What to do if your baby is coughing

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The baby is coughing

If your child coughs, this is not an independent disease, but usually indicates the protective state of the body, showing cough as a symptom. It removes particles inhaled along with oxygen from the body, as well as phlegm and mucus.

Table of contents:

The main cause of cough is a respiratory tract infection. In order to find out the cause of a cough, you must first listen to it. There are the following types of cough: dry, barking, wet, painful.

Types of cough in infants

  1. A dry cough most often indicates an allergic reaction of the body. Because the child's gastric sphincter (closing mechanism) function has not yet fully developed, a dry cough often causes vomiting.
  2. A barking cough may develop an inflammation called Croup. It leads to a narrowing of the larynx and upper respiratory tract, resulting in a barking cough.
  3. A wet cough may indicate an accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract. The cause of a wet cough most often lies in a respiratory tract infection. However, the cause can also be excessive mucus (secret) production.
  4. A painful cough may cause pneumonia (pneumonia). Most often, in this case, the pain is localized in the abdomen or lungs.

Duration of infant cough

If the cause of the cough was not an infection, it will last for several days, after which it will subside.

If the cause is an infection, then in addition to a cough, the child will also have other symptoms, such as fever or fatigue, but after about 6-7 days this cough will also subside.

If coughing attacks appear with a certain frequency, or do not stop for several weeks, then it is likely that this is a manifestation of immunodeficiency or the onset of incipient asthma.

The baby is coughing - what to do?

A cough is most often an indicator that there is a source of irritation in the respiratory tract, it could be a microbe, mucus or something else. Accordingly, to get rid of a cough, we need to get rid of the irritant.

If the cough is severe, the child needs to drink plenty of fluids to keep the airways moist. The liquid also helps to dilute mucus and, as a result, simplify its removal from the body. In order to humidify the air, you can leave wet laundry in the room.

Also, if you have a wet cough, it will be useful to inhale a solution of table salt, in this way you will directly moisturize the respiratory tract. Inhalations should be done 3-4 times a day. It is also possible to use an isotonic solution for inhalation.

If the cough is not long-lasting, you can drink expectorant solutions of plant origin, for example, mucaltin is suitable.

However, cough syrups should not be given to a child without a doctor's prescription. They only suppress a coughing attack, interfering with the cleansing of the bronchi.

For a dry cough, you can use a soothing syrup to prevent throat irritation.

Please note that codeine-containing mixtures can only be used after a doctor prescribes it.

In case of severe cough or if the child has bronchitis, various inhalations using anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. In case of bacterial cough, antibiotic treatment is prescribed.

If a child has a dry cough for a long time (several weeks), the attending physician must determine its origin. Since this symptom is possible with the development of asthma, or it could be an allergic reaction.

If a child coughs in winter, this may be due to insufficient air humidity in the room. To prevent this, in winter you need to frequently ventilate the room, hang wet clothes in the room, and so on. There are coughing attacks in a child - during such attacks you should hold your head and upper body high, that is, stand.

If your child's cough is accompanied by noisy breathing, you should immediately see a doctor.

If the cause of the cough is a common cold, then folk remedies for cough treatment are quite suitable.

Some advice from pediatrician Martin Lang:

Prepare tea from a mixture of anise, cumin, primrose and linden, all of these plants have a beneficial effect on cough treatment.

If the cough is dry, warm milk with a spoon of honey is perfect.

You cannot treat a child’s cough with medications containing eucalyptus or menthol, as this can lead to acute respiratory failure. Essential oils should also be included here.

Do not delay in seeing a doctor if:

  1. A child’s cough is accompanied by a rise in temperature above 38.5 degrees;
  2. The cough is dry and does not go away for more than 3-4 days;
  3. The child has rapid breathing;
  4. Breathing is difficult and there is pain;
  5. Breathing is noisy;
  6. Blood is released when coughing;
  7. If the child refuses food and water;
  8. The cough is sudden and does not stop;
  9. The general condition of the child is unsatisfactory;
  10. Barking cough with shortness of breath and loud breathing.

