Allergic cough in children is a sign of the presence of some type of allergy, and is its main symptom. A characteristic cough occurs due to the effect of the pathogen on the respiratory system and bronchi. Inflammatory foci may occur in the bronchi, but the body temperature is normal.

How to understand and identify the fact that a child has an allergic cough is a difficult task that only a specialist can solve.

A dry allergic cough has a paroxysmal nature and can bother a child for a long time, about 3 weeks. Allergic rhinitis and nasal congestion are easily added to this manifestation. In most cases, attacks occur at night or during close contact with an allergen.

It should be remembered that an allergic cough is a fairly common disease, but distinguishing an allergic cough from a cold is not so easy. Such signs of allergies are characteristic of children who suffer from this disease from birth. How can you tell if your child has an allergic cough?

1. In a baby who suffers from diathesis, a characteristic cough appears much more often.
2. Failure to follow all the rules of complementary feeding is a fairly common problem that exposes the unformed body to attack by allergens.
3. Seasonal allergies can come and go without any control.

An allergist is a specialist who is able to give the child proper treatment, as well as carry out the necessary correction and prevention. There may be cases of acute manifestation of this symptom, in which case it is necessary to immediately seek help. Only by identifying and eliminating the allergen can you get effective treatment and a speedy recovery. A specialist, using the necessary diagnostic techniques, can collect all the necessary data to provide an accurate result.

Allergy is a disease that worries not only adults, but can also be detected in newborns. A specialist will tell you how to recognize and how to cure this condition.

A dry cough in a child can be the main symptom of an allergy and its manifestation. But determining the nature of this symptom is quite a difficult task, because it is not a cold and has a different nature.

Such a reaction can occur under the influence of a specific allergen, but this phenomenon is considered an individual symptom.

1. A cough can occur suddenly, last quite a long time, and be barking and intrusive.
2. Attacks occur mainly at night; there may be no manifestations in the morning or during the day.
3. In most cases, this is a dry cough; a wet cough also appears, but much less frequently and has a small amount of sputum.
4. The cough may be accompanied by itching of the mucous membranes, nasal congestion, and lacrimation.

For a small child, such symptoms bring a lot of trouble to their usual way of life. Tearfulness, irritability, anxiety occur, and serious complications may occur that require correction by a specialist. It should be remembered that allergies manifest themselves completely differently in each person, therefore cough has a variety of symptoms. The symptoms of an allergic cough are pronounced and cannot go unnoticed, so only identifying the main causes and eliminating allergens is the right path to recovery.

Ignoring symptoms can lead to a worsening of the situation and, as a result, new diseases such as bronchial asthma appear.

With the development of the modern world, a large number of hidden factors have appeared that imperceptibly affect the general condition of a person, and also contribute to the occurrence of various diseases.

Experts recommend paying attention to the following possible causes of allergic manifestations:

1. In the life of every person there is a large amount of household chemicals, including personal hygiene products that contain dyes and chemical additives. This theory is confirmed by many scientists, because the influence of such cosmetics cannot pass without leaving a trace.
2. The active use of medications, as well as antibiotics, makes adjustments to human defense mechanisms. Such an intervention is especially dangerous for children in the first year of life; an undeveloped immune system can lead to various failures and complications.
3. The chemical content of most foods also leads to food allergies. Most food products are susceptible to various additives, vegetables and fruits are treated with chemical compounds and fertilizers.
4. Genetic predisposition: if parents suffer from allergies, then the risk of developing a negative reaction in the child increases significantly.

The reasons can be a variety of unusual phenomena, which are sometimes quite difficult to determine. The deterioration of the environment is making adjustments to the usual way of life of every person; allergic manifestations have begun to occur quite often in both adults and children.

Allergy symptoms and treatment are individual manifestations, and correction methods must take into account the entire clinical picture of the patient.

Today there is no exact theory of the origin of allergies, because with the development of civilization there are more and more dangerous pathogens.

Therefore, how to determine the true irritant is quite a difficult task.

The following are the most common allergens that can cause symptoms:

• plant pollen;
• the result of animal activity;
• personal hygiene products;
• medicines;
• food irritants.

It should be remembered that if a child has any allergy, then any other type of disease may occur. Coughing can be a harbinger not only of a cold, but also of a negative reaction of the body to an irritant. It is quite difficult for a child to explain everything that worries him, so sometimes a lot of attention is needed to determine the signs of a disease. The occurrence of an allergenic cough is a normal reaction of the body to the action of an irritant. An allergen can be absolutely any factor, even from a person’s usual life.

The allergy trigger acts as a hidden agent that can cause a negative response in the body.

Differences between a cold and an allergic cough

How to distinguish an allergic cough, an important and difficult aspect, what to do in such a situation? Just seek professional help, an allergist will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the optimal treatment. Colds also often bother children, so they can manifest themselves in the form of a characteristic cough.

1. With allergies, the cough is dry, and may have attacks of suffocation and lack of air.
2. During a respiratory illness, the body temperature rises and fever begins.
3. Allergies can be noticed during seasonal exacerbations, as well as upon contact with an obvious allergen.
4. At night, the attacks only intensify, having some dynamics.

During an allergy, a small amount of sputum may be present, which has no color. Swelling of the mucous membranes of the throat leads to attacks of dry cough, which is quite difficult to stop, especially for a small child. Before the onset of such an attack, breathing difficulties, panic, and fear are possible.

With allergies, as with colds, cough is not the only symptom. In most cases, a number of specific signs occur that indicate the development of the disease.

Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and determine the true condition of the patient based on the results of all examinations.

