treatment.

Physiological cough

Any person periodically needs to clear the respiratory tract of dust and accumulated phlegm. This is a normal reaction to protect the body from foreign bodies and harmful bacteria.

Thus, a child's natural cough is not a pathology and does not require treatment. It occurs most often in the morning and does not cause severe discomfort to the baby.

Dry or dusty air in the room can provoke such a reflex. This problem is especially relevant during the heating season.

Pathological cough

Most often, children are worried about just such a cough. Unlike natural, it manifests itself in a very diverse way and depends on the nature of the pathogen. In most cases, these are various diseases of the respiratory tract:

laryngitis and pharyngitis;
tracheitis;
bronchitis;
pneumonia;
ARI and ARVI;
acute and chronic tonsillitis;
flu;
tuberculosis.

In general, the causes of cough in children are varied and are not always infectious in nature. A similar reflex can be caused by narrowing of the bronchi, which is specific for bronchial asthma, or ingestion of a foreign body into the respiratory system. In this case, the cough develops unexpectedly and is choking in nature. The child's voice is lost and breathing is difficult.

The malaise of an allergic nature has other symptoms - a cough occurs for no apparent reason and is not accompanied by signs of a cold. After removing the allergen, the baby's condition returns to normal.

In different pathological conditions, the cough manifests itself differently. He can be productive and dry, barking or hard, deaf, paroxysmal and spastic.

Dry cough

The most obsessive cough in a child. It usually appears at the onset of the disease and causes a lot of problems for both parents and the baby. Sputum is not separated with it, so the process of coughing up becomes long and painful. With improper treatment, it becomes chronic.

Spastic reflex

If a child coughs against a background of bronchial spasm, asthma may develop. In this case, there is no sputum, the baby suffocates and wheezes. The malaise is of a paroxysmal nature and requires mandatory medical supervision.

Croupy cough (false croup)

The most dangerous type of ailment, especially for young babies. In this category of children, the anatomical and physiological structure of the larynx predisposes to the development of croup. Even the slightest inflammation can cause severe swelling and suffocation. Therefore, if a hard, barking cough appears in a child, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

With the development of a barking cough, a baby should be shown to a doctor

The following symptoms will help to distinguish false croup from other ENT diseases:

hoarseness of voice, especially after crying;
laryngeal edema;
shortness of breath, severe difficulty breathing;
blanching or blue discoloration of the skin;
loss of consciousness is possible.

If the child only wheezes, but does not cough and breathes heavily, these are also signs of an incipient false croup.

In this case, you should not engage in amateur performances and try to help the baby with folk remedies. You will only waste precious time. Laryngeal edema is very dangerous and must be treated by a doctor.

Wet (productive) cough

This, one might say, is the ideal variant of the development of the disease. This cough, as a rule, appears at the end of the disease, does not cause anxiety, and heals quickly. With its help, the lungs and bronchi are freed from sputum and residues of pathogenic microorganisms. How to treat a child's cough of this nature, we will consider below.

Whooping cough

This is a common infectious disease that most often affects preschool children. At an early stage of the pathology, whooping cough is difficult to distinguish from the usual. But after a few days it becomes paroxysmal and spastic, ending in severe vomiting.

Whooping cough is dangerous for its complications, so if a child has coughing fits, the rhythm of breathing becomes disordered, the skin becomes cyanotic, medical help is needed. Young children are subject to compulsory hospitalization.

The disease is especially difficult in babies under 2 years old. There is no innate immunity to this disease, but after recovery, the protection remains forever.

Other types of cough

It is quite difficult to independently determine the disease by the nature of the cough. For example, if a child coughs while sleeping, this may be a symptom of a respiratory illness, asthma or allergies, or the result of dry indoor air.

Sleep coughing can be a symptom of many pathologies.

Snot can also provoke a reflex reaction. Flowing down the back wall of the nasopharynx and irritating the mucous membrane, they easily activate cough receptors. Especially often a cough from a runny nose occurs in a child with rhinopharyngitis.