Author of the publication: Eduard Belousov

Comments (2):

I agree that only a doctor can prescribe treatment for such babies. Mine also caught a cold in the winter and started coughing. They did warm-ups, and gave Prospan in syrup for coughs. She didn’t spit, she drank without whims. The main thing is that it helped. There was no cough after a week.

A cough is generally not a good thing, and even more so in a baby. It’s so hard to fight him, he’s just a mess. My daughter had it when she was six months old, they walked too far in the cold, or someone sneezed with an infection. They couldn't cope for a long time. And there’s a problem with medications—even liquid ones are spitting out. So I had to give injections

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What to do if your baby is coughing?

Periodic coughing in a newborn frightens parents and for good reason. A cough without signs of fever or cold inflammation is quite difficult to eliminate, since the reasons for its formation are very different. To help your child get rid of the disease, it is important to have information about first aid.

What to do if the baby is coughing should be determined by the pediatrician, since parents do not always know about the side effects of all the medications they are going to take. Find out practical advice on how to cure the disease from the chief pediatrician of Russia and Ukraine.

Why does a newborn cough?

Cough is a symptom of colds, infectious or viral diseases. It manifests itself as a protective reflex, during which the body tries to get rid of particles of dust, dirt and other foreign objects in the respiratory system. If the immune system can cope with unfavorable environmental particles on its own, then the inflammatory process that occurs against the background of a cold or flu requires medication.

There are several types of cough reflex:

  • adaptive or physiological;
  • infectious nature;
  • non-infectious species.

If in the case of infectious inflammation, cough manifests itself as a dangerous symptom, then in the case of a physiological process, parents should not be afraid. It manifests itself as a natural process during which the baby gets used to new living conditions.

More about physiological cough

The reason for the formation of adaptive cough lies in the anatomical structure of the baby's respiratory organs. Due to the fact that the process of removing mucous secretions from the baby is not yet fully formed, the baby often clears his throat. In this way, it tries to eliminate the phlegm that occurs in all people.

For reference! Every day an adult produces up to one hundred milliliters of mucus.

Coughing during a physiological process is not dangerous. Normally, a baby can cough up to ten times a day.

Why does non-infectious inflammation occur?

If your baby coughs after feeding or the cough develops due to excessively dry air, you shouldn’t be alarmed either. These same reasons include irritants in the form of strong odors, allergic reactions and other household reactions.

Non-infectious inflammation indicates the baby’s adaptation to environmental changes, but this does not mean that the child does not need medical help.

A cough can occur for a number of reasons. The main factors include:

  • excessively dry air;
  • cigarette smoke;
  • foreign object in the respiratory system;
  • frequent exposure to air conditioning;
  • allergic reaction.

Interesting! Sometimes a cough occurs due to the accumulation of saliva. In this case, the child should be given a large amount of clean water.

Infectious infection

Sometimes a cough occurs as a result of a cold or infection of the respiratory system. At this point, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza and other inflammations are usually diagnosed. Cough against the background of acute respiratory diseases manifests itself due to respiratory failure and the accumulation of large amounts of mucus from the lungs or bronchi.

In addition to the fact that the child complains of fever, runny nose and other symptoms of the disease, the baby suffers from a debilitating dry cough. It causes severe irritation of the mucous membrane and can cause hemoptysis and dysfunction of the throat.

In addition, cough can occur against the background of otitis, which quite often occurs in children under twelve months. An inflamed middle ear in a baby causes severe pain, which causes the baby to constantly cry and refuse to eat.

Find out how to cure otitis media in this article.

Keep in mind that infectious cough is divided into two types:

In the first case, the disease is very difficult, since the unproductive process causes itching and irritation, vomiting and severe pain. It is quite difficult to cure a dry cough, since children do not know how to spit out mucus, but simply swallow phlegm.

If treated incorrectly or untimely, the child may develop laryngitis, whooping cough or tracheitis. Syrups and various inhalations will help get rid of cough.

