My child’s cough won’t clear his throat, what should I do? Night cough in a child. A child has a severe cough at night

What to do if a child’s severe cough manifests itself as an attack? Is it possible to get rid of attacks in the future? Many parents are concerned about coughing attacks in their children. Treatment of severe cough in children - the whole complex measures, they can improve immunity through vitamins, medications, folk remedies. The disease can occur in case of inflammation of the trachea, with allergic reactions to something. Doctors recommend treatment with medications, traditional medicine, massage and rubbing procedures, aromatherapy.

What is a cough

The baby reacts to inflammation, allergies, and viruses by coughing: the body tries to remove harmful viruses and cleanse the main respiratory organs of mucous, purulent sputum and secretions. The cough reflex can appear as a result of inflammation of the throat mucosa; it can be short-term, acute, protracted, or chronic. Wet is treated with expectorants, and dry with drugs that suppress it. Dust, foreign microparticles entering the respiratory tract, inflammation processes, dry stale air can trigger coughing attacks.

Causes of cough in children

Your baby may be coughing due to:

  • infection, virus;
  • bacteria;
  • allergies.

The baby's lungs fill with a mucous substance, and the body tries to free itself, provoking a cough reflex. It can be dry and moist, appearing only at night or during the day. One of the main causes of the disease may be a cold. When the body is infected with viruses, coughing can become prolonged and cause a gag reflex. To prevent vomiting, you can give your baby cough suppressants.

A child has a severe cough at night

At night the child coughs when he sleeps and is in a horizontal position. Mucus and phlegm quickly collect in the nose and throat, do not dissolve, making breathing difficult, provoke a cough reflex and require long-term treatment. A change in the climate in the room where the baby sleeps can cause coughing. At night, the air cools down and becomes dry, which negatively affects the mucous membrane of the throat, irritating it. A warm drink at night, a well-ventilated room, and also humidification of the air will help.

Accompanied by vomiting

To avoid the gag reflex, it is possible to alleviate the attack with the help of tablets, inhalation, applying a compress, massage, and manipulation by rubbing. Seizures contribute to the occurrence of vomiting, and also provoke vomiting severe irritation mucous membranes of the throat when:

  • A dry cough reflex is observed, as a result the baby breaks into a painful cough. Gag reflex caused by tension in the throat and irritation of the vomiting centers.
  • There is a wet cough reflex, respiratory organs The baby is so congested that mucus and phlegm provoke vomiting (symptoms of bronchitis).

Dry cough

A child's severe dry cough (non-productive cough) can manifest itself as a sore throat when the air masses in the room are dry and cold. It is best to give the baby a warm drink with a spoonful of honey added to it and well ventilate the room where he is. The cause may be irritation of cough receptors in the trachea, bronchi, and laryngeal mucosa. Breathing becomes difficult, coughing becomes exhausting and intrusive. Observed with irritation of the respiratory tract, ARVI, allergic manifestations, colds, sore throat.

Diagnostics

As a rule, the doctor first listens to the bronchi and lungs. Specific tapping is also used to determine the disease, and difficult cases apply x-ray, bronchoscopy. When diagnosing a cough, many factors are taken into account:

  • Acute coughing is typical in the presence of a virus in catarrh of the upper respiratory tract in bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, and sore throat.
  • Signs of ARVI - hoarse deep voice in a child, breathing is difficult, the nasopharynx is stuffy.
  • A lingering cough for more than 10-12 days is accompanied by acute bronchitis, the presence of a virus in respiratory tract.
  • A wet and severe night cough in a child occurs when purulent processes in the lungs and bronchi, accompanied by the release of sputum, mucus, and pus.

How to treat

In cases of damage to the bronchi by a viral infection, when the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are inflamed, the child’s body is disrupted normal operation lungs, bronchi. It can be eliminated with the help of medications and agents that suppress the cough reflex. The pediatrician prescribes antitussive drugs, depending on the age of the child, his physical condition and the dangers of disease. Antibiotics are given when there is a wet cough to remove phlegm, when the throat is inflamed, and fluid collects in the lungs and bronchi.

Medicines

Coughing can be effectively treated with drugs that promote expectoration and remove phlegm and mucus from the body. For children, such medicines are available in the form of tasty syrups. Prospan syrup is a leader in the treatment of infants and is intended for babies under one year of age. Antibiotics are used for purulent sputum in the bronchi and nasopharynx. It will relieve pain, help you recover and will not cause allergies, a medicine from the penicillin group Ampiox: the drug helps reduce coughing and helps relieve bouts of barking.

Massage

If the cough starts to get worse, it means it's time to use a massage. chest. For inflammatory diseases, massage should be done for several days, before starting, give the child an expectorant, apply a protective baby cream, and then massage the baby’s chest, back, sides, shoulders, rubbing, pinching those parts of the body where phlegm and mucous secretions accumulate. Any adult can master the massage procedure, which is very helpful in combating wet cough.

Aromatherapy

When baby a whole month I'm worried about a barking cough, runny nose, pathological cough accompanied by mucus, aromatherapy works great. Do therapy with aromatic oils necessary for others too characteristic symptoms colds:

  • For colds, coughing in infants will be cured essential oils chamomile, calendula.
  • For older children effective treatment Can be orange, lemon, mint oil.
  • For signs of bronchitis, orange and eucalyptus oils work well on the mucous membranes of the throat.