Tracheitis can cause a similar symptom. This infectious disease develops as a complication of pharyngitis, laryngitis or rhinitis. It is characterized by a deaf cough in a child, especially pronounced at night and in the morning, or arising with a sharp breath.

Such a variety of forms of malaise should prompt parents to pay great attention to such symptoms and take the necessary measures. So what if your child is coughing?

Treatment

To begin with, it should be noted that home therapy is only possible for dry and wet coughs. All other types of pathological reflex require the help of a doctor.

maintain an optimal microclimate in the room where the sick child is;
drink warm, unsweetened drinks for the baby as much as possible;
if there is no temperature, and allows health, allow the child to move more.

It is undesirable to use essential oils in the treatment without the knowledge of the pediatrician. Concentrates can cause bronchospasm, which is especially dangerous for young children.

Medicines

Pharmacy medicines will help to quickly cure a child's cough. They are prescribed depending on the type of ailment - if sputum is present, then it is forbidden to take antitussives. With a dry cough, on the contrary, it is advisable to use this therapy option to the maximum.

The choice of medication for coughing

Modern medicines are available in different forms: tablets, sprays, syrups, drops and lozenges for sucking, powders for the preparation of solutions. Liquid medicines are usually used to treat a child. They are more convenient and easy to drink.

Expectorant

This group of drugs is designed to remove phlegm from the respiratory tract. Most of the expectorants are based on herbal extracts, so the drugs are relatively safe and drinkable.

Most often, for a wet cough, children are prescribed: Herbion syrup with plantain or primrose; Eucabal, Prospan, Alteika, Prospan, Flavamed, Ambroxol, Ambrobene.

Each of these funds has its own age restrictions, contraindications and adverse reactions. For example, Eucabal and Prospan are allowed to be prescribed to babies from 6 months. The rest of the drugs are recommended for use only after 2 years. Therefore, if a child has a cough with phlegm, it is better to entrust the choice of medicine to the doctor.

Mucolytics

To thin the viscous and thick mucus that clogs the airways, the following medications are prescribed for young patients:

Carbocisteine;
Bronchobos;
Fluditek;
Flavamed.

These remedies help relieve a child's cough, make him productive, and promote sputum clearance.

Fluditec is prescribed for children to liquefy and evacuate thick, viscous secretions.

Antitussives

Drugs in this series help suppress the cough reflex and soothe a child's cough. There are several types of antitussives:

narcotic drugs - Codeine, Ethylmorphine. Used only under medical supervision. Often addictive and adverse reactions. They are rarely used in the treatment of children;
non-narcotic medicines - Oxeladin, Sinekod, Glaucin, Butamirate. The most effective and safe drugs, therefore they are taken much more often;
peripheral agents - Prenoxindiazine. The result from its use is significantly lower. The medicine is not able to stop the coughing attack and is rarely prescribed.

The simultaneous use of antitussive and expectorant drugs is prohibited.

In addition, it is dangerous to use antitussive medicines with a wet cough. This can cause mucus to build up in the airways and develop pneumonia.

Sinekod and similar drugs are prescribed to children with dry cough

Bronchodilators

These remedies help relieve bronchospasm and make breathing easier. Medicines such as Euphyllin, Bronholitin syrup, or Theophylline are prescribed for coughs if a child has been diagnosed with asthma or progressive lung disease (COPD).

Local funds

Localized drugs include warming ointments, mustard plasters and plasters. The latter are of different types and have contraindications, in particular, they are prohibited for young babies.

The use of Eucabal or Pulmex Baby warming rubbers will help soften the child's cough. They can be used from 6 months of age. The balm of Dr. Theiss is allowed from 2 years old.

Babies after 3 years old can be rubbed with camphor ointments, Vicks Active balm, Helpex Effect ointment or Doctor IOM.

Folk remedies

In addition to medications, pediatricians often recommend alternative therapies. Alternative medicine can help cure a child's cough quickly and safely.

However, despite the effectiveness and harmlessness of folk remedies, their use must be coordinated with a pediatrician. Young children are often allergic to natural ingredients.