Treatment of allergic cough in a child is a complex process that has a whole range of procedures and directions. Medicine for allergic cough for children, of course, should be prescribed only by a specialist who is familiar with the clinical picture of the child’s general condition. Relieving the symptoms of an allergic cough in a child is the primary task for the doctor. You need to take the pills strictly according to a schedule that is created individually.

How to treat and how to treat this condition are important aspects for every parent, so as not to aggravate the situation. Before starting therapy, it is important to carry out all the necessary diagnostic minimum. This item is mandatory in medical therapy. An allergic cough can be cured only with a correctly identified allergen and after it has been excluded from the child’s life. Many drugs and folk remedies have medicinal properties, but you should not self-medicate.

You can treat an allergic cough in a child in the following ways:

• elimination of the allergen;
• reduction of symptoms;
• treating the underlying cause;
• taking medications.

For each specific case, specific therapy is prescribed, which includes all the features. How to relieve a night attack is an important question for parents. In this case, giving your child all the necessary medicines for an allergic cough can take care of his health. The doctor will give all the necessary recommendations on how to take the medicine, with the help of which we relieve night attacks and others. Not only medicines are given for coughing, but folk medicinal decoctions can also be an excellent alternative. The main thing is to consult with a specialist before starting use. This issue is dealt with by an allergist who determines appropriate therapy and treatment.

Treatment of allergic cough in children is a long process that takes a certain period. At this time, it is important to apply all the specialist’s prescriptions and follow his recommendations.

An allergic cough is one of the body's reactions to improper functioning of the immune system. Most often, allergies are caused by various proteins. This could be animal saliva, some food product, saliva, pollen and much more. In addition to proteins, allergies can also be caused by other substances that can bind to protein and change its structure. If the immune system is impaired, the bronchi begin to react incorrectly to the allergen. They do not narrow when air containing the allergen enters, but try to push it out of the body. As a result, the person begins to cough.

An allergic cough can appear for the first time at any age. Even if a person was not allergic to anything in childhood, it is not a fact that it cannot appear in adulthood.

Statistics from doctors are not encouraging. Every year the number of people with allergies is only increasing. In the course of many examinations, experts came up with several very significant conclusions:

1. Allergies most often occur in those children who had to take antibiotics in infancy.
2. If there are pets in the family, the risk of allergies in children is reduced.
3. A perfectly clean home can contribute to the development of allergies in children. As a result of the fact that the body does not see a real danger to the child in the form of dust and dirt, it begins to train, reacting to harmless substances.
4. Some experts are convinced that the increase in allergies is related to food. If you look at the composition of most products, it is replete with chemical flavors, flavor enhancers and preservatives.

What could be the causes of an allergic cough?

An allergic cough occurs when certain particles from the air enter the respiratory tract. As a result, the immune system is activated, swelling or irritation of the mucous membrane occurs, and a cough appears.

An allergic cough can occur due to:

1. Household allergens. Most often they are any aerosols used in everyday life (hairsprays, sprays, cleaning agents and air fresheners), cosmetics (powders, blushes, highlighters and eye shadows), dust, house mites and cigarette smoke.
2. Pollen from certain flowers and trees.
3. Mushroom spore. Most often, a reaction can be caused by mold, but there are also types of allergies when coughing occurs as a result of spores from any outdoor mushrooms.
4. Particles of animal epidermis. Allergies can be caused by fur, skin particles, fluff, feathers, animal dander and insect bites.
5. Certain medications given intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally.
6. Food products. This is especially true for chocolate, tropical fruits, honey, nuts and seafood.

There are also known cases of allergic reactions in workers at work.

What are the symptoms of allergic cough in adults?

Due to the fact that the allergen is not always known, allergic coughs are easily confused with colds. This is typical during contact with an allergen and the appearance of a runny nose. If the cough is caused by an allergen, then the body temperature does not increase, but remains normal. The patient also does not have fever, chills or increased sweating at night. An allergic cough can be easily distinguished from a cold by the following signs:

1. General weakness is possible both with an allergic and a cold cough. But the striking difference between the allergic nature of the appearance is the absence of symptoms such as nausea and loss of appetite.
2. Allergic cough most often has a paroxysmal character. Most often, exacerbation occurs at night.
3. In addition to the cough itself, if there has been contact with an allergen, there is a high probability of a rash and itching on the skin.
4. During an allergic cough, there is a feeling that something is tickling or sore in the throat.
5. The cough may last more than seven days.
6. An allergic cough is most often dry. When the attacks end, sputum may drain. But it has a transparent color. If the sputum after a cough is purulent, then the patient’s cough has a viral or infectious etiology.

Symptoms of allergic cough in children

In young children, most diseases progress more rapidly. This is due to the anatomy of the child. The airways are much shorter than those of an adult. And the blood supply to a young body is somewhat stronger than that of middle-aged people. If an allergic reaction suddenly occurs, the child’s airways suddenly swell. The baby's mucous membrane increases in volume and suffocation may occur. This situation is critical and requires emergency assistance. Many household and medicines, as well as food, can cause allergies in infants. To reduce the risk of allergies, all products are introduced to the baby gradually, first in small quantities. And only after making sure that there is no allergy to the product can you give it in normal quantities. In children, allergic cough can be diagnosed by the following signs:

1. Clear snot may come out of the nose.
2. As in adults, children with an allergic cough may produce clear sputum.
3. Your baby may cry for no reason.
4. By nightfall, the baby's condition worsens. During the day, there may be minimal or no coughing.
5. In addition to a cough, dermatitis or a rash can be diagnosed.
6. If a child takes antihistamines such as Erius, Suprastin or Fenistil, his condition will improve dramatically.

