Causes of cough in children without fever. Severe cough without fever in children: causes and treatment.

Cache in a child without fever is not a mandatory sign of any serious illness. It can develop for completely natural reasons that have nothing to do with a specific pathological process, and do not require special treatment.

The radiators in the room are too hot or dust has gotten into the child’s throat. His respiratory tract is able to react to the uncomfortable dry microclimate in the room, the strong smell of a plant or chemical. During the shedding period of domestic animals, their fur flies everywhere and small child puts it in his mouth, nose, or simply inhales the air saturated with it.

Therefore, if there are no alarming manifestations, then there is no need to worry. Coughing is a reflex reaction and children do it many times a day, making it easier for themselves to breathe. But, of course, the cause of its development can also be hypothermia, as well as the entry of an infectious or allergic agent into the body.

There are a variety of causes for coughs not accompanied by hyperthermia. These usually include:

  • Bronchitis;
  • flu;
  • pharyngitis;
  • ARVI;
  • allergic reaction;
  • pneumonia;
  • whooping cough;
  • false croup;
  • neurosis;
  • cardiopathology;
  • reflux esophagitis;
  • fungal infection;
  • helminthiasis;
  • tuberculosis;
  • diphtheria, etc.

These diseases can cause a child to cough without fever, accompanied by headache and severe malaise.

Most often, the dry version develops at the beginning. It is difficult for young children to tolerate, causing them insomnia and loss of appetite. If your baby feels very unwell, you should call a doctor immediately.

It is also necessary to show the child to the pediatrician if he has been coughing for more than three weeks, although there is no increase in temperature.

You should also be wary if the sputum coming out has a strange color, smell or consistency. It is necessary to pay attention to the general condition of the little patient. Parents should monitor whether he has weakness, insomnia, pain, wheezing, or whether he is choking.

There may be complaints of seemingly foreign phenomena:

  1. stomach ache
  2. nausea
  3. migraine
  4. skin rashes
A particularly alarming symptom is the appearance of blood in the sputum or in the saliva that escapes when the baby exhales..

Call to Emergency help It is simply necessary if a very strong and painful coughing attack cannot be relieved by anything for quite a long time.

Dry cough without fever

This condition is observed very often in children. If a dry cough is noticed in a child without fever, it can be caused by a variety of reasons. They can be both pathological and natural.

Most often, the factor contributing to its development is irritation of the bronchial mucosa when inhaling polluted air, staying in a dusty room, ingestion of pet hair or plant pollen, as well as exposure to dampness or cold in the room..

Cough caused by such reasons is allergic and does not require special treatment. It stops on its own after the source of irritation disappears.

Whooping cough can leave behind consequences in the form of a prolonged cough that is not accompanied by a rise in temperature. It occurs as a result of prolonged irritation of the reflex zones of the cerebral cortex and general weakening. Most often it develops at night in the form of severe attacks.

Most often, a child develops a dry cough without fever due to infection in the body. Children most often suffer from:

  1. bronchitis
  2. pharyngitis
  3. laryngitis.

It can be observed constantly or be paroxysmal. The child suffers especially at night, as thickened bronchial secretions spread through the respiratory tract and complicate his condition.

This manifestation indicates the development of the disease. Most often, it means that there is relief in the patient’s condition, as the airways begin to clear. Together with sputum, products of cellular decay, inflammatory reaction, as well as living and dead pathogenic microorganisms are removed.

A wet cough is observed in a number of certain diseases. Most often its main causes are:

  • Bronchitis;
  • cold;
  • tracheitis;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • pneumonia;
  • tuberculosis;
  • cardiopathology.

These diseases are more easily tolerated, since the sputum released clears the airways. Such manifestations are most often observed in the morning, when the child wakes up and tries to get rid of the phlegm that has accumulated during the night.

It is imperative to explain to a small child that under no circumstances should waste secretion be swallowed; it must be spit out.

The cough does not go away for another two weeks, until the bronchi are completely free of secretions.

The child feels better, but remember that at this time he can infect others. Therefore, he should stay at home, and parents caring for him should wear medical bandages and do wet cleaning more often.