The following are the most popular cough recipes for children:

black radish juice with sugar or honey;
a drink made from fresh or frozen viburnum berries is recommended to be drunk instead of tea;
anise broth with honey is perfect for treating babies;
juice of fresh carrots with sugar can be taken at the time of a coughing fit, 1 tsp;
onion gruel with honey will be useful for bronchitis and tracheitis;
A mixture of lemon, honey and medical glycerin will help cure a child with a dry, painful cough.

Honey can cause unwanted reactions, so it is not recommended to give it to children with allergies.

With a huge number of folk recipes, hot milk with honey and other additives is still the most widespread and favorite. The drink has excellent emollient and expectorant properties. Not a single kid will refuse such a delicious medicine.

Inhalation

You can quickly cure a child's cough with inhalation. For procedures, it is better to purchase a nebulizer. This convenient and safe device will protect your baby from burns. With its help, sessions are carried out with both medicinal herbs and pharmacy liquids. Alkaline mineral waters and saline have a good expectorant effect.

Inhalation is contraindicated in babies under 2 years of age due to the risk of developing bronchospasm

The most commonly used medicines for inhalation are:

mucolytics - Lazolvan, Pertussin, Fluimucil;
Bronchodilators - Berovent;
natural medicines - tincture of eucalyptus, propolis or plantain, Rotokan;
antitussive agent Tussamag;
glucocorticosteroids - Pulmicort or Dexamethasone.

Inhalation is carried out 2 hours before meals, no more than 10 minutes. The therapeutic course consists of 8-10 sessions.

The procedure moisturizes and soothes irritated mucous membranes, promotes deep penetration and rapid absorption of medicinal substances.

For inhalation with herbs, plants with an antitussive and expectorant effect are chosen: coltsfoot, plantain, oregano, pine buds, eucalyptus, licorice.

Compresses

Another effective remedy that can quickly cure a child's cough. Compresses are very different - dry and wet, oily, honey, vodka and curd. They are applied to the chest and back, avoiding the heart area. The baby is wrapped in a woolen thing and covered with a blanket.

The following compresses are most effective and safe:

potato. Add a spoonful of alcohol, turpentine and sunflower oil to the hot puree. The resulting mass is applied to gauze and applied for 2–2.5 hours. After the procedure, it is better not to rinse the compress, but to wipe the skin with a damp towel;
oil. A piece of gauze or cotton cloth is soaked in hot oil and wrung out, covered with wax paper (not polyethylene) on top, and kept for at least 3 hours;
acetic. The apple concentrate is diluted with hot water and honey is added to the solution. The mixture is impregnated with gauze and applied to the bronchial area. Leave for 20-30 minutes.

The compress should not be applied to the heart area

It is not recommended to make compresses for skin lesions, elevated body temperature and infants. Alcohol application is contraindicated in children under 3 years of age and suffering from thyroid pathology. It is undesirable to use honey for treatment if the child is prone to allergies.

Another old way of dealing with coughs is to rub your baby's chest and back with interior fat. The bearish and badger product is especially good. It is advisable to do this procedure at night.

Mustard plasters

With a painful cough, mustard plasters will be useful. They have a warming effect, promote blood flow and increase mucus flow. It is recommended to put mustard plasters through a cloth or gauze so as not to burn the baby's delicate skin.

For children under 3 years old, it is better to do a mustard wrap. This more gentle procedure has the same effect as the setting of mustard plasters.

Knowing how to treat a child's cough, you can quickly eliminate this unpleasant symptom on your own. Competently selected medications and traditional medicine will improve the well-being of the baby and accelerate recovery. However, if the child is suffering from a malaise for several weeks, it is necessary to see a doctor.

In childhood, it often occurs. It is a symptom of many diseases, and can also be a reflex to various stimuli.

Such a symptom requires compulsory treatment, since it can provoke the development of complications. To eliminate it in children, in addition to pharmaceuticals, alternative therapy is used.In addition, parents need to know for what symptoms they need to immediately see a specialist.