Traditional medicine methods

Traditional medicine has many effective recipes in the treatment of cough in children:

  • For acute bronchitis and signs of pneumonia, doctors prescribe treatment with warm milk and honey.
  • Frequent urge Black radish with honey will help cure a cough and is a good suppressant, the juice of which is great if a child coughs a lot at night.
  • In case of complications, decoctions of medicinal herbs - chamomile, calendula, linden flowers - work well on the mucous membranes of the larynx in case of complications. They are able to suppress an attack and disinfect the mucous membrane.

Rubbing

At dangerous diseases the child is bothered by difficulty breathing, elevated body temperature, and sometimes the disease is accompanied by swelling of the larynx. You can cure your baby with generally accepted medications and by rubbing:

  • Rubbing with a bear helps a lot, goose fat, which improves immunity, warns dangerous complications. You need to rub your legs, feet, back, sides, chest (excluding the heart area).
  • Honey or vodka are very effective and help the body warm up well. After rubbing the baby, you need to cover it with a warm blanket. The procedure is indicated for children from 6 months.

Water procedures

Warm or hot baths with the addition of medicinal herbs are indicated for any cold and will help relieve irritation. All herbs and flowers must first be brewed with boiling water and infused:

  • Raspberry leaves, chamomile inflorescences, calendula, linden blossom, mint are plants that have soothing bactericidal properties.
  • Water treatments with lavender, valerian, mint relax nervous system baby, promote healthy sleep.

Features of the treatment of children's severe cough

Treatment before recovery has its own characteristics and should be carried out in combination:

  • antibiotics to destroy viral infection, pathogenic microorganisms;
  • expectorants;
  • inhalations for colds, inflammatory processes of the throat mucosa, sore throat;
  • compresses on the chest and back to warm the body;
  • rubbing to improve blood circulation;
  • massage;
  • water procedures in the form of baths, foot baths with medicinal plants and herbs;
  • aromatherapy;
  • use of traditional medicine methods.

Video

The concern of adults is usually caused by a constant hacking cough in children, then a rich arsenal of home remedies is used and pharmaceutical drugs. Indeed, a child coughs a lot with many diseases, including life-threatening ones. There are cases when increased frequency of reflex bronchospasms must be suppressed. But most often the baby needs help to cough better.

The respiratory system in babies is just developing and performs its functions with increased load. But what to do if your child coughs a lot? How to relieve discomfort? First you need to figure out what kind of help is needed in a particular case. It is best to entrust the solution to this problem to a specialist - seek help from a local pediatrician or family doctor.

The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract constantly produces a secretion that binds foreign particles (dust, microbes). Microscopic cilia of the epithelium push the mucus out with general movements. Pediatricians have calculated that even a healthy teenager coughs approximately once every 2 hours. The larynx and bronchi in young children are relatively narrower and longer, the mucous membrane is tender, rich in blood vessels. Common occurrence for babies - coughing attacks in the morning to remove mucus accumulated during the night.

How to determine what kind of cough a child has?

The protective properties of the cough reflex appear during any inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs. The child coughs violently to get rid of irritating particles and not to choke on mucus. Doctors can determine which part of the respiratory system is inflamed by the nature of the sounds produced. Parents also need to be able to recognize a cough dry and wet, barking, annoying.

With inflammation, the load on the airways and lungs increases. The baby coughs very much due to irritation of the mucous membrane and insufficient sputum production. This type of cough is called “dry” and often occurs in the initial stages of a cold. With a wet cough, mucus accumulates, and the cilia do not have time to move it along with foreign particles.

Children need to cough well in order to better clear the airways of dust particles and microorganisms that have entered the air.

Medical statistics, and with it the host of the famous health program Elena Malysheva, leads high frequency inflammatory diseases respiratory system in children. It is practically considered the norm if a visitor kindergarten the child sweats profusely and coughs 6 to 9 times a year. The list of reasons is headed by two - a large number of contacts with viruses and bacteria in the children's group, and the imperfection of the children's immune system.

Repeated respiratory infections weaken and thin the bronchial mucosa; it cannot produce a sufficient amount of sputum. In this case, even household dust and ordinary odors cause irritation of cough receptors. This is how a dry cough occurs without fever and other symptoms common with ARVI. The same picture is observed when hitting foreign body in the respiratory tract, for asthma and allergies (including to toxins of worms - roundworm and lamblia).

It is very important to provide gentle treatment to inflamed airways. If a child coughs a lot when sleeping, then he can be given Sinekod drops. The product suppresses the cough reflex much more gently and safely than codeine or butamirate. Before going to bed, you can inhale using a nebulizer to better moisturize the respiratory tract. The device and solution for it should be purchased in pharmacies - it is more reliable and safer.

But how can you help your baby with a wet cough and how to treat it? It is necessary to give medications to thin and remove mucus - ambroxol, bromhexine, carbo- and acetylcysteine

Folk remedies for cough:

  1. A baby who coughs a lot while lying down can get relief from drinking it before bed. cup warm milk with added sparkling water.
  2. Manifestations of laryngitis are softened by inhalation using a tube made of thick paper and a pan with boiled potatoes (thyme infusion, soda solution).
  3. Breast herbal teas They make breathing easier, but like most folk remedies, they do not affect the cause of the cough, so they are used together with drug therapy.
  4. Burnt sugar helps relieve irritation of the respiratory tract during pharyngitis, reduces the viscosity of sputum and promotes expectoration.

