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COUGH IN CHILDREN
Update: 24.05.2020 -
Editor
Cough is one of the most common complaints that families complain about in childhood. Cough is a symptom of a disease and is the body's response to protect the human respiratory system, a reflex. Just as our eyelids reflexively close suddenly in the face of a threat like a foreign object in the eye, we reflexively protect our heads with our hands when an object comes to our heads. Like these reflexes, cough is a reflex to remove foreign objects, phlegm, inflammation and discharge that come into the respiratory tract, to relieve breathing. In other words, it is a useful response to protect the respiratory tract and is an attempt to expel phlegm or foreign objects with a sudden reaction. So stopping the cough reflex is not the right approach, but eliminating the conditions that cause the cough is the right approach.
What are the types of cough?
- Phlegm Cough: You cough up yellow dark green liquid phlegm from your throat when you cough.
- Dry Cough: When you cough, no fluid comes from your throat, it is a hard cough that irritates the throat.
- Croup Cough: The vocal cords are affected, so it sounds like a dog barking, like a rooster crowing.
- Whooping Cough: Coughing episodes occur in a row, it is like choking.
- Wheezing Cough: Wheezing breathing accompanies the cough.
- Psychogenic Cough: It is called a cough that can mimic any type of cough, but usually improves at night, in the form of throat clearing and tic.|
What are the conditions that cause cough?
The most common causes of cough are sinusitis, reflux, viral infections. However, there are other causes. Simple causes like common cold, nasal congestion, throat infection, sore throat, respiratory syncytial virus can cause cough, while flu, ear infection, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, foreign object, allergy, smoking, gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd), cystic fibrosis, mass, tuberculosis, tumor can also cause cough. Cyanosis, blueness in children, can be seen together with cough, it is an important condition, you should go to the hospital immediately.
For example, barking cough is seen in croup, coughing like drawing in is seen in whooping cough, coughing with wheezing in the chest is seen in asthma. Sudden onset of cough accompanied by blueness is observed in foreign body aspiration. If the patient has vomiting along with coughing, if nighttime coughing increases, reflux may be the cause of this coughing. One of the most important causes of long-term cough in our country is cigarette smoking, which causes indoor air pollution. Cough is usually the last symptom to disappear in common cold. Especially coughs related to upper respiratory tract infection are seen at night. Cough can cause vomiting by stimulating the gag reflex. This is not a cause for concern unless the vomiting continues.
What should we pay attention to in coughing?
The time of the cough (for 3-5 days, for 1 month, etc.), the shape (with phlegm, dry, barking), how it started (sudden, after eating and exertion, starting after encountering various dust and allergens), accompanying complaints (fever, wheezing abnormal breathing, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, vomiting, weight loss, night sweats) should be kept in mind.
If cough lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, especially if it is accompanied by wheezing and continues even if the patient does not have a fever, if it is recurrent, and if it is accompanied by sneezing, nasal congestion and itching, the probability of the cause of the cough being allergic is very high. Cough in children varies according to age.
Again, in young children who go to kindergarten, successive common cold can cause cough to last for weeks.
When should we take the child to the doctor?
Cough lasting longer than 3-4 weeks should be investigated. If our child's cough lasts longer than 3 days, if the cough is getting worse, if the cough is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, blueness, if it started suddenly and coughs like barking, we should take our child to the pediatrician for examination. Just as we hear wheezing when our child breathes, we can feel the vibration when we put our hand on it.
Can cough occur after Covid?
Cough can last up to 3 weeks after a Covid infection. Covid is a viral infection that affects our throats, sinuses and lungs, causing a cough symptom. The important thing is that the doctor checks the lung auscultation findings. If your doctor has said that the lung auscultation and imaging findings are clean, there is no cause for concern and it is normal for the cough symptom to decrease and last up to 3 weeks. However, if your coughs continue to increase day by day, you need to be re-examined.
What is good for cough?
The best thing for cough is warm water. Drinking plenty of water and fluids will soothe your cough and make your baby feel more comfortable. Since nasal congestion and post-nasal drip can cause coughing, we need to open up our nose. Honey, ginger, warm water is good for cough.
What is good for phlegm cough?