The main causes of cough and possible diseases

How to quickly relieve a coughing fit

To eliminate paroxysmal cough at home, you must first quickly moisten the room in which the child is. For this, a special air humidifier is used.

You can also put a container of water or lay a damp cloth on the pipes, it is better to hang towels. To relieve a seizure, you can bathe the child.

Phyto-based syrups.
Lozenges or lozenges.
Medicines with combined action.

Syrup helps for a sudden cough. It is a herbal remedy made from plantain extract. You can use the drug from licorice root.

You can eliminate a cough attack using some means of non-traditional therapy. In this case, inhalations on decoctions of medicinal plants, compresses, rubbing and the internal use of herbal infusions or medicines in milk are considered effective.

Drug treatment

It is important to remember that only an experienced pediatrician can choose medicines for children. It takes into account the severity of a certain disease, the type of cough, the individual characteristics of the organism.

Usually, after the examination, the doctor prescribes the following groups of drugs for the treatment of the child:

Medicines that improve expectoration. Effectively, sputum is removed from the respiratory tract,.
Mucolytics. Often from the drugs of this group, Abrol, Sinekod, a mixture for dry cough are prescribed. The substances contained in such products contribute to the liquefaction of phlegm and its excretion.
Antitussives. They are used to alleviate coughing attacks. This group includes,.

These medicines can help relieve coughs. However, in the treatment of various diseases that cause it, complex therapy is usually used.

It is important to remember that antitussive and mucolytic drugs are not allowed to be combined.

If the cause of the cough is a viral infection, antiviral medications should also be used. When a child's illness is provoked by pathogenic bacteria, then antibiotic therapy is used. Usually, in this case, macrolide, penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics are prescribed.

The use of anti-inflammatory drugs is possible. High fever is recommended to be brought down with antipyretic drugs such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

Useful video - How to relieve a coughing attack in a child:

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For swelling of the laryngeal mucosa and cough as a result of allergic reactions, antihistamines are used.It is also recommended to use mineral and vitamin complexes and fortifying agents.If the child has a normal body temperature, then physiotherapy may be prescribed. Magnetic therapy and electrophoresis are considered effective methods in this case.

Alternative medicine

Various alternative therapies are used to treat cough in children. These tools include:

Inhalation
Internal use of traditional medicines

Inhalation is considered effective for coughing in children. They can be performed over a container with medicinal broths. However, in childhood, inhalation is best suited using a nebulizer - a special apparatus for carrying out the procedure.

Inhalation can be done using the following means:

Saline.
Mineral water (better - Borjomi).
Soda solution with the addition of a few drops of iodine.
Potato broth.
Essential oils (lavender, peppermint, ginger, cedar).
Herbal infusions (St. John's wort, chamomile, eucalyptus, violet, coltsfoot)

The procedure should be performed no more than fifteen minutes. It is advisable that after inhalation the child does not go out into the fresh air, especially during the cold season.

Oral recipes

Many medicinal plants improve the flow of phlegm by thinning it. Therefore, it is good to water a child with a cough with decoctions of such herbs:

Coltsfoot
Altay
Nettle
Plantain
Ivy
Raspberries
Licorice (root)
Tricolor violet
Linden

To prepare such a medicine, you need to pour the vegetable raw materials with boiling water (250 ml of liquid per tablespoon). After that, the tea is infused for 10-15 minutes. If the child does not have an allergy to bee products, such a decoction can be used with honey.

Effective cough recipes for children:

For oral administration, milk-based products are also used. You can add butter, honey, a little soda, whipped yolks to a warm liquid.
Another effective method is a decoction in milk. This can be done with pine nuts or figs.
A good cough remedy is black radish with sugar or honey. To do this, cut out the middle of the vegetable, and add the second ingredient to the resulting cup. After that, it is left overnight to excrete juice. It is recommended to drink one spoonful three times a day.

Effective compresses

You can treat a cough with compresses that are applied to the baby's chest.