If a cough is accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, weakness, redness of the sclera and face, general malaise, chills and shortness of breath, this may indicate a worsening of the disease and the appearance of new symptoms. IN in this case, without appropriate treatment, the disease can become chronic.

It is especially dangerous when the amount of sputum becomes excessive and the cough gets worse. This suggests that the infection has sharply intensified, and the body’s defenses are already running out.

It is very important to do a sputum analysis. This will be the easiest way for a doctor to make a diagnosis.

  • If there is a lot of it separated and it is colorless, then most likely the child has tracheitis or bronchitis.
  • Orange color indicates the development of pneumonia.
  • If a dense, welded-together secretion leaves, we are talking about asthma.
  • If streaks of blood are noticeable in the sputum, then infection with tuberculosis or heart disease is possible.
  • If pus is noticed in the secreted contents, then this indicates such a serious complication as a lung abscess.

Barking cough without fever

This cough often worries children. It has a severe paroxysmal character. The voice sounds annoying due to wheezing and whistling in the chest. Sometimes, as a result of severe irritation of the ligaments, it becomes so sharp that the timbre actually resembles a dog barking. Sometimes it disappears altogether and the child wheezes barely audibly.

Most often, a barking cough occurs due to:

  • Laryngitis;
  • asthma;
  • false croup;
  • whooping cough;
  • dry air in the room;
  • getting a foreign object into the windpipe;
  • neurosis;
  • allergic reaction;
  • infections;
  • diphtheria;
  • laryngeal cysts, etc.


These various conditions are accompanied by severe malaise, chills, shortness of breath or even choking, pain in the throat or chest. Indeed, due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, their inner surface swells.

Most often, coughing occurs in the middle of the night when the child is sleeping. He develops stagnation in the pulmonary circulation, which is why the baby’s face, lips and hands may take on a bluish tint.

It becomes difficult for him to breathe, causing him to wake up. This type of cough requires immediate medical treatment and consultation with a doctor.

Why is this condition dangerous?

A very severe reaction to a persistent cough can be pneumothorax.

A long dry cough in a child without fever can cause various complications. They are associated with respiratory and heart failure, congestion or circulatory disorders. Hypoxia of internal organs develops, sleep and appetite are disturbed in children. If the coughing attacks are very strong, which often happens when it is dry or barking, sometimes vomiting begins due to irritation of the centers of the cerebral cortex.

Bleeding from the bronchi also occurs, which occurs due to rupture of small vessels.

A dry or barking cough in allergic diseases can pose a serious threat. He requires urgent medical care. If you let the disease take its course, it often ends:

  • Bronchospasm;
  • suffocation;
  • Quincke's edema;
  • pulmonary insufficiency;
  • anaphylactic shock;
  • hemorrhage;
  • death of the patient.

Such consequences arise as a result of severe overstrain of the muscular layer of the respiratory tract, vasodilation as a result of an abundant rush of blood, exudative effusion or stagnation in the pulmonary circulation.

A barking and dry cough, without timely treatment, can also provoke the development of a hernia, hemorrhoids or rib fracture.

First of all, the danger is represented by its barking appearance. Due to severe irritation of the respiratory tract, it can cause swelling of the larynx, which threatens the child’s life due to possible suffocation.

Infants are especially exposed to this danger.

A severe cough in a child without fever also provokes complications such as chronic asthma, pulmonary and heart failure, bronchial obstruction, etc..

If a wet cough does not go away for a long time, it also harms the general condition of children. The desire to alleviate one’s condition causes frequent attacks, which damage the respiratory muscles, as well as the tissues of the back, chest and neck.

Very often, the baby simply swallows sputum, as a result of which he often develops gastritis or intestinal disorders.

Treatment with medications


When a child has a cough without fever, only a doctor can decide how to treat him for this condition. Therapy should be prescribed after a comprehensive examination and be aimed primarily at the cause of the disease.

If hyperthermia is not observed, then you should carefully study all the results of tests and instrumental studies in order to determine a set of measures aimed at alleviating the condition of the little patient. Symptomatic therapy is also used, but it is of an auxiliary nature.