All of the above signs are indirect. Only a doctor can diagnose an allergic reaction of the body by conducting the following examinations:

1. When donating venous blood, an increase in immunoglobulin E is detected.
2. In a clinical blood test, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be within normal limits. The number of eosinophils increases sharply. Its indicator is above the 5% mark.
3. Having examined the patient’s throat, the therapist or pediatrician will not see plaque on the tonsils, thick snot running down the back of the throat and redness.

Treatment of allergic cough

If a doctor diagnoses allergic rhinitis, then treatment is prescribed in two directions. They are the same in children and adults. First of all, it is necessary to determine what causes an allergic reaction in a person. Next, it is necessary, if possible, to protect the patient from contact with the allergen. If you cannot identify the product that causes the allergen, you must perform the following steps:

1. Remove all possible allergens from your diet. Most often, allergens include foods that are bright yellow, orange or red. The patient should not eat citrus fruits, nuts, honey, or seafood. In addition, it is necessary to reduce the amount of spices consumed as much as possible. Ideally, you should try not to even add salt, sugar and pepper to your food.
2. If you have an animal at home, you may have to give it away. If the allergy is caused by particles of epithelium or saliva of a domestic dog or cat, then in order to keep it at home, the patient will have to constantly take antihistamines. It is also necessary to remove animal feed as far as possible.
3. It is necessary to carry out general cleaning. Remove carpets from the room, replace feather pillows and blankets with padding polyester, which are considered hypoallergenic.
4. All items must be washed with either laundry soap or baby powder. Allergic reactions to these household products are very rare.
5. All decorative cosmetics will have to be removed until the cough goes away completely.

In addition to all the above actions, the patient will have to undergo drug therapy to cure the cough and prevent complications such as bronchospasm or asthma. Perhaps allergies appear at certain times of the year. This type of allergy is called hay fever. It occurs more often if the immune system does not react correctly to seasonal phenomena. For example, if a person is allergic to pollen, then in the winter he is unlikely to cough, but in the spring the allergy may worsen sharply, and the patient will cough, sneeze and feel nasal congestion until he starts taking medication.

Among medications, there are two types of antihistamines: long-acting and short-acting. The first includes Suprastin, Zyrtec and Diazolin. And to the second type, experts include “Erius”, “Cetrin” and “Zodak”.

It is imperative to take the sorbent between meals. The most well-known drugs that can accelerate the removal of allergens from the body are Atoxil, Enterosgel, Activated Carbon or White Coal.

Whenever possible, you should rinse your nose and inhale with saline solution.

If, as a result of an allergic reaction, the patient complains of difficulty breathing, then doctors may prescribe inhalations with drugs such as Berodual, Eufillin or Pulmicort. To relieve a cough, your pediatrician may prescribe Sinekod. It is easier to give drops to small children than to force them to breathe in a nebulizer.

In critical situations, emergency doctors can inject an allergy sufferer with Prednisol or Dexamethasone to normalize breathing.

After doctors have stopped the disease, the process of identifying the allergen and conducting specific immunotherapy begins. In order for the body to begin to behave correctly, specialists will first inject the allergen intradermally and later subcutaneously, constantly increasing the dosage.

Has your child started coughing? Do not rush to give your baby syrups and antibiotics: first you should always find out the cause of such symptoms. Very often, a cough does not at all indicate a cold or viral infection, but is a reaction of the respiratory tract to an irritant - an allergen. In this case, the cough is allergic, and the child is prescribed appropriate therapy, which differs markedly from the treatment of cough, say, of viral etiology.

Cough as a symptom of allergies

An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to substances entering the body that cause individual hypersensitivity to them. It is manifested by swelling of the mucous membranes, runny nose, skin rashes and cough. Every year more and more children suffer from this disease.

What is a cough? Essentially, this is a reflex response of the respiratory tract to an external stimulus. This is how the body tries to get rid of foreign particles that, when they enter the nasopharynx mucosa during inhalation, irritate it and eventually cause inflammatory processes.

Cough is provoked by allergens such as pollen, dust, and animal dander.

Cough during acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections is caused by viruses and bacteria, and the culprits of an allergic cough can be microscopic particles of aeroallergens inhaled by the baby along with the air.

It is quite difficult to distinguish an allergic cough in a child from a cold, especially in the initial stages of the disease. Therefore, it is impossible to do without the help of a qualified specialist and appropriate diagnostics.

Reasons

Without special diagnostics, it is almost impossible to accurately determine what triggered an allergic reaction in a child.

Most often, a cough indicates that the reason for its development lies in aeroallergens - microparticles inhaled by the baby along with the air. But often allergies that develop from a reaction to epidermal, household, chemical, and food allergens are also accompanied by a cough.

Allergens can be:

• specks of dust;
• animal hair and epithelium;
• plant pollen;
• tobacco smoke;
• household chemicals;
• cosmetics;
• bites or traces of insect activity;
• fungal spores;
• medicines, etc.

Foods can also cause an allergic reaction, especially exotic fruits and vegetables. In this case, the symptoms may be supplemented by allergic dermatitis, urticaria, and eczema.

Video: causes of cough and its treatment - Dr. Komarovsky

Signs of an allergic cough

The symptoms of an allergic cough in the vast majority of cases depend on the type of allergen.

But there are similar symptoms.

• Most often, an allergic cough attacks a child at night, much less often during the day.

• Mostly it is a dry cough, and if there is any discharge in the form of sputum, it is colorless and has no purulent impurities.

• It manifests itself in the form of attacks, often very long.

• This kind of cough can bother your baby for two weeks to a month.

• There is no increase in body temperature.

• But accompanying reactions in the form of a runny nose or sneezing (allergic rhinitis) are possible.

It is very important to determine in time what caused the allergic cough in your little one. Otherwise, the disease will only progress over time, and it will be difficult to manage without complications.