The following products are used for compresses:

chopped ginger
goose fat
corn oil and flour tortilla
a mixture of garlic and butter
nutria fat

A mixture prepared on the basis of mustard powder, vegetable fat and diluted alcohol helps well in the treatment of cough.

It is recommended to apply compresses for several hours. After this, the child must be wrapped up and put to bed.It is important to remember that the use of alternative therapy methods for the treatment of cough in pediatric patients is possible only after approval by the pediatrician.

A constant and incessant cough in a small child is a reflex process, which is a protective reaction of the body aimed at maintaining sufficient moisture in the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, as well as for the outflow of pathogenic sputum, which accumulates as a result of the pathogenic activity of infectious or viral microorganisms. Despite this, a prolonged dry cough in a child without any other symptoms of an inflammatory process in the lungs is not always a sign that the baby has a pulmonary disease. This behavior of the respiratory system is often due to the peculiarities of the physiological development of the child, as well as the conditions of his residence.

If a child develops a prolonged and persistent dry cough, you should not waste time and immediately visit a pediatrician. Based on the results of the initial consultation and examination, you will have to pass a complex of blood and urine tests and bacteriological culture of the laryngeal mucosa. In general, the reasons for the incessant cough in a child may be as follows:

Low humidity level. Children's organs of the respiratory system are always in the stage of formation, which indicates an intensive division of cells of the bronchial tree and lung tissue. In order for this process to take place without interruptions and complications, a comfortable microclimate with a humidity level of 65-70% must be maintained in the apartment. To achieve these indicators, it is enough just to carry out wet cleaning in the morning and in the evening. If the air in the room where the child is located is too dry, then the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi begins to dry out, the respiratory receptors are irritated and the baby becomes capricious, he is tormented by a dry cough, which stops for a certain period, and then reappears. At the same time, signs of inflammatory diseases are completely absent. Body temperature remains within normal limits.
Dehydration. Children, regardless of age group, drink very little liquids. Parents should constantly monitor how much the child drank clean drinking water during the day. It cannot be replaced by compotes, tea, juices and other drinks. Insufficient intake of water into the body leads to the fact that the nasopharynx, larynx and oral cavity dry out, due to excessive dryness, bronchial spasm occurs. Such a pathological state of the respiratory system can continue for a long period of time and manifest itself with greater or lesser intensity, depending on the level at which water-salt metabolism takes place in the baby's body.
Smoke in the room. Some parents do not change their habits and, despite the fact that there is a small child in the house, they continue to smoke cigarettes without leaving the house. Nicotine and other harmful substances contained in tobacco products irritate the delicate mucous membrane of the respiratory system of children and lead to the development of chronic dry cough, provoked by systemic irritation of the receptors responsible for the formation of bronchial spasm in the presence of smoke and other harmful components in the air.
Allergy. One of the types of manifestation of an allergic reaction is a spasm of the bronchial lumen. In fact, these are the first signals and prerequisites that a child is prone to such a disease as bronchial asthma. A prolonged dry cough in children with this type of allergy appears either at the moment of direct contact with a potential allergen present in the air, or as they accumulate in the blood. In this case, an allergy in a child, manifested in the form of a spasm of the bronchi, can arise not only from dust particles, mold spores, pollen, pet hair, down and feathers of birds, but also from consumed food products that are not absorbed by the body.
A prolonged dry cough in children, provoked by an allergic reaction, is the most dangerous, since it can develop into severe asthmatic attacks, make the child disabled and form a dependence on antispasmodic and bronchodilator drugs. The normal development of the respiratory system also suffers. The kid runs the risk of growing up with a weak and low immune status, and this is always the body's vulnerability to any infectious and viral pathogens.
Nerve dysfunctions. For the stable functioning of the respiratory system, the child must grow and be brought up in comfortable psychological conditions. If there are frequent conflict situations in the family, the baby is not given enough time and it develops under conditions of constant stress, then a dry cough occurs as a result of dysfunction of the nervous system. This is a general spasm of several body systems at once, which leads to the fact that the brain, under the influence of nervous overexcitation, sends chaotic signals to spasm of various muscles responsible for the normal functioning of certain organs. In addition to coughing attacks on a nervous basis, a child can observe various tics, movements, rituals, which are repeated as a stressful situation arises. The baby loses appetite, an intestinal disorder occurs. Due to the spasm of the muscles of the bladder, enuresis (urinary incontinence) is developed.
Chronic bronchitis and colds. This is the most common cause of a long dry cough in a child. The only and prerequisite for bronchial spasm of this nature of origin is the presence in the bronchial tree of an inflammation focus, provoked by a previously untreated infection, a virus or severe hypothermia of the body. Strange as it may seem, but high temperatures are rare in this case. It is easiest to diagnose this cause of a long and persistent cough, because all you need to do is examine the child, listen to his breathing, do fluorography to detect focal inflammation and, if necessary, resort to other diagnostic measures (ultrasound, MRI). Bacteriological culture of sputum separated from the lungs is a prerequisite to exclude the possible presence of tuberculosis bacilli in the bronchial tree.