  • Anti-cough drugs (Codelac, Libexin, Omnitus);
  • mucolytic agents (Ambrobene, ACC, Bromhexine, Flavamed);
  • substances that facilitate expectoration (Bronchicum, Gedelix, Herbion, marshmallow or licorice root syrup);
  • antibacterial drugs (Doxycycline, Ampicillin);
  • antihistamines (Zodak, Suprastin, Fenistil);
  • immunostimulants (Arbidol, Derinat, Interferon, Anaferon);
  • vitamins (used in treatment as immunity-strengthening agents);
  • anti-inflammatory drugs (Aspirin, Paracetamol);
  • local remedies (inhalations, cough drops, disinfectant solutions).
They make it possible to eliminate bronchospasm, remove accumulated bronchial secretions during a wet cough, destroy the infection, stop the development of the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, strengthen the immune system and alleviate the general condition of the child.

Treatment with folk remedies

In order to quickly suppress a cough, the effect of using pharmacological drugs can be enhanced by combining them with home recipes.

  • To treat a wet cough, tea with honey or.
  • If a child has a dry cough without fever, then milk with honey, soda or butter can greatly alleviate his condition.
  • When barking, it is recommended to give children grated radish with honey.
  • An excellent antitussive remedy is viburnum. It is better to cook it with honey or crush fresh berries with sugar.
  • Onion syrup with sugar has proven itself to be a natural phytoncide that helps cope with infection and ease breathing.
In treatment, herbal medicine is also actively used.. A decoction of oregano, marsh dried grass, marshmallow, licorice, and coltsfoot is used. An infusion of pine buds is no less effective.
These folk remedies have an antitussive and restorative effect. They stimulate blood circulation in the respiratory tract, facilitate expectoration, and relieve swelling. In addition, they have a calming and immunostimulating effect.

Therefore, if a child, and especially an infant, does not have a fever, but is tormented by a cough, you should not hope that it will go away on its own. You should definitely consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe reliable treatment, and, in addition, will recommend the most suitable folk remedies that will quickly return the baby to health.

In order to alleviate his condition, you should regularly open the window, not allowing the air in the room to stagnate, humidify the atmosphere in it, and also do wet cleaning more often.

If the child feels well, then you need to take him out into the fresh air.

May 10, 2017 Victor Marchione

A child's cough without fever is a pathological process. This symptom is typical for many colds, as well as infections that may be in the baby’s body.

Before treating a cough, it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence. It is difficult to do this without a specialist. Therefore, if you have a cough, you should go to the hospital.

Causes of cough in a child without fever

The causes of a cough in a child without fever may indicate the presence of serious health problems. So, the situation may be an acute respiratory disease. True, this phenomenon is characterized by the presence of fever and general weakness of the body.

Cough can be caused by chronic diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. In this case, we mean chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, etc. Cough, as a rule, appears with particular frequency and can occur without fever.

The mechanism for the occurrence of such a phenomenon can also become serious problems. An example of this is tuberculosis. True, it is still characterized by a slight increase in temperature, but in rare cases this symptom is absent.

Allergies, which are often combined with infection, can also cause a cough. Moreover, it can manifest itself even after the end of treatment. The most complex manifestation of allergies is hidden in bronchial asthma.

A cough can occur as a complication after suffering from whooping cough. This symptom often disturbs during sleep, occurs in attacks and does not contribute to an increase in temperature.

Worm infestations can lead to a dry cough without other symptoms. Usually nothing bothers the child, and attacks appear every 2-4 weeks.

Contact with irritants is another cause of cough. Household chemicals, substances and other “components” can irritate the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Thus, a cough is provoked without any signs of general inflammation.

A foreign body can also cause this symptom. A child may choke on candy, swallow a small particle from a toy, etc. These processes are characterized by the sudden appearance of a cough.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as reflux disease and biliary dyskinesia, can occur in a very unique way. Therefore, if a child has a cough without fever, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis and identify the true cause of this phenomenon.

Diagnosis of cough in a child without fever

Diagnosis of cough in a child without fever can be carried out in various ways. First of all, the doctor must listen to the baby’s complaints and examine him. Signs of a cold or flu are immediately visible. They are characterized by the presence of fever and a painful appearance in the child.