Diagnostics

A pediatrician together with an otolaryngologist, an allergist and a nutritionist diagnoses and treats a cough of allergic etiology in a child. To begin with, studies are carried out to identify the allergen, and it is also determined in what state the immune system and respiratory organs of the little patient are.

To make a diagnosis it is necessary:

• conduct a blood test;
• take a sputum test;
• take a nasal swab to detect eosinophils;
• conduct allergy tests (allergy tests);
• do an enzyme immunoassay;
• undergo bronchophonography.

An allergy test is a type of diagnosis that is carried out to determine the individual sensitivity of the body to various potentially aggressive agents. It is done by applying small scratches to the skin in the forearm area. These notches are lubricated with substances containing the most common allergens.

This is how allergy tests are done

The response to the irritant in the form of inflammation and redness of the skin at the site of the incision with a certain reagent will mean that the allergen has been found. There can be several positive responses to different allergens at the same time. This test is not performed on children under three years of age.

How to distinguish allergic cough from other types of cough?

In children, cough can be a symptom of several ailments, including colds, viral or bacterial infections, whooping cough, croup, allergies, etc.

How to distinguish a cough caused by an allergic reaction from a cough of another etiology?

1. The main difference between an allergic cough is that it is not accompanied by an increase in temperature.
2. Body aches and weakness are also not inherent in allergies. These are more likely signs of ARVI.
3. Relapse is always preceded by contact with an allergen.
4. Allergic cough occurs seasonally. And the season of exacerbations for him is spring-summer. While colds and flu attack us in autumn and winter.
5. The main symptoms of such a cough: shortness of breath, heavy breathing, pain in the chest.
6. It is practically not accompanied by sputum, as with other diseases. Sputum is produced extremely rarely and is very difficult to cough up.
7. Taking antihistamines will stop a cough attack caused by allergens, but will not bring relief for coughs of other etiologies.

Video: how to tell if a child’s cough is infectious or allergic

Treatment methods

Tactics and strategies for combating allergic cough in a child are developed depending on the diagnostic results, the duration of the disease and the severity of symptoms.

Work is carried out in three directions:

1. Stopping an attack, eliminating bronchospasm.
2. Reducing the child’s sensitivity to the allergen in order to prevent new relapses.
3. Strengthening and training the immune system so that in the future it is less susceptible to identified agents.

Medicines

Treatment of allergic cough attacks occurs in several stages. First, therapy is aimed at combating acute manifestations of allergies, and during periods of calm (remission) treatment is carried out to prevent new relapses.

Acute allergic cough will help eliminate the following drugs:

• Suprastin, Loratadine, Zodak, Zyrtec, Cetrin, Erius. They are antihistamines, non-sedative, the effect is long-lasting, they act after 15 minutes.
• Cromolyn and Nedocromil sodium are stabilizers of mast cell membranes; there are practically no side effects; they are often prescribed by pediatricians.
• Smecta and Atoxil neutralize toxins.
• Berotek, Salbutamol, Berodual eliminate coughing attacks and bronchospasm. Suppresses muscle spasms.
• Mucaltin, Erespal, Askoril remove phlegm and help with expectoration.
• Glucocorticosteroids (usually Prednisolone) - quickly relieve symptoms, but are prescribed only in complex cases of allergic cough.

Table: drugs used for complex therapy

The exact dosage and duration of treatment is determined only by a doctor!

Photo gallery: drugs

Diet plays a very important role in the treatment of cough of allergic etiology: all potentially allergenic foods (citrus fruits, red vegetables and fruits, chocolate, confectionery, etc.) are excluded from the child’s diet - the baby’s food should be healthy and easily digestible.

When the attack is successfully stopped and the child’s airways return to normal, allergy treatment is not interrupted. But it is already preventive in nature. Long-acting antihistamines (Zaditen, Ketotifen) and leukotriene receptor blockers (Akolat) are used.

Immunotherapy (ASIT)

Children over three years of age are prescribed special therapy to train their immune system. This is the most effective remedy in the fight against allergies, but the course is quite long. Allergen-specific immunotherapy forces the body to perceive the provoking substance neutrally. That is, the patient is injected with an allergen substance, gradually increasing the dose until the body stops fighting it. Therapy is carried out during the period of remission.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy will significantly help alleviate a child’s condition with an allergic cough.

Shortwave ultraviolet radiation

Ultraviolet radiation is invisible electromagnetic rays that are used to treat various diseases. The effectiveness of therapy and its areas of application directly depend on the length of UV rays.

For the treatment and prevention of allergic cough in children, ultraviolet radiation, which is called short-wave radiation, is used. This irradiation has immunomodulatory, bactericidal, and metabolic healing properties. It perfectly promotes the removal of allergens and toxins from the body.

A device for carrying out ultraviolet irradiation procedures for allergic cough in a child

Inhalations

Inhalations are the most preferable option for eliminating a child’s cough, as they are most effective, have a minimum of side effects and are not addictive. They are carried out with the following drugs: Ventolin, Eufillin, Pulmicort. And to cleanse the mucous membranes of allergens and restore the microflora, saline or hypertonic saline solution is used.

Inhalations allow the administration of drugs locally, acting directly on the inflamed areas of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract

Therapeutic liquids evaporate onto the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract through an inhaler (nebulizer). This procedure helps remove mucus and relieve coughing attacks. Within 10 minutes after inhalation, the cough calms down and the patient’s condition stabilizes.

Table: drugs for inhalation

Photo gallery: inhalation products

Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis is a process of purifying blood from toxic and allergic pathogens. In the treatment of allergies, plasmapheresis is used independently and in conjunction with drug treatment.

A certain amount of blood is taken from the body, where the plasma is replaced with a special solution. Next, the replaced blood is injected back into the vein.