With a wet cough, treatment is much easier. To get rid of inflammation, the baby is prescribed mucolytic and expectorant medications, as well as syrups and inhalations.

Treatment methods

Treatment of non-infectious inflammation should begin with eliminating the cause. If in the case of cigarette smoke the conclusion is clear and parents should get rid of the addiction, then therapy for an allergic reaction should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

First you need to establish the type of stimulus. These include pet hair, flowers, dust, certain foods, powders, cosmetics, and so on.

How to cure allergic cough in adults can be found here.

If you develop a cough due to dry air, you should purchase a humidifier. Before purchasing a device, find out which one is best using this article. In addition, parents should not forget about the need for daily wet cleaning, ventilation of the living room and removal of carpets, pillows and large toys. Such elements accumulate large amounts of dust, which often causes an allergic reaction in children.

The most popular syrups for treating children under one year of age are described in this article.

In case of an infectious nature, the baby is prescribed the following medications:

  1. In case of ARVI, a child needs immunomodulatory antiviral drugs. Viferon is recognized as the most effective drug
  2. If the cough is accompanied by a high temperature, give your baby an antipyretic. Any syrups based on Ibuprofen or Paracetamol are suitable for treating newborns.
  3. During the development of inflammation, it is important to eliminate the risk of complications. To do this, you should rinse your nasal passages. If the child is more than a year old, sanitation should be carried out using Aqualor or Aqua Marisa, but for treating newborns, you should simply clean the nose with turunda.
  4. After sanitizing the nasal passages, it is necessary to moisten the nasal passages with oil drops, for example, “Ectericide”.
  5. The course of treatment includes the use of homeopathic remedies. Stodal syrup is usually prescribed for infants. It has an antitussive effect and has an expectorant effect.
  6. If the cough is wet, the patient needs expectorants. It is best to use the following drugs - “Prospan”, “Bronchicum”, “Doctor Theiss”, “Doctor Mom”, “Gedelix”. Almost all drugs are made from natural ingredients and are safe for treating newborns.
  7. In addition, the baby needs mucoltics - “Ambrobene”, “Flavamed”, “Fluditek”, “Lazolvan”, “Mukosol”, “Ambrohexal”, “Bromkexin”. They will remove phlegm and help improve the functions of the immune system.
  8. The next step on the path to recovery will be the use of antitussive drugs - Panatus, Sinecot and others. Before starting to take these medications, consult your doctor, as the medications may be contraindicated in some cases.

Important! When treating infants, it is strictly prohibited to use antibacterial drugs.

Advice from a pediatrician

The most famous children's doctor Komarovsky advises not to ignore the methods of traditional medicine. You can only get rid of infectious inflammation with the help of complex therapy, so do not risk the health of your own child. In addition, remember that infants cannot use many medications, so before starting treatment, be sure to be examined by a pediatrician.

Komarovsky reminds that infants should not be given anything other than mother's milk and clean water. It is especially important to monitor your child’s diet if he or she suffers from fever.

You can tell if you are giving your baby the right amount of water by looking at the condition of the diaper. If it does not fill within three hours, the child should take more fluid.

Important! If the child is more than five months old, water can be replaced with decoctions of medicinal herbs.

The children's doctor speaks more than once about the need to humidify the living room, so monitor the air condition in the bedroom. Normally, the air temperature should be from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. The required humidity for this indicator is from fifty to seventy percent.

If the child does not have a temperature, Komarovsky clarifies the need for walks in the fresh air. Don’t be alarmed if, immediately after walking, your baby starts coughing worse. This produces phlegm, which is useful for coughing.

Some sources write that complex cough treatment includes inhalation. Remember that steam can cause irreparable harm, so such procedures are strictly prohibited.

Komarovsky advises inhalation in a steamed bathroom. To do this, fill the bath with warm water and add a small amount of essential oils. Make sure that your child does not have allergic reactions to the selected ingredient.

Interesting! For a dry and unproductive cough, add baking soda and salt to the water instead of aromatic oils.