But there are times when nothing bothers the baby except a cough. The first step is to rule out the presence of pneumonia. To do this, the child is listened to and, if necessary, fluorography is performed.

If all colds and infectious diseases are excluded, you should make sure that the baby does not have a foreign body in the body. Usually just listening to the patient is enough. A foreign body may be accompanied by swelling of one lung, over which weakening of breathing and, often, whistling exhalation can be heard. If everything is confirmed, a bronchoscopy is performed. In any case, the baby must be examined. A child's cough without fever may indicate a serious illness.

Treatment of cough in a child without fever

Treatment of cough in a child without fever should be carried out under the supervision of an experienced doctor. Before starting this procedure, it is worth determining the cause of the phenomenon.

If the cough was caused by stress, it is necessary to exclude stressful situations. It is likely that you will have to undergo treatment with a child psychotherapist. Based on the age of the baby, sedatives are selected. Valerian tablets will do. It is better not to give tinctures to your baby. Approximately 1-2 tablets per day and after a while all symptoms will disappear. It is advisable to give your baby calming tea with mint.

When a cough occurs due to an allergy, the first step is to get rid of the allergen. It is difficult to determine what exactly caused such a reaction, so you will have to go through all sorts of options. Your baby may have an allergic reaction to dust. In this case, it is recommended to carry out wet cleaning daily and thereby reduce the impact of the irritant on the baby’s body. It is necessary to cleanse the body of accumulated allergens. Finally, taking antihistamines will help improve the situation. It is worth paying attention to Diazolin, Claritin and Suprastin. 1-2 tablets per day are enough to feel relief. The attending physician prescribes the dose.

If the cough occurs against the background of a cold or infectious disease, you need to act differently. In this case, the problem can only be eliminated through medication. So, anti-inflammatory and immune-strengthening drugs, as well as analgesics and antispasmodics, are suitable.

The first type of medications includes Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Indomethacin. They must be taken with the consent of the attending physician and in the prescribed dosage. In this case, it all depends on the complexity of the situation and the age of the child. Usually 1-2 tablets per day are enough. The course of treatment is 5-7 days.

The group of immune-strengthening drugs includes Aflubin, Levamisole, Immunal and Dibazol. Regarding their method of administration, you should consult a specialist. The group of analgesics includes Omnopon, Promedol, Fentanyl and Dipidolor. Antispasmodics are No-shpa, Papaverine, Dicetel and Duspatalin. They should be taken under the supervision of a pediatrician.

A good effect can be achieved with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as traditional medicine. Pine buds help a lot. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 500 ml of milk and add a tablespoon of kidneys to it. Then the whole thing is put on gas and simmers for about an hour. You need to give your baby a warm infusion of 50 ml every 1-2 hours.

Badger fat is also an effective remedy. It is given to the child 0.5-1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day or rubbed into the back, chest and feet.

Onions are often taken in folk medicine. You can make a good syrup with sugar from it. For one chopped onion, use 2 tablespoons of sugar. The resulting product is infused overnight and applied in small portions every 1-2 hours.

Aloe juice allows you to achieve a certain result. So, just mix this ingredient with melted butter and honey in equal quantities. The drug is taken for 5 days, 4 times a day before meals. Before cooking, it is advisable to keep the aloe leaves in the refrigerator for 10 days. There are different ways to treat a child’s cough without fever; the main thing is to know the true cause of this phenomenon.

Prevention of cough in a child without fever

Prevention of cough in a child without fever is very important; it will help avoid serious consequences. So, it is not so easy to completely avoid colds at this age, but it is still possible to prevent their occurrence.

The best way to prevent it is hardening. From the first days of life, a child needs fresh air, walks and water treatments. There is no need to constantly expose your baby to overheating. The temperature in which he bathes should not exceed 20-22 degrees. It is advisable to allow your baby to walk barefoot and swim in safe waters. A great way to strengthen your immune system is to visit the pool. Maximum stay outside and active games also have a positive effect on the child’s body.