This procedure allows you to quickly and significantly improve the condition of an allergy sufferer. But it is not suitable for all age categories. In order to take blood from a vein as quickly as possible, the child must have a certain volume. Therefore, the possibility of carrying out the manipulation is determined by the doctor in each specific case purely individually.

Traditional medicine methods

As for traditional medicine recipes, they can be used for any manifestations of allergies in a child only after consulting a doctor and conducting allergy tests.

Several proven folk remedies for allergic cough:

1. Sea salt, soda. After the child has walked outside, it would be a good idea to rinse his mouth and throat with this solution: a glass of warm water, plus a teaspoon of sea salt and plus a teaspoon of soda. By washing away allergens from the surface of the pharyngeal mucosa, you prevent a reaction to them.
2. Bay leaf, honey, soda. A remedy that soothes severe paroxysmal cough. Of course, the decoction can be consumed only if the child is not allergic to its components. For 500 ml of water you will need 8-10 bay leaves, 40 g of honey, soda on the tip of a spoon. You need to boil the sheets for literally 5 minutes, then add soda to honey. Give the baby 60 ml when an attack begins.
3. Licorice, calendula, dill. To speed up the removal of sputum, use the following decoction: 2 tbsp. spoons of licorice root, the same number of calendula flowers and 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dill seeds is poured with 1000 ml of boiling water. Boil everything for about 15 minutes, let it brew and filter. You need to take the decoction three times a day, 0.5 cups before meals. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
4. Thyme or oregano. Excellent expectorants. Steam a pinch of herb in a glass of boiling water. You need to take 50 ml three times a day. This infusion will help with dry cough.
5. Honey with aloe. It helps with any type of cough and strengthens the immune system. For preparation, use 1 glass of honey (liquid) and 1 glass of aloe juice. Mix honey with aloe juice and heat the mixture in a water bath. Leave for a week in a cool place, but not in the refrigerator, let the composition brew. Give to the child 30 minutes in advance. before meals, three times a day, 1 tablespoon.

Photo gallery: folk remedies

Possible complications

What complications can an allergic cough cause?

1. Bronchitis is allergic and obstructive.
2. Bronchospasm.
3. Bronchial asthma.

A cough caused by an allergic reaction of the body to an external irritant is dangerous precisely because of the complications that develop in the event of incorrect or untimely diagnosis and insufficiently effective treatment.

Allergic bronchitis

Relapses of this protracted disease occur quite often. During examination, doctors pay attention to wheezing during inspiration.

Symptoms during exacerbation:

• wheezing is wet or whistling, sometimes dry;
• asthma attacks do not attack, since the large and medium bronchi become inflamed, unlike, for example, asthma;
• the child is bothered by a strong dry cough, which later turns into a productive cough with the release of clear sputum;
• possible shortness of breath;
• the temperature does not rise;
• the appearance of rhinitis or conjunctivitis is possible;
• The duration of the disease ranges from 14–20 days.

Allergic bronchitis is often diagnosed even in infants. If your baby develops acute cough contractions, irritability and frequent crying for no reason, excessive sweating, or nasal congestion, you should immediately seek medical help.

Obstructive bronchitis

Obstructive bronchitis of allergic etiology is a chronic disease. Due to prolonged exposure to the allergen in the airways, the bronchial tree becomes inflamed and its patency is impaired. As a result, the flow of air into the lungs is limited. The child develops shortness of breath - the main symptom of obstruction.

In addition to shortness of breath:

• during inhalation, a sub-whistle is recorded, which significantly intensifies when performing physical exercises and active movements;
• cough is strong, paroxysmal, similar to cough with croup;
• breathing is noisy and heavy;
• hoarse voice;
• cough may be accompanied by watery eyes, runny nose;
• The volume of the chest decreases, the neck retracts.

Bronchospasm

In a child, bronchospasm is a pathological condition that is characterized by a decrease in the lumen between the bronchi and bronchioles. Inflammation of the mucous membrane leads to contraction of the muscles of the bronchial wall and, as a result, obstruction of the airways is recorded.

Clinical picture:

• severe cough and heavy breathing are the first signs of bronchospasm;
• shortness of breath appears and the breathing rhythm is disturbed;
• the child is forced to make an effort to inhale air, so the veins in his neck become tense and swell;
• at the moment of spasm, the area around the mouth and nose turns blue, which indicates an acute lack of oxygen;
• the course of the disease is significantly complicated by mucus appearing in the bronchi, which closes the lumen in them;
• the appearance of blue circles in the eye area is noted;
• the skin turns pale;
• a feeling of fear appears;
• breathing becomes very loud, heaviness and pain are felt in the chest.

Immediately before the attack of bronchospasm, the child’s nose becomes stuffy, a cough appears, his mood changes, and he begins to feel a lack of oxygen.

Bronchial asthma

Every year the number of people suffering from this disease is increasing. Bronchial asthma is the most common childhood chronic disease. This is a constant inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, which worsens under the influence of various factors.

Allergens cause an increased reaction of the bronchi, which leads to severe swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory canals, secretion of mucus and the appearance of bronchospasm. Visually, the symptoms of asthma are well recognized - the child develops shortness of breath, begins to wheeze, a whistling sound is heard from the throat, and signs of suffocation appear.

An attack is often triggered from outside. For example, a stressful situation, sharp and pronounced odors, as well as physical activity can lead to relapse. Asthma can develop in children at the genetic level and due to environmental influences.

With a mild form of asthma, symptoms in children appear no more than once a month; attacks at night practically do not occur, or appear extremely rarely. In the moderate form, attacks occur 2–4 times a month, at night 2–3 times a week. In severe forms, attacks occur several times a week, and at night relapses occur very often.