The recipe for a folk cough remedy for a baby based on burnt sugar is enriched with medicinal plants. Add young spruce shoots, plantain leaves, and thyme sprigs. After mixing the components and infusing it turns out healing liquid, which is given to the child several times a day in a teaspoon.

Why is cough treatment ineffective?

Folk remedies will not help with strong stubborn, painful cough, characteristic of whooping cough. This disease is especially dangerous if children are less than two years old. It's better to pass on time comprehensive vaccination DPT

Mucolytic drugs - pharmaceutical and folk - will not help with cough caused by asthma, allergic reaction for plant pollen, dust, animal fluff, and some food products. In this case, it is necessary to identify the allergen and protect susceptible children from its exposure. Drops help relieve allergies in children "Zyrtec", "Fenistil"

At colds, cough plays the role of clearing the respiratory tract of harmful phlegm. This is a natural mechanism due to which recovery occurs faster. But when it becomes chronic, it indicates health problems child's body. Which manifestations of cough are considered normal and which signals a possible disease, what to do if a child constantly coughs - every parent should know the answers.

What is a cough like?

A cough is always caused by the body's desire to get rid of foreign particles. These are foreign bodies, dust particles, allergens that irritate the respiratory tract. The main reason is inflammation in the respiratory tract. There are wet (productive) cough and dry, normal and pathological.

To understand whether measures need to be taken, let’s consider what kind of cough falls within the normal range

  • morning. It manifests itself in several coughing bursts in the morning, when, after a night's sleep, stagnant mucus is cleared.
  • upon contact with a foreign body. The irritant in the throat will trigger a cough reflex, this is normal. Sometimes it's the only way get rid of interfering objects or particles
  • reaction to dust or pungent odor. In such a situation, a sharp spasm can cause a cough.
  • during teething. Occurs due to increased salivation

Physiological cough not accompanied by others pathological symptoms(fever, runny nose, body aches, loose stool, vomit, increased irritability and fatigue). It is normal if a child coughs no more than 15 times a day - this way the respiratory system is cleansed.

Pathological cough has several manifestations. At acute course the disease lasts up to 14 days. If it is protracted, it lasts up to three months, and in chronic form up to a year. The intensity of the cough impulses also differs: in one case it is a light cough with a tickle, and in the other it is a strong, barking cough.

Dry and wet cough.

The nature of the cough also differs in the amount of fluid released. Dryness often appears as a sign of an incipient viral infection and brings the child severe discomfort. Explosive, without mucus discharge, it can cause pain in the muscles of the chest and abdomen. Doctors call a wet cough productive, because it produces sputum - pathological mucus from the trachea and bronchi. Production of sputum in respiratory system- always an abnormal condition, indicating the progression of the disease.

When dry nonproductive cough Vomiting is possible - this occurs from excessive tension in the muscles of the neck, facial, and throat. This cough frightens both parents and child. The baby becomes whiny, afraid that the attack will start again. Vomiting is also possible with a wet cough: this is how accumulated mucus comes out. Children under three years of age do not know how to cough up mucus, so vomiting is the only way for the body to quickly get rid of accumulated secretions. Do not be afraid of vomiting - direct your efforts to fight the disease that provokes them.

A child's cough without fever indicates that a foreign body has entered the respiratory tract. Be attentive to your child; if this happens, call an ambulance and give him first aid yourself. To do this, place the child on your knee with his head and face down and with a sliding movement make several blows from top to bottom between the shoulder blades.

Why doesn't it work?

More often, a dry cough occurs as a result of damage to the body by an acute viral infection. After a couple of days it becomes wet, and after some time (up to 2 weeks) it goes away completely. But what if the main symptoms of the disease have disappeared, and you still observe a constant cough in your child?

Causes of lingering dry cough:

  • weakened immune system
  • dry indoor air, influence of irritating factors (passive smoking)
  • insufficient fluid intake
  • complication in the form of bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia or pharyngitis. Often accompanying symptom may have a high fever and chest pain
  • addition of a secondary viral infection (the child gets sick again)
  • whooping cough (paroxysmal cough, the child has difficulty breathing)
  • measles (accompanied by characteristic rashes on the body)
  • false croup(barking cough, hoarseness appears, children under 3 years of age are more likely to get sick)
  • allergy
  • bronchial asthma
  • worms (migration of roundworm larvae passes through the lung tissue, causing irritation and coughing)

Constant wet cough.

In the autumn-winter period, parents of young patients complaining of a wet cough become more frequent. It is normal if it appears at that stage of a viral disease where it is necessary to clear the respiratory tract of phlegm. When should you worry?