Don't forget about humidifying the air. The baby's room should always have a certain level of humidity, not exceeding 50-70%. Dry air can dry out the airways and thereby cause inflammation. You can achieve the necessary humidification using a household humidifier, steam or ultrasonic.

Not least of all is proper nutrition. The child's diet should contain sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. During breastfeeding It is important to monitor what mom eats. In spring and winter, it is advisable to take vitamin and mineral complexes. You should consult your doctor about this.

It is worth observing the rules of hygiene. If a child learns to take care of himself and keep his hands clean, then no germs will be able to penetrate his body. Allergies can also cause a cough. Therefore, first of all, it is worth getting rid of all allergens. Compliance with all the rules will help to avoid problems in the future and a cough in a child without fever will not manifest itself.

Forecast of cough in a child without fever

The prognosis for cough in a child without fever is favorable in most cases. But don't relax. If a negative symptom appears, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. The fact is that a cough may indicate the presence of serious diseases.

This symptom without fever is one of the signs of pneumonia, which occurs in a complicated form. If treatment is not started in time, it can lead to death. After all, the accumulated sputum is removed, but the body does not fight the infection at all.

The cause of a cough can be an allergy; by eliminating the allergen, you can relieve the child of an unpleasant symptom. Serious illness and even a foreign body can cause consequences. Therefore, the prognosis for their child depends on the reaction of the parents. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate. This is fraught with serious consequences for the baby. A cough in a child without fever can carry an unfavorable prognosis, so action must be taken immediately.

Many mothers sometimes encounter the fact that their baby suddenly begins to suffer from a cough, sometimes in the form of attacks, but there are no other alarming symptoms. What could be the matter, and what should parents do in such cases?

Features of children's cough

This manifestation accompanies many diseases of the respiratory system. But in this case, accompanying symptoms are fever, aches, headache, and rhinitis. Coughing small child, preschooler - a normal physiological process. A child can cough several times a day, thus freeing the lungs from dust and foreign particles that have entered them. If this happens up to 10 times a day, the baby is active, plays, eats well, then mom and dad have nothing to worry about.

But sometimes a cough is not of physiological origin, but of pathological origin. Only a specialist can distinguish them.

The child must be shown pediatrician if the cough prevents you from sleeping and wakes you up at night; begins suddenly and continues for a long time; turns into vomiting; accompanied by allergies.

About the causes of pathological cough

Allergies are the most common of them. Cough attacks can be caused by the presence of an allergen in the room, even in small quantities. Parents of the baby should distinguish an allergic cough from bronchitis and whooping cough. Characteristic Features The first is the absence of fever and rhinitis, increased coughing attacks when a cat, dog, or hamster appears.

If the cause of the problem is indeed an allergy, then parents will face challenging task identifying the allergen. Cough attacks of allergic origin can often develop into serious illnesses (chronic bronchitis, for example).

Dry air can also be a factor that causes attacks. The mother must watch the child. If he doesn’t cough outside, but it starts in the apartment, then perhaps the reason is the dry air. The phenomenon is more often observed during the heating season and in those families where they love warmth very much. A humidifier or at least hanging wet sheets on radiators will help you quickly cope with coughing attacks.

A painful, painful cough with the production of sticky sputum can also be a symptom of cystic fibrosis, a serious illness that occurs as a result of gene mutation. It affects the endocrine glands and impairs lung function. In pediatric practice, such a disease is rare, but if such a diagnosis is present, the young patient should be under the supervision of pediatricians.

In rare cases, the cause of a cough attack may be the presence of a foreign body in the respiratory tract. Children love to push buttons, beads, and other small things into their noses, and this does not necessarily lead to suffocation. Foreign bodies may cause mild spasms in the respiratory muscles as an attempt to get rid of them. In order to detect such things, you need an examination by an otolaryngologist.

A prolonged cough without fever may be evidence of the presence of worms in the body or a consequence of nervous disorders. In the latter case, the baby’s attacks can begin during hysterics and lead to vomiting.