The specified list of possible causes of a strong and persistent dry cough in children is not exhaustive.

Each child develops individually, grows up and is brought up in different social conditions, receives food of different quality levels. Therefore, other indirect reasons for the development of chronic bronchial spasm in the baby are not excluded.

Treatment - what to do if a child has a persistent dry cough

The first step that responsible parents must take is to show their child to the pediatrician. The doctor will independently assess the health of the baby, write out all the directions for the tests and examinations that are necessary in a particular case. For the treatment of a prolonged and persistent dry cough, the following procedures and medications may be prescribed, namely:

antibacterial and mucolytic drugs when a sluggish chronic inflammation is detected in the lungs, provoked by infection with infectious microorganisms (the type of medication is selected only by the pediatrician based on the data on the strain of the identified bacteria);
sedative medications in case the child has a cough formed on a nervous basis, when living under conditions of constant stress leads to nervous disorders and uncontrolled spasm of the chest muscles;
antihistamines and bronchodilators to relieve an attack of an allergic reaction and prevent the accumulation of allergen substances in the body, which are provocateurs of bronchial spasm;
drinking plenty of fluids and taking vitamins to normalize the water-salt balance of the child's respiratory system and saturate its tissues with minerals, amino acids, vitamins and other useful substances necessary for the stable functioning of the respiratory system;
consultations with a child psychologist, so that a child suffering from a nervous cough does not have a relapse of the disease after a course of sedatives.

Of great importance for the complete recovery of the baby and the relief of the manifestations of a prolonged dry cough are the favorable conditions for the residence and development of the child. If the doctor thinks that for the period of the therapeutic course the child should be hospitalized in the conditions of an inpatient department, then you should not argue with a specialist and it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's instructions. A prolonged dry cough in young children is very difficult to treat and requires a thorough approach.

Folk remedies for the treatment of cough

In consultation with your doctor, alternative medicine recipes can be used to help relieve the symptoms of dry cough. For a child's body, it is best to use medicinal herbs from which anti-inflammatory tea is prepared.

This method of treatment, of course, belongs to the category of pulmonological ailments that are provoked exclusively by the inflammatory process of the chronic form of the course. To prepare medicinal tea, it is necessary to mix 10 grams of dried herbs of chamomile, thyme and St. John's wort in equal proportions.

After that, the mixture of medicinal plants is poured into 0.5 liters of cold water and boiled over low heat for 20 minutes. As it cools, the broth is ready for use. It is recommended to give medicinal tea to children aged 3 to 12 years, 100-150 grams 3 times a day, 10 minutes before meals. If a small child is capricious and refuses to drink the mixture because of a specific and slightly bitter herbal taste, then it is allowed to add a little honey or sugar to the broth. In some cases, a small amount of lemon juice is squeezed out to harmonize the taste sensations in the drink. After 5-7 days of taking the indicated folk remedy, a prolonged dry cough of an inflammatory nature of origin changes to a productive one, the remnants of phlegm come out of the lungs, irritating respiratory receptors and the child is recovering.