  • attacks are sudden and continuous
  • child has difficulty breathing
  • fever for more than three days
  • lack of appetite
  • chest pain
  • loud wheezing
  • blood or pus in the sputum
  • cough developed as a result of a cold, but lasts more than 25 days
  • wet cough is constantly present

If you have even one of the symptoms, you should immediately seek help. medical assistance and determine why the symptom persists. There are several reasons; the type of sputum also varies:

  • obstruction in the bronchi - sputum is produced profusely
  • pneumonia in remission - rust-like sputum
  • allergic reaction or bronchial asthma - viscous, transparent sputum, often in the form of lumps
  • runny nose (including with allergies)
  • tuberculosis - blood in the sputum
  • lung abscess - sputum with pus, a strong, unpleasant odor

How to alleviate the baby's condition?

The cough bothers and irritates the child, making him capricious and interfering with harmonious development. Sleep is disturbed, eating becomes difficult. Every parent tries to find a way to help their child feel better. For treatment to be effective, it is important to accurately determine the cause. constant coughing. Treatment will also vary depending on the type of cough.

When should you seek help immediately?

  • While sleeping, a strong, incessant cough suddenly began. This is a sign of false croup and laryngeal edema
  • whistling and wheezing when breathing. Asthma sign
  • When the child coughs, he does not have enough air; he cannot inhale. This condition is life-threatening for the baby, call a doctor immediately!

Drug therapy

With a wet cough, the main thing is to help the sputum be eliminated from the body more easily. Mucolytics cope with this task: lazolvan, ambroxol, ACC. There are also natural remedies sputum thinners: Dr. MOM, breast training, pectusin. Be careful with herbs, they can cause severe allergies and worsen the condition. It is important to stop taking mucolytic drugs in time: when the child begins to move actively, there will be no point in using them; he will be able to cough up on his own.

Dry cough in children under two years of age is not recommended to be treated with medication. It is better to speed up its transition to wetness - give the baby more liquid and regularly ventilate the room. Older children may be prescribed medications that block the cough reflex: Robitussin, Delsim. These remedies will help block the cough reflex for 10-12 hours.

Inhalations

Steam inhalations using the old-fashioned method will help moisturize the mucous membranes and help the discharge of phlegm. It's still good to breathe hot potatoes or inhale vapors with essential oils. Such treatment methods are more suitable for older children. For children, nebulizers are increasingly used in treatment. Unlike steam inhalation, there is no risk of getting burned, and the parent can control the process himself. Nebulizer inhalations are not recommended for dry cough. When wet, a solution is suitable Ambrobene or Lazolvan.

If bronchospasm (narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi), wheezing, or whistling (characteristic of obstructive bronchitis or asthma) occurs, then the main task of inhalation using a nebulizer is to relieve the spasm and help the child breathe normally. Can handle it Berodual and Pulmicort.

Folk remedies

  1. The most popular treatment among people is radish with honey. The radish is cut and a hole is made in it, into which a spoonful of honey is placed. Over time, a healing syrup is formed in the hole, which has antiseptic properties and soothes an irritated throat. Kids love this sweet recipe!
  2. Oiling helps. A cotton piece of cloth is soaked in heated sunflower oil and placed on the chest overnight. Cover the top with plastic wrap and put on a cotton jacket. By morning the throat softens.
  3. Steaming your legs is also effective. It is useful to do this with mustard - a couple of tablespoons per bowl of water is enough. The procedure lasts no more than 15 minutes, after which you need to put warm socks on the children's feet and ensure peace. There is only one contraindication - elevated temperature.

Preventive measures

Parents have the power to reduce the incidence of child illness by following simple recommendations. Popular pediatrician Komarovsky advises as prevention:

  • reduce the temperature in the room where the child is located to 20-22 degrees
  • regular ventilation, use of humidifiers
  • Do not overheat the child by wrapping him up excessively. Dress it according to the weather and activity
  • walk in the fresh air more often (at least 4 hours a day)
  • carry out children's bathing in water no more than 27 degrees, this stimulates motor activity baby and strengthens immunity and sleep
  • observe the regime
  • Do not overload the child’s body with excessive amounts of food. It is better to underfeed a little than to overfeed a child
  • do not strive for sterility so that the child’s immunity adapts to various microorganisms

Conclusion.

Any cough should not be left without the sensitive attention of parents. It is important to start treatment on time (and sometimes finish it on time) to avoid negative consequences and complications. If you are concerned that your child is constantly coughing, you should immediately seek professional help. They will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe necessary treatment for your baby's recovery.

“Doctor, we don’t know what to do with the cough - we treat and treat, but it doesn’t go away.” “An emergency room? Can I have a doctor at home? The child is coughing a lot and can’t sleep.” Pediatricians hear such complaints almost more often than everyone else. What is a cough, how to deal with it and is it necessary?

First of all, cough - defensive reaction body. With its help, it pushes out from the respiratory tract what the body does not need at all - from a relatively large foreign body to fine dust and microorganisms. The respiratory tract is lined with a special ciliated epithelium, which, with the help of mucus, drives everything foreign out, away from the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract - the nose, larynx, trachea and bronchi.

Coughing - a paroxysmal contraction of muscles - helps to complete this process. If there were no cough, any banal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract would turn into pneumonia. So, a cough is necessary. But which one? Of course, the one that is accompanied by sputum production. Doctors call it productive, everyone else calls it wet.

Other types of cough - dry, barking, annoying, paroxysmal, which occurs with whooping cough - are not useful, they greatly tire the patient, interfere with his sleep, can lead to vomiting, are accompanied by muscle pain and ultimately increase respiratory failure.