How to treat a cough without fever in a child

It all starts with a visit to the pediatrician and determining the cause of the problem. The biggest difficulty is finding the irritant in an allergic cough and eliminating it. In such a situation, they help ease breathing homeopathic remedies, for example, Belladonna. Phosphorus is recommended for children whose cough occurs when going outside from a warm room. Sepia is effective if attacks are also accompanied by vomiting. Such drugs should be prescribed to children by a specialist.

Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes the importance of cough prevention and creating as much comfortable conditions for baby's breathing. We are talking about a temperature not higher than 20 degrees, sufficient air humidity, ventilation of the room where the child sleeps, a calm atmosphere in the family, supporting children's immunity with walks, proper nutrition and the attention of parents.

The appearance of cough in children does not always indicate development. Throughout the day, dust particles and other particles enter the respiratory tract. In this case, coughing is a protective reaction against foreign particles. Often a child develops a wet cough without fever. There may be various reasons for this.
Content:

Causes of cough without fever

If a child is tormented by a cough and there are no signs of an increase, then it is necessary to pay attention to his general condition and other symptoms. This is the only way to make a diagnosis and begin treatment.

Factors predisposing to cough:

  • Foreign bodies
  • Colds
  • ENT diseases
  • Chronic diseases
  • Complications of viral diseases
  • Worms
  • Insufficient indoor humidity

Allergy cough occurs upon contact with an irritant and allergen. After the allergen disappears, the cough stops. Any irritating agent can act as an allergen: dust, pollen, food, odors, wool, etc.

If the cause of the cough is an allergy, then parents should be aware that with frequent colds, children with allergies may develop bronchial asthma. The entry of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract irritates the mucous membrane and leads to soreness. This is often observed in.

During the initial development of colds, fever does not always appear. At first, a cough with a runny nose may appear, and only then a fever develops.

With pharyngitis, bronchitis and other chronic diseases, the child experiences a wet cough without fever.

Coughing attacks can occur with tonsillitis or sinusitis. The resulting substance gets on the back wall of the pharynx and provokes a cough. This can occur with a runny nose during long stay in a lying position.


The appearance of a dry cough without fever may be due to insufficiently humidified air in the room in which the child is located. Many parents, especially winter period use heaters and forget to humidify the air. In this case, cough can be observed not only in children, but also in adults.


Very an effective recipe is a honey cake. Take 2 small spoons of mustard, 3 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix all ingredients to form a dough. Place the prepared cakes on the baby’s chest and back overnight, and wrap a diaper on top. This method will help get rid of cough in 2 days. However, performing it at a temperature is strictly prohibited.

Recommendations

You can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases by following preventive measures.

To relieve coughing attacks, you should take into account the following recommendations:

  • Taking medications without a doctor's prescription is not recommended.
  • The air in the room needs to be humidified regularly. If possible, you should purchase a humidifier. The room temperature should be about 18-20 degrees.
  • The room in which the child is located must be ventilated regularly.
  • Give your child vitamins to strengthen him.
  • Do hardening.
  • Cough in many cases is a companion to colds, so the child should be given plenty of fluids in the form of warm fruit drinks, compotes, etc.
  • If the cause of the cough viral infection, then in the initial stages it is recommended to carry out inhalations and do foot baths.
  • If your baby has a slight sore throat, you should take walks in the fresh air more often.
  • Hypothermia or overheating should be avoided.
  • If possible, avoid contact with irritating agents.
  • Ensure that children wash their hands regularly with soap.

While watching the video, you will learn about a “ripping” cough.

Unfortunately, children get sick more often than adults. Their immune system cannot yet quickly cope with viruses and bacteria. Therefore, coughing in the first years of life is so common that many mothers do not pay attention to it. But this is wrong, since it easily becomes chronic, signaling problems in the child’s body, which, if left unattended, parents can provoke the development of serious illnesses. Although quite often a cough, even a prolonged one, can have purely physiological causes.

How to react correctly

A child's prolonged cough, even without fever, can be dry or wet. Dryness is usually a sign of irritation or inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. Wet indicates that phlegm continues to accumulate in the baby’s lungs or bronchi. Both types of cough have different causes, and they cannot be treated with the same methods.