In phlegm cough, the cause should be investigated first and treated accordingly. Opening up the nose and drinking plenty of fluids is good for phlegm cough. Some phlegm-loosening medications taken under doctor's supervision may help.
What is good for dry cough?
As in all diseases, the cause should be considered first in dry cough. The humidity of the environment should be controlled. If dry air leads to coughing, the humidity of the environment should be kept between 40-50%. Linden, mint, apple, lemon, all kinds of herbal teas are good for dry cough.
How does cough go away?
The cause of the cough should be investigated and treated accordingly. If the cause of the cough is allergic, it is necessary to stay away from allergens, while in reflux-related cough, reflux treatment should be given, and in cough caused by lung inflammation, the lungs should be treated.
Things we can do at home for cough
We can monitor our children at home whose general condition and activity are good, who do not have fever, wheezing or other breathing problems. In such situations and cough attacks, we should opt for warm water, the best cough syrup. Drinking plenty of water and fluids will soothe your cough and make your baby feel more comfortable. We can open our baby's nose with saline solution and physiological serums. Since cough can also occur in dry air, in non-allergic cough causes and simple upper respiratory tract infections, steam can be provided to provide appropriate humidity. Using random cough syrup and antibiotics is not appropriate. Some cough suppressants can be preferred under medical supervision, but the aim here is not to stop the cough but to treat the cause. I do not recommend codeine, dextromethorphan (expectorant) and similar cough medications in children.
In conclusion, coughing is a reflex that protects our body, and instead of stopping coughing, it is necessary to take measures against the reasons mentioned above. Medications given should be only under doctor's supervision, and a child's medication should not be given to another child. Warm water, steam and opening the nose are the simplest methods to be applied.
Wishing you healthy, peaceful and happy days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cough
- What stops cough the fastest?
Herbal teas such as linden, ginger, sage can soothe your cough. If the cough does not stop, a doctor should be consulted.
- What could be the cause of dry cough?
Simple causes like common cold, nasal congestion, throat infection, sore throat, respiratory syncytial virus can cause dry cough.
- What are the types of cough?
There are many types and forms of cough, such as phlegm cough, dry cough, croup cough, whooping cough, wheezing cough, psychogenic cough.
- What causes persistent cough?
One of the most important causes of long-term cough is cigarette smoking, which causes indoor air pollution. Cough is usually the last symptom to disappear in common cold.
- How to relieve cough in 4-year-old children?
Drinking plenty of water and fluids will soothe your cough and make your child feel more comfortable. We can open our baby's nose with saline solution and physiological serums. Using random cough syrup and antibiotics is not appropriate.
Learn More About Childhood Diseases
There are many types of diseases that are common in children. Having prior knowledge about these diseases will keep you as a parent more prepared. We have addressed various childhood diseases on our blog for you.
You can click on the headings to access the relevant article;
WHAT IS TONSILLITIS?
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, such as viruses that cause the common cold or flu (influenza). Protection of tonsils is crucial for the immune system to function.
FLU AND COLD (COMMON COLD) IN CHILDREN
Flu and cold are very different diseases. While the flu agent is the influenza virus, the common cold is caused by about 200 different viruses. Flu and cold (common cold) are very confused. Especially, it is necessary to know the difference between these two diseases.
COULD MY CHILD HAVE HEART DISEASE?
While heart disease is generally known as an older age disease, it is seen quite a lot in children and adolescents. Children suspected of having heart disease should be well monitored by their parents, as early diagnosis of heart disease in these children is vital.
FEVER SEIZURE
A proportion of our babies and small children up to 6 years old may experience febrile seizures, known as seizures, that occur with fever.
HIGH FEVER IN CHILDREN
Fever is defined as the body temperature rising above normal. In other words, it is defined as body temperature above 37.2 °C when measured under the armpit, above 37.8 °C when measured from the ear, and above 38 °C when measured rectally (from the anus).
CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS
The target diseases in vaccination are diseases that are frequent, severe or fatal, or that carry a risk of permanent damage. A vaccinated person will not only be ill themselves, but will also not be at risk of transmitting the disease to those around them and will be able to protect them indirectly; this phenomenon is called herd immunity (Herd Immunity).
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