That's how many unpleasant things can happen from this, in general, necessary and harmless symptom. A cough needs to be approached differently depending on its nature. All cough remedies can be divided into three main groups: the so-called mucolytics - drugs that thin sputum, expectorants - which increase coughing, and sedatives - which reduce the activity of the cough center. In addition, some drugs have combined action- both mucolytic and expectorant.

When treating cough, not only chemicals are used medicines, but also a significant amount of a wide variety of herbs and homeopathic remedies. In addition, to combat its different varieties, numerous physical procedures are used - from physiotherapeutic procedures, to various distractions (cupping, mustard plasters, rubbing) and, finally, chest massage, which is of particular importance in children early age who have difficulty coughing, or in patients with drug allergies.

There is a certain sequence (algorithm) in the use of cough suppressants. The task is always the same - to ensure that the cough turns from dry to wet and the child coughs up sputum well. Let's look at specific situations.

Whooping cough

With this childhood infection, cough occurs due to the fact that the pertussis bacillus directly irritates the cough center. It multiplies in the nervous system. A person with whooping cough can cough from anything - loud noises, bright lights, anxiety.

The cough with whooping cough is very characteristic - it begins with a loud whistling inhalation, lasts in paroxysms for several minutes, and the child simply starts coughing. At the same time, he often sticks out his tongue so that his frenulum tears. With a whooping cough from terrible tension, hemorrhages can occur in the sclera of the eyes and the skin of the chest. In young children, attacks of whooping cough (repetitions) may be accompanied by respiratory arrest.

Leaving aside the prevention and treatment of whooping cough, I will only say that drugs that thin sputum and increase its secretion (mucolytics and expectorants) are absolutely useless here. Only drugs that calm the nervous system and relieve cough are appropriate here. By the way, this “whooping cough” character of the cough persists in patients for some time after recovery from this infection (up to 1 year) and with all common colds.

"Barking" cough with so-called false croup

“False croup”, or laryngotracheitis, accompanied by narrowing (stenosis) of the upper respiratory tract, is a rather dangerous condition and requires immediate hospitalization. You can leave a child at home only if the situation is repeated frequently and the parents are fully proficient in helping such a child. However, in the latter case, he must be under the close supervision of a doctor.

The essence of the disease is swelling of the subglottic space and a decrease in the clearance for air passage. This is usually accompanied by swelling of the laryngeal mucosa and very viscous sputum. These conditions can arise from two main reasons - acute respiratory infection and allergies. For viral croup characterized by a gradual increase in events, preceding fever, and increasing cough. Allergy occurs suddenly, with large swelling and as a result sharp narrowing larynx, but it goes away just as quickly with the right help.

I repeat: in these conditions, calling an emergency or ambulance doctor is mandatory! But how can you help yourself? The child urgently needs to be “soaked”. To do this, give him large dose any mucolytic agent (if it is a mixture, it must be warm!). Start giving him plenty of water. Open a window or vent and ventilate the room! Let me in the bath hot water, take the child in your arms and enter the bath with him for 10-15 minutes.

Do not fuss, do not shout, do not scare the child - if you are worried respiratory failure may intensify. If for one reason or another you stay at home, do not go to bed - give your child warm water, give him mucolytics and expectorants and other drugs prescribed by the doctor, give him steam inhalation a couple of times.

Cough with obstructive bronchitis

With obstructive bronchitis - as well as with bronchial asthma - cough occurs as constantly as shortness of breath. The essence of this condition, which occurs most often in allergic children, is that the sputum formed in the bronchi is very viscous, and the child cannot cough it up. The bronchi spasm around this viscous mucus, and exhalation is especially affected.

Unlike “false croup,” where inhalation is difficult and prolonged, here it is exhalation that becomes especially difficult. And here, as with false croup, the use of various mucolytics - agents that dilute sputum - is very important. And only when the cough becomes wet enough is it useful to use expectorants.

It is imperative to give the child something to drink - give him at least twice a day, or even more often a simple massage - beating and kneading. To do this, 10-15 minutes after giving the drug that thins the sputum, put the child on your lap, head down, and begin to give him a tapping massage with the tips of your closed fingers on the chest, periodically rubbing it with your palm and pressing from top to bottom, so that the sternum is pressed in inside. Ask your child to cough or press the handle of a spoon onto the root of the tongue. Don't be afraid of vomiting - this will liquefy the mucus.

Massage is especially important for children with allergies, for whom the use of many medications is contraindicated. The use of mustard plasters is also contraindicated for such children. Be sure to persistently give your child drinking plenty of fluids. If the condition does not improve, shortness of breath increases - do not hesitate to call a doctor!


Cough with ordinary tracheitis and bronchitis

Most often it begins as dry, unproductive. There is no sputum. The main task is to first achieve its appearance. In the first days, use mucolytic drugs or mixed-action drugs, then expectorants. If the cough has become productive, the child coughs up phlegm well, all medications can be discontinued and proceed to chest massage. Do not forget to give your child plenty of warm solutions (fruit drinks, teas, juices). If not high temperature, you can use distractions from the first days (hot foot bath, mustard plasters, rubbing). All this, increasing blood flow to the respiratory organs, increases the appearance of sputum.