Prevention

The expectant mother should take care of the baby’s health even before he is born. During pregnancy, a woman should try not to be nervous, eat healthy and nutritious foods, and avoid contact with potential allergy triggers.

When preparing a nursery for a baby, it is important to select all interior and household items, guided by considerations not only of beauty, but also of safety.

1. Wet cleaning in the baby's room should be carried out 2 times a day, ventilation is also necessary. But you shouldn’t create the most sterile environment possible. Microbes and bacteria form immunity. In their complete absence, the immune system atrophies and begins to perceive antigens as pathogenic. Consequently, the body will fight against them.
2. Bed linen should be changed at least once every 7 days.
3. You need to choose smooth wallpaper for the nursery. Since dust collects in the embossed wallpaper, which can harm the baby.
4. Soft toys, feather pillows, woolen blankets, carpets - all this can provoke new attacks of allergic cough. This means that such household items should be replaced with others: buy padding polyester pillows and blankets, give your baby high-quality plastic toys, use cotton or linen linen, and you can do without carpets in the house.
5. It is also better not to have pets or to protect them from contact with the child.
6. Cockroaches and other insects need to be poisoned.
7. There should be no fungi or mold on the walls of the home.
8. Monitor your baby's nutrition. It is better to completely exclude products that are potential allergens from his diet for up to three years.
9. You should not smoke in the presence of your baby. Moreover, even the slight smell of cigarette smoke that remains on a smoker’s clothes can cause another allergy attack. .
10. Household chemicals in aerosols should be removed from household use. The same restriction applies to cosmetics and perfumes.

In order to successfully combat the manifestations of allergies and prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to create adequate sanitary and hygienic living conditions for the child, as well as to diagnose and properly treat the disease in a timely manner. Any inadequate reaction of a child’s body is always a reason to consult a doctor for advice.

The number of children suffering from allergies increases every year. And it is very difficult to avoid it, since the main causes of its appearance (hereditary factors, surrounding ecology) are almost impossible to influence. Allergies are characterized by many symptoms that significantly worsen the baby’s quality of life, and sometimes even lead to disability. One of its most important signs is the allergic cough reflex.

How to recognize an allergic cough

The first symptoms of an increased allergic reaction of a child’s body may appear before the child is one year old. The predisposition and accompanying cough are determined in the child by heredity, as well as diathesis suffered in infancy. An allergic cough reflex is observed in children mainly 1.5-7 years old. Among adults, only 2% have allergy symptoms.

An allergic cough in a child can also occur as a result of eating an allergenic food product. Additionally, there is a burning sensation, a sore throat, swelling of the oral mucosa, and rashes throughout the body.

It is most difficult to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold when the child is an infant. The main symptoms of an allergenic cough reflex in children include:

• seasonal increase in attacks;
• strengthening them in contact with animals or down products;
• The cough is dry and subsides after taking antiallergic medications.

For frequently recurring coughing attacks in children (especially if it is a newborn), you need to consult a doctor who will tell you how to recognize an allergic cough reflex and also help prevent negative consequences from occurring.

Signs of an allergic cough in a child

Allergic cough in a child is characterized by a certain set of symptoms and requires complex treatment. The main manifestations of cough due to allergies in a baby:

• dry, wavy;
• no signs of a cold: high fever, headache, chills;
• before the onset of each attack, suffocation is noticeable;
• itching of the throat and nose, redness of the latter;
• sneezing and rhinitis are periodically added;
• worsens at night, as well as in the morning;
• duration up to several weeks;
• sputum is absent or clear, in small quantities;
• begins suddenly;
• taking expectorants and cough medicines does not bring relief;
• disappears after taking antihistamines.

Causes of allergic cough

Many substances are allergens. They can enter the body and provoke the development of pathology in different ways. There are several main factors in the occurrence of the allergic cough reflex:

1. Heredity (40-80%).

2. Allergens:

• food (fruits, sweets, milk, nuts, spices);
• household (dust, feathers, animal fluff and hair, cosmetics);
• pollen (color of alder, linden, poplar, maple, meadow grasses).

3. Environmental factors (the influence of passive smoking, polluted air, taking certain medications).

Allergic coughs in children can occur at any time of the year. However, if its cause is plant pollen, then attacks occur in the spring, autumn, and also in early summer. If you are intolerant to house dust, allergy symptoms may bother you more often during the cold season, since this is when the rooms are not ventilated very often.

Based on the test results, the doctor decides how to treat the child’s allergic cough (which antihistamines to prescribe). And if you pay maximum attention to therapy and approach the implementation of the doctor’s recommendations responsibly, then you can overcome the disease without allowing the occurrence of obstructive bronchitis. But within 2–3 years it can be complicated by bronchial asthma, requiring lifelong use of special medications.

Diagnosis of the pathological condition

Allergic cough in children is treated only after all examinations have been completed.

Determining the allergen is also necessary, since only an accurate diagnosis will make it possible to select an effective course of therapy.

First, the doctor examines the baby to ensure that he has no symptoms of other respiratory diseases that can cause a cough. If they are not there, then tests are prescribed to identify the allergen. Basic tests:

1. Allergy test - several small cuts are made on the skin of the shoulder with a scarifier, then solutions with allergens are instilled there. If an inflammatory process is noted, then the cause of the cough has been discovered (there may be several of them). Using multitests, leading and minor allergens are identified. However, this diagnostic method is prohibited for children under 3 years of age.
2. Determining the amount of immunoglobulins in the blood - an increase in IgE titers indicates an allergic reaction.

When examining children, additional tests are also required: a nasal swab, sputum and blood, and, if necessary, a stool test for dysbacteriosis and worm eggs.