Before starting any cough treatment, you need to carefully monitor your baby. Please pay special attention for the following details:

  • intensity of cough, its character (short, paroxysmal, single, suffocating, etc.);
  • frequency of its occurrence (how many times a day);
  • Is there a periodicity, at what time of day does it occur more often;
  • the amount of sputum produced, its color, consistency, presence of traces of blood;
  • Is there pain in the chest when taking a deep breath or coughing?

The more detail you tell the doctor about all these symptoms, the more accurately he will be able to make an initial diagnosis and determine what kind of treatment the child needs.

Causes of prolonged cough

If a child continues to cough for some time after suffering a respiratory or bronchopulmonary disease, then this is most likely a residual cough. It usually does not require special treatment and goes away on its own within a maximum of two weeks.

Long-term can be caused by a number of other reasons, which can presumably be determined by its nature and the color of expectorated sputum:

And these are just the TOP 10 reasons why a child may have a lingering cough. Some of them can be easily eliminated. Others require long-term complex treatment. But as is already clear, it must begin with a thorough diagnosis. After all, a cough is only a symptom and it can be completely removed only by eliminating the main cause of its occurrence.

What to do?

First of all, check for all possible non-infectious causes. Inspect the room for irritants and allergens. With irritants, of course, it’s easier. But an allergen can be anything, even food or chemical elements contained in the paint on a child’s clothes or toys. Therefore, if you suspect the allergic nature of your cough, but cannot find the culprit yourself, you should consult an allergist.

The mother usually knows about the presence of chronic diseases in the baby, and the child, as necessary, undergoes a course of preventive therapy that prevents periods of exacerbation.

But if a child’s cough without fever after an acute respiratory infection or cold does not go away for a month or more, the child needs to be further examined to make sure that chronic bronchitis or low-grade pneumonia have not developed as a complication after the illness.

In all other cases, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Without laboratory tests and a comprehensive examination, it can be difficult to identify such serious diseases as tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic infections (mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc.). And the only symptom showing that the child is not okay in these cases is a cough.

Most chronic and infectious diseases of the respiratory system cannot be cured with any folk remedies. Mothers who try to do this only waste time and allow the disease to deepen even more. But it started competently on time drug treatment leads to complete recovery in 90% of cases.

During treatment, it is very important to strictly follow all doctor’s instructions and recommended dosages of medications.

You should not refuse to go for walks or limit your child’s communication with peers (if he is not sick with tuberculosis). Chronic diseases are usually not dangerous to others, and fresh air and positive emotions are very important for a recovering baby.

The only thing you need to avoid for now is too active games, during which a coughing attack may begin. It is also advisable that the child does not scream or sing loudly until the cough goes away completely. The larynx is already irritated, and overstraining it can damage the vocal cords. And it is advisable to follow simple preventive measures that will speed up full recovery.

Prevention methods

A persistent cough does not appear suddenly in a child. And, like any disease, it is easier to prevent than to cure. You need to make it a rule that no cough, even a slight cough, goes unattended. Long-term irritation of the larynx can eventually transform into a dangerous disease such as asthma.

But if a cough has already appeared, and you understand that it has non-physiological causes, you need to act:

  • establish the cause as soon as possible;
  • for allergies - identify and eliminate the allergen;
  • remove from the room everything that can irritate the mucous membranes of the throat and nose;
  • check the air temperature and humidity (optimally 22 degrees and 60-70%);
  • check if there is mold in the apartment;
  • perform air conditioner maintenance;
  • review the diet, remove too spicy, salty, “heavy” foods from it;
  • if you suspect a cold or ARVI, start treatment immediately.

Under no circumstances should you carry out hardening procedures when a child has a prolonged cough, just like giving him intense physical activity. First you need to completely cure the baby, and then do all these, of course, useful things.

But the use of immunomodulators will benefit him and help him overcome the disease faster. These can be ready-made pharmaceutical preparations or proven folk remedies, for example, rose hip syrup or aloe juice.

It is important to remember that you can treat a child with home remedies for no longer than 3-5 days. And if during this time there is no obvious improvement, the child is capricious, he is not strong, but your methods are ineffective, and it’s time to go for medical help! Lost time can lead to serious complications, and proper treatment guarantees a complete and quick recovery.