Cough with viral pharyngitis

If only the most upper sections respiratory tract - pharynx very often there is an annoying frequent dry cough accompanied by sneezing. This cough does not carry any functional load and is very exhausting for the patient. Help here may include inhalations with herbs, oils, soda inhalations, giving cough sedatives at night.

Long, persistent cough

That's enough complex problem. How to approach her? If your child coughs for a long time, he needs to be examined - show him to an otorhinolaryngologist, check the Mantoux reaction, consult a pulmonologist and phthisiatrician. It is necessary to know its long-term temperature reaction, take clinical analysis blood.

The reasons can be very different, even quite exotic. Yes, when helminthic infestation(ascariasis) there is a stage of passage of roundworm larvae through the lungs, which causes a prolonged severe cough in the spring and autumn. But most often prolonged cough depends on the unsatisfactory condition of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, on its allergization, chronic inflammation. Then the child may constantly produce mucus, and he will try to cough it up. These conditions must be treated by specialists.

Often a child has a cough for 3-4 weeks after suffering from an acute respiratory viral infection. This cough is aggravated by the parents themselves, giving the child cough mixtures, which, having a mucolytic and expectorant effect, themselves provoke this cough. So, if you have achieved a wet cough and good expectoration in the child, which usually takes 4-5 days, stop giving these remedies, switch to massage and warm drinks. The cough will go away myself.

Article provided by the magazine "Our Baby"

Discussion

Yesterday the child returned as a lady with a dry cough. I started giving him the proven remedy Prospan syrup. Soon the dry cough will turn into a wet one and it will become easier to clear the phlegm.

09.02.2017 14:19:20, Marinka_tangerine

We have been using Prospan syrup for coughs for a long time. Many doctors praise him, and so do mothers. It quickly transforms a dry cough into a wet form. My children really like its taste, and I like the result.

Thank you for the useful and interesting article.
The cough does not go away for a long time even in case of pneumonia. Unfortunately, doctors cannot always recognize it after listening to the patient. Sometimes it is necessary to do fluorography to understand what is the cause of a cough that does not go away for a long time: [link-1]

04/04/2016 19:11:57, Olga888

I'm in home medicine cabinet I always take Gedelix - it is a herbal expectorant. It helps from the first day of its use, affects both dry and wet coughs, it is allowed for children from birth. It helps quite quickly and is not addictive.

03/24/2016 23:55:58, Angelina's Mom

At bronchial cough The pediatrician prescribed Prospan syrup to drink to remove phlegm. General health It also made me feel better; it turned out to be antimicrobial. The child liked the taste and drank it with pleasure. We were cured quite quickly and, most importantly, without consequences.

you need to gargle, put on socks with mustard, well, if everything is completely neglected, antibiotics of course

Having two children, I constantly deal with coughing. I went through a lot of medications, considering that my son has allergies. And then one day the pediatrician prescribed Prospan. It contains natural herbs, so it is practically natural. The cough goes away very quickly and the child sleeps peacefully at night after the first use.

11/19/2015 16:09:05, Magomedova

oh, cough! How we don’t love it! We thought for a long time about what to do, but in the end, with the help of syrup and Tylaxin, we cured it. Don't forget to gargle with salt and soda

We need to strengthen our immunity, friends! The doctors advised me to take Tylaxin

Comment on the article "What to do with a cough? Treating a child's cough"

talking about a child? barking cough is very similar to large inhalations in such cases, no, they haven’t tested it, but the cough doesn’t happen that often, he has a sore throat and this cough in turn. cough A loud, barking cough appears, at first dry and unproductive due to irritation...

Discussion

The pediatrician prescribed nebulizer inhalations for my son for a barking cough. He is allergic, so I asked for something harmless. As a result, Prospan drops worked for us. The cough began to change after a couple of days, and it was cured.

Last year, for example, we discovered a terrible allergy to birch, alder, hazel, the child came home from the garden at the end of April with frequent heavy breathing and a cough with swelling, it turned out to be obstructive bronchitis, the birch tree was blooming at that time. We went to the ambulance with a seizure, were discharged for May, things got worse, we were treated again throughout May, this year we tracked the beginning of flowering on the website (kestin.ru) and stopped going outside. You need to exclude connections with respiratory allergens.

A cough from lazolvan cannot go away, it’s better to look at what it does. Children cannot cough up the amount of sputum that you have. The child has had a cough for 4 weeks. Now he coughs rarely, very wetly, but very strongly. On the advice of doctors. Cough like whooping cough.

Discussion

Girls, thank you all, the night went peacefully, I even slept, even though on the carpet, the floor is not very comfortable :), we have a small children's room, so there is sleeping place only on the floor :) Today the child is better, the cough is much less frequent, but it’s still dry, we breathe in saline solution and ventilate it. My mistake was that on Saturday I took the children out for half an hour; it was chilly, but apparently fresh air is not always useful, I guess.

Antihistamines and emergency medicine, they will relieve a coughing attack. That’s how we ended up in the hospital with stage 1 false croup. There was terrible green snot and there was no pace either.

Sputum accumulates and the child coughs it up in the morning. A morning cough may be due to snot that runs down the back wall of the throat. It seems to me that you no longer need inhalations with Lazolvan, since your cough is wet and the child clears his throat.