Drug therapy for allergic manifestations

Only the doctor decides how to treat an allergic cough. It is highly desirable to eliminate the cause of respiratory tract irritation from the baby’s environment. However, it is not always possible to exclude the provoking factor. Therefore, treatment is aimed at mitigating the reaction that occurs after encountering an allergen, as well as preventing consequences for the child.

Modern therapy involves the use of third-generation antihistamines (Zyrtec, Cetrin, Telfast). They differ from their predecessors of the first (Tavegil, Diazolin, Suprastin, Ketotifen) and second (Fenistil, Claritin, Semprex) generations in the absence of side effects: drowsiness and negative effects on the heart.

These drugs can stay in the child’s body for a long time, protecting him from allergies. They can be prescribed to children from one year of age.

Absorbents are also used. Most often, the doctor recommends activated white or black carbon, Enterosgel or Polysorb. Absorbents effectively block the absorption of allergens from the gastrointestinal tract and remove toxic substances. However, they neutralize the effect of other medications, including antihistamines. Under the influence of activated carbon, the immune system is strengthened and the normal composition of the blood is restored. In order to strengthen the immune system, immunomodulators and vitamins can also be prescribed.

A good method of treatment is inhalation procedures using a nebulizer. They are used at the first signs of cough, which helps alleviate the symptoms of the pathological process.

Inhalations with saline or mineral water (Borjomi) perfectly moisturize and cleanse the mucous membranes, relieve the feeling of soreness and dryness in the throat.

The duration of the procedure in children is 1-3 minutes, recommended 1-2 times a day. If inhalations are done regularly, the manifestation of a pathological cough will be less painful.

Minimizing provoking factors around the child increases the effectiveness of treatment:

1. It is advisable to remove carpets from rooms and store books in closed cabinets.
2. You need to do wet cleaning of the room several times a week.
3. It is recommended to use curtains from a material that is suitable for frequent washing and quick-drying.
4. It is better to choose wallpaper with a smooth texture, without relief in which dust accumulates.
5. It is safer to replace soft toys with rubber and plastic ones.
6. It may be necessary to get rid of houseplants and pets.
7. It is imperative to regularly ventilate the premises, especially the child’s bedroom.
8. Rinsing and rinsing the mouth and nose with a saline solution helps get rid of some allergens. Recommended several times a day.

Following a special diet is recommended for all allergy sufferers, even if the cause is not food. After all, cross-reactions may occur, provoking another attack of pathological cough. Whole cow's milk, red vegetables and fruits, seafood, nuts, strawberries, citrus fruits, chicken eggs, and chocolate are excluded.

In situations where the concentration of allergens becomes very high, blood purification is performed using glucose or saline droppers. Allergen-specific immunotherapy may be effective. This is a treatment method in which an irritant is injected into the body, causing an allergic reaction. The dosage is slowly increased. As a result, the immune system stops responding to the allergen. This treatment option is a fairly long process (3-5 years), but as a result, the problem disappears forever.

Traditional methods of treating allergic cough reflex

After consultation, the attending physician may allow you to supplement drug therapy with alternative medicine. A certain combination of plants in tinctures and decoctions can soften the cough reflex and reduce its pain. The baby may experience an increased allergic reaction, so treatment using traditional methods is not carried out in this case. Well-known folk recipes for allergic cough:

1. Raspberry. 50 g roots and 0.5 l. boil the water for about 40 minutes. The finished chilled decoction is taken 25 ml 2 times a day.
2. Fresh celery juice. Use 1 tsp. per day to cleanse the body of allergens.
3. Honey, bay leaves and baking soda. 8-10 leaves are boiled for 5 minutes in 1 liter of water, adding 1 tbsp. honey and soda on the tip of a knife. Take 1/4 cup a day as soon as a coughing attack begins.
4. Onion milk. Chop 1 medium-sized onion and boil in 200 ml of milk over low heat for several minutes. Drink in 2 doses.
5. Black radish. Thoroughly washed black radish is crushed, honey is added in a ratio of 2:1. Leave to release the juice for 8-10 hours. Then drain the resulting liquid and drink 20 ml 3 times a day. per day.
6. Ginger root. Grate a small piece and boil in 200 ml of water for 5 minutes. When a cough begins, take 50 ml.
7. Calendula. To prepare the decoction, 10 g of dried flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water. Drink 30 ml several times a day.
8. Anise. 10 g of seeds are poured into 200 ml of hot water and left for about an hour. Dosage: 30 ml every day before meals.

A mixture of goat fat and butter is also used as an external remedy in alternative medicine. Children rub it on their chest and back to relieve cough. You can cure nasal congestion due to allergies using potato inhalations.

The child is recommended to breathe in vapors without covering himself with a towel. This procedure can be carried out for about 15 minutes every other day.

Allergies will bother you much less often if you drink fresh birch sap in courses for several weeks every spring. Regular tea can be replaced with a decoction of strawberry leaves. Juices from carrots, apples, cauliflower, cucumbers, beets and fresh greens are useful, which can be taken every day half an hour before meals.

With timely diagnosis of allergies and proper treatment, followed by mandatory adherence to the principles of proper nutrition and exclusion of allergens from the child’s environment, it is possible to avoid complications and live a full life.

Every conscious parent knows that the child’s health must be carefully monitored from birth. Due to a weak immune system, children often develop various diseases. After all, the immune system needs some time and special conditions to strengthen. Cough is very common among children. Many coughs in children are correlated with colds. But, in most cases, this symptom indicates the presence of an allergy. It is an allergic cough that manifests itself first in a child. And if treatment is not started in a timely manner, the allergy will begin to progress and become chronic.