Discussion

And the doctor told me that you can’t rub it at night, you have to do all the warming up during the day. That's why the child coughs in the morning. Warming up improves sputum discharge; the child needs to move, and you put him to sleep. Sputum accumulates and the child coughs it up in the morning. I always warm up during the day. And they are good for coughs herbal teas. Well, don’t forget about vitamins. I give my friends vetoron during illnesses, and even then. It strengthens the immune system.

Stodal helped me well. And it seems to be herbal, not chemical.

Dry, hoarse cough, croupy, barking; we can hear the sound of sputum, which the child cannot cough up. A feeling that a lot of phlegm has accumulated in the chest, but nothing or very little is coughed up. A child has a cough: what medications will help?

Discussion

Yulechka, we all suffer from the same crap. First Anton with pneumonia, then my husband, now Aliska, me and my mother with obstructive bronchitis, but if Alisa and mom immediately started drinking, then I still feed Marusya and don’t drink yet, and I’m not happy at all. I’ll watch for another day and drink. Feeling like your lungs will fly out of your mouth: dry cough to the point of vomiting, nothing helps, head hurts, sternum hurts(((
Walks around Moscow viral pneumonia. Very fast and atypical. There are a lot of patients. Families, right. Some people are lucky and end up with bronchitis, others are less lucky. The therapist told me that if everyone had a culture taken, the statistics would be official. According to them, it is mycoplasma pneumonia, but who knows.
Don't joke and don't drag your feet. Take a photo!

Unfortunately, self-medication is more likely to cause harm. Fluorography is required. In May, I myself had such acute bronchitis that I couldn’t breathe (((the emergency doctor even diagnosed me with bronchial asthma out of fear (((So don’t delay, but go to the clinic and rule it out first severe forms pulmonary diseases.

A peculiar type of dry cough is a barking cough, which occurs when the larynx is inflamed - laryngitis. In fact, why is this cough dry? It's very simple: if a child does not clear his throat, what to do with a cough? We treat a child's cough.

Discussion

And even better than any medicine: drink plenty of fluids, as much as possible fresh air, and the child’s bedroom should be cool and humid, and of course, clean! Good luck, don't get sick!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. We got a compression inhaler from a friend and we’ve done inhalation with Lazolvan twice already - it seems to be better.

A child's cough always causes parents to be wary and worried. What caused the illness, how and with what to treat the baby - such questions have probably visited each of us more than once. Some use traditional medicine recipes, others rush to the pharmacy for a miracle cure. Let's look at who is right and how pediatricians advise treating coughs in children below.

Types of cough

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

Only a doctor can diagnose correct diagnosis, and, depending on the child’s age and type of cough, prescribe necessary medicine. But parents also have a significant responsibility. To make it easier to understand pathological process, we will look at the main types of cough in children, find out why they are dangerous and talk about treatment methods.

Physiological cough

Any person periodically needs to clear the airways of dust and accumulated phlegm. This normal reaction, aimed at protecting the body from foreign bodies and pathogenic bacteria.

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

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

Pathological cough

Most often, children are bothered by this type of cough. Unlike the natural one, it manifests itself in a very diverse manner and depends on the nature of the pathogen. In most cases this various diseases respiratory tract:

  • laryngitis and pharyngitis;
  • tracheitis;
  • bronchitis;
  • pneumonia;
  • acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections;
  • acute and chronic tonsillitis;
  • flu;
  • tuberculosis.

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

An ailment of an allergic nature has other symptoms - a cough occurs without apparent reason and is not accompanied by signs of a cold. After the allergen is removed, the baby's condition returns to normal.

At different pathological conditions Cough manifests itself differently. It can be productive and dry, barking or harsh, dull, paroxysmal and spastic.

Dry cough

Most obsessive cough in a child. It usually appears at the beginning of the disease and causes many problems for both parents and the baby. It does not separate sputum, so the process of coughing becomes long and painful. At improper treatment becomes chronic.

Spasmodic reflex

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

Croupous cough (false croup)

Most dangerous look ailments, especially for young children. In this category of children, the anatomical and physiological structure of the larynx predisposes them to the development of croup. Even the slightest inflammation can cause severe swelling and suffocation. Therefore, if a child develops a hard, barking cough, it is necessary to consult a doctor.


If your baby develops a barking cough, you should see a doctor.

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

  • hoarseness, especially after crying;
  • swelling of the larynx;
  • shortness of breath, severe difficulty breathing;
  • pale or blue discoloration of the skin;
  • loss of consciousness is possible.

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

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

Wet (productive) cough

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

Whooping cough

This is a common infectious disease that most often affects children. preschool age. On early stage The pathology of whooping cough is difficult to distinguish from normal cough. But after a few days it becomes paroxysmal and spastic, ending with severe vomiting.

Whooping cough is dangerous due to its complications, so if a child has coughing attacks, the breathing rhythm is disrupted, or the skin appears bluish, medical help is needed. Young children are subject to mandatory hospitalization.

The disease is especially severe in children under 2 years of age. Innate immunity no to this disease, but after recovery the protection remains forever.