Symptoms of allergic cough in a child

It is very difficult to distinguish an allergic cough in children from a sign of acute respiratory infections. But, nevertheless, there are some features and symptoms that will help to recognize the cause of the disease. The first feature is the onset of cough unaccompanied by elevated body temperature. In general, the baby feels fine.

After some time, the symptoms intensify. General lethargy of the body occurs, the child becomes irritable and restless. Sleep patterns are disrupted. Allergic cough in children is accompanied by a runny nose and bouts of sneezing. The symptoms and characteristics of cough caused by allergies are as follows:

• The cough is barking in nature;
• Occurs unexpectedly and in attacks;
• Mostly dry;
• Lasts more than two weeks;
• Attacks occur mainly at night.

Symptoms include severe itching in the nasal cavity and throat. The larynx is severely irritated. The trachea suffers greatly from coughing. Frequent spasms cause the child’s muscle corset to ache.

Causes of allergic cough in children

The first symptoms of an allergy, namely a cough, often occur against the background of hay fever. Simply put, it is an allergy to pollen from flowering plants. The disease manifests itself in the spring and summer, with the first flowering of trees. Symptoms may be aggravated by a rash on the body, itching and burning, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. A child’s cough gets worse when walking outside near plants. It is important to recognize the problem promptly and begin treatment.

No less rarely, an allergic cough in a child occurs due to the impact of pet hair on the mucous membranes of the body. I would like to clarify that allergies do not arise from the cat’s fur itself. A certain protein is produced in the pet’s body, which is distributed through the animal’s saliva and urine. Thus, the pathogenic component settles on wool, clothing, dishes, carpets, and furniture. It is this that, when inhaled, causes irritation to the throat, which leads to an allergic cough. And even modern hairless cat breeds will not protect your child from illness. This type of allergy can be recognized by observing the baby’s body in the company of an animal and without it.

Children often develop a cough due to the presence of household dust. Due to frequent exposure to dusty rooms, allergies develop. At the same time, a cough can also appear from long-term accumulation of dust in household items (pillows, sofas, beds). In its composition, dust is nothing more than a collection of dead skin cells, hair, microscopic mites, fur, food debris, and dirt. When this is inhaled, allergic rhinitis occurs, followed by coughing. The toddler suffers first of all, since the little person’s body has not yet developed all its protective functions. It is important to monitor the baby’s room and bedding, and choose the right toys. Dust accumulates over the years in the following things:

• Home library;
• Thick curtains and curtains;
• Carpeting;
• Upholstered furniture;
• Small interior items;
• Soft toys.

A child may suffer from an allergic cough due to intolerance to certain foods. It is in childhood that food allergies occur. Over time, at an older age, the problem goes away. Eating certain foods causes a cough in a child. If left untreated, angioedema may develop, which leads to an increase in the size of the larynx, throat, tongue, or palate. Because of this, oxygen does not enter the lungs and the baby risks suffocation. It is necessary to completely eliminate the allergen product and all its other variations (supplements, essential oils, creams, etc.) from use. Foods that put your baby at risk include:

• Citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries;
• Cow's milk, chicken eggs;
• Sweets and baked goods;
• Food additives, seasonings and spices;
• Fatty meats;
• Tomatoes, beets, carrots;
• All types of nuts.

Cough is provoked by various medications. These include most antibiotics and hormonal drugs. Herbal remedies also cause allergic cough attacks in babies. The cause may also be molds inhaled by the child.

Treatment methods for allergic cough

First of all, treatment of this type of cough is aimed at eliminating the body’s sensitivity to the allergen. For this purpose, antihistamines are used in medicine. All of them block the production of histamine. Three generations of antihistamines have been developed. The first includes those that have a number of contraindications and possible adverse reactions. Due to their rapid elimination from the body, these medications need to be taken much more often than others.

The third generation, on the contrary, has a minimal list of side effects. They stay in the body for a long time, so their effect lasts throughout the day. Among all antihistamines against allergic cough, the following are noted:

The most effective treatment for allergic cough is achieved through immunotherapy. Treatment involves the systematic administration of a small dose of a diluted allergen. Thus, the child’s body gradually gets used to the influence of the pathogenic component. The immune system begins to react correctly and produce antibodies to the allergen. The disadvantages of the method include the length of time (about 1.5 years). Also, injections are carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, and the child must be taken to the clinic several times a week.

To treat a child’s cough and reduce the frequency of attacks, it is necessary to use expectorants in the form of tablets and syrups. Almost all syrups are approved for use by infants. Alteika is such an effective remedy for children. Available in the form of syrup. Used after meals. Treatment with this remedy lasts for two weeks.

Thermopsol is considered a strong expectorant. The product is made on the basis of medicinal herbs. Tablets are prescribed for severe attacks of allergic cough and bronchial asthma. The course of treatment for children is no more than five days. You can use various herbal infusions that are sold in every pharmacy.

Prevention of allergic cough

To prevent allergic cough in a child, parents need to do hard work. First, you need to monitor what your baby is eating. It is very important to carry out daily wet cleaning in your living space. It would be better to get rid of items such as carpets, thick curtains, and soft toys. The ideal floor covering would be simply linoleum or laminate. You can lay loose tracks for the floor.

The largest dust collector is stuffed toys. Very often they do not undergo any processing. Young children often put everything in their mouth. Toys should be such that they can be washed under running water every day. Experts recommend using humidifiers if you have a child at home.

If the cause of an allergic cough in a child is hay fever, try to go outside less in the spring and summer. Walking should be done in the evening, or after rain. Do not walk with your child near flowering plants. After going outside, be sure to wash your child thoroughly. It is also worth clearing the nasal cavity and gargling. When you get home, change your baby into new, clean clothes for the house. By following all the rules, you will be able to protect your baby and not treat him with multiple medications.