Other types of cough

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


Coughing during sleep can be a symptom of many pathologies

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

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

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

Treatment

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

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

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

Medications

Will help to quickly cure a child’s cough pharmaceutical drugs. They are prescribed depending on the type of ailment - if there is sputum, then antitussives should not be taken. For dry cough, on the contrary, it is advisable to use this treatment option to the maximum.


Choice of medications for cough

Modern medicines are available in different forms: tablets, sprays, syrups, drops and lozenges, powders for preparing solutions. Usually used to treat a child liquid forms medicines. They are more convenient and easy to drink.

Expectorants

This group of drugs is designed to remove mucus from the respiratory tract. Most expectorants are made from plant extracts, so the medicines are relatively safe and easy to drink.

Most often, for a wet cough for children, they are prescribed: with plantain or primrose; Eukabal, Prospan, Alteyka, Prospan, Flavamed, Ambroxol, Ambrobene.

Each of these means has its own age restrictions, contraindications and adverse reactions. For example, Eukabal and Prospan are allowed to be prescribed to babies from 6 months. Other drugs are recommended to be used only after 2 years. Therefore, if a child has a cough with sputum, it is better to entrust the choice of medication to a doctor.

Mucolytics

To thin out viscous and thick mucus that has clogged the airways, young patients are prescribed the following medications:

  • Carbocysteine;
  • Bronchobos;
  • Fluditek;
  • Flavamed.

These remedies help relieve a child's cough, make it productive and help remove phlegm.


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

Antitussives

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

  • narcotic drugs - Codeine, Ethylmorphine. Use only under medical supervision. Often addictive and adverse reactions. Rarely used in the treatment of children;
  • non-narcotic medications - Okseladin, Sinekod, Glaucine, Butamirate. The most effective and safe drugs, therefore they are taken much more often;
  • peripheral agents - Prenoxydiazine. The result of its use is significantly lower. The medicine is not able to stop a coughing attack and is prescribed extremely rarely.

The simultaneous use of antitussive and expectorant drugs is prohibited.

In addition, the use of antitussive medications for wet cough is dangerous. This can cause mucus to accumulate in the airways and cause pneumonia.


Sinekod and similar drugs are prescribed to children for dry cough

Bronchodilators

These remedies help eliminate bronchospasm and make breathing easier. Medicines such as Eufillin, Broncholitin in syrup or Theophylline are prescribed for cough if the child is diagnosed with asthma or progressive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Local remedies

Locally acting drugs include warming ointments, mustard plasters and plasters. The latter happen different types and have contraindications, in particular, they are prohibited for young children.

The use of warming rubs Eucabal or Pulmex Baby will help soften a child’s cough. They can be used from 6 months of age. Dr. Theiss balm is approved from 2 years of age.

Children after 3 years of age can be rubbed with ointments with camphor, Vicks Active balm, Helpex Effect ointment or Doctor MOM.

Folk remedies

In addition to medicines pediatricians often recommend alternative ways therapy. Alternative medicine helps cure a child's cough quickly and safely.

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

The most popular cough recipes for children are:

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


Honey can cause unwanted reaction, therefore it is not recommended to give it to children with allergies

With a huge number folk recipes, the most widespread and favorite is still hot milk with honey and other additives. The drink has excellent softening and expectorant properties. From this delicious medicine no kid will refuse.

Inhalations

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


Inhalations are contraindicated in children under 2 years of age due to the risk of developing bronchospasm

The most commonly used medications for inhalation are:

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

Inhalations are carried out 2 hours before meals for no more than 10 minutes. The therapeutic course consists of 8–10 sessions.

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

For inhalation with herbs, choose plants with antitussive and expectorant effects: coltsfoot, plantain, oregano, pine buds, eucalyptus, licorice.

Compresses

One more thing effective remedy, which can quickly cure a child’s cough. Compresses come in a variety of varieties - dry and wet, oil, honey, vodka and curd. Apply them to the chest and back, avoiding the heart area. The baby is wrapped in a woolen garment and covered with a blanket.

The following compresses are the most effective and safe:

  • potato. Add a spoonful of alcohol, turpentine and sunflower oil. The resulting mass is applied to gauze and left for 2–2.5 hours. After the procedure, it is better not to wash off the compress, but to wipe the skin with a damp towel;
  • oil. A piece of gauze or cotton fabric is soaked in hot oil and squeezed out, covered with wax paper (not polyethylene) on top and kept for at least 3 hours;
  • acetic. Apple concentrate is diluted hot water and add honey to the solution. Gauze is soaked in the mixture and applied to the bronchi area. Leave for 20–30 minutes.


The compress should not be applied to the heart area

It is not recommended to apply compresses to damaged skin. elevated temperature bodies and infants. Alcohol application is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age and those suffering from pathology thyroid gland. It is not advisable to use honey for treatment if the child is prone to allergies.

Another ancient way to fight a cough is to rub the baby’s chest and back. interior fat. The bear and badger product is especially good. It is advisable to do this procedure at night.

Mustard plasters

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

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

Knowing how to treat a child’s cough, you can quickly eliminate this unpleasant symptom on one's own. Well-chosen medications and traditional medicine will improve the baby’s well-being and speed up recovery. However, if the child suffers from discomfort for several weeks, it is necessary to consult a doctor.