Conclusion

Treatment for a newborn should be determined by a qualified physician. Using medications without practical knowledge is dangerous for the baby, so trust the professionals. Remember that alternative medicine methods are dangerous for the health of the baby, as well as ignorance about the side effects of medications.

Directory of main ENT diseases and their treatment

All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be absolutely accurate from a medical point of view. Treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor. By self-medicating you can harm yourself!

Source: http://gorlonos.com/preparaty/chto-delat-esli-grudnichok-kashlyaet.html

Why does a newborn cough?

Cough is usually perceived as a sign of illness. And if a newborn coughs, it can create the impression of a catastrophe: the baby is not even a month old, but he already has a cold?! Mothers begin to search in their memory for the moment when they did not protect their child, seasoning their self-flagellation with a storm of emotions. However, before you beat yourself up and panic, it will be much better to understand why a newborn is coughing and identify the main features of a particular case.

How exactly does a newborn cough?

The first step is to determine how a newborn baby coughs. Of course, analysis of the situation is complicated not only by the emotional experiences of the parents, but also by the characteristics of children of this age. After all, it can be very difficult to characterize the behavior of an infant’s body, which is still noticeably different from adults. However, the seriousness of the situation can be judged by the simplest indicators: how often the newborn coughs and whether there are accompanying symptoms.

Indeed, against the background of coughing, an increase in temperature, the appearance of nasal discharge, tearfulness or souring of the eyes, as well as other manifestations that can be regarded as symptoms of an illness should be alarming. An unsupported, single cough is rarely an indicator of illness. If a newborn coughs literally once or twice, then there is nothing to worry about at all. This happens very often with babies, but it does not at all indicate any malaise. But a prolonged and hysterical cough requires an immediate call to a specialist’s home.

Why does a newborn baby cough?

  • The kid just choked. This can be during feeding or immediately after it. It is also common for newborns to cough before burping. In addition, in small children, salivation is still poorly regulated - it is often excessive. In infants, cough for this reason is most often observed in the morning. This problem later returns during teething. However, it is important to be absolutely sure that the child choked on milk or saliva, and not on some foreign object. If there is no such confidence, it is necessary to check whether there are crumbs of anything extra in the mouth or neck, and, of course, remove it if found. But it is better to anticipate such situations and prevent small objects from appearing within the baby’s reach;
  • Reaction to air composition. The room where a small child is located must be regularly ventilated. The humidity of the air also matters - often a newborn coughs because the air is too dry, but excess moisture will not do him any good. There should also be no unnecessary odors or substances - perfumes, tobacco smoke or kitchen aromas. It is also better not to resort to essential oils and incense for now; use fragrances very carefully and in measured doses when washing things, as well as room air fresheners. You should carefully select household chemicals;
  • Upper respiratory tract infection. Colds in infants can be caused by both hypothermia and contact with infection. Moreover, for children of this age, even a small amount of bacteria or viral organisms is enough to get sick. So, unfortunately, a newborn does not always cough without special reasons and consequences. Therefore, in the first month of life, it is strongly recommended to limit the access of strangers to the children's territory and directly to the child himself. Parents should also temporarily minimize all kinds of meetings and being in particularly crowded places, where the risk of contracting an infection increases many times over. It is important to be careful regardless of the time of year or weather conditions - although “cold” epidemics are less common in winter, microorganisms feel great in the warmth. Increased hygiene measures and regular ventilation of premises will help prevent many problems. And, of course, the baby shouldn’t be cold;
  • Congenital pneumonia. According to sad medical statistics, it increasingly happens that a newborn coughs due to a congenital disease. In this case, the cough is usually wet, even gurgling, long and painful. With such symptoms, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Cough in newborns: treatment

The first question parents have when their precious newborn coughs is what to do? During this very difficult period for both the baby and older family members, in any potentially dangerous situation it is necessary to seek help from a specialist. Even the most observant and caring mothers and fathers in the first weeks still do not understand their baby well enough, see changes in his well-being and behavior, and can correctly evaluate them. Therefore, when a newborn coughs, it is better to overestimate the situation than to underestimate it. Changes in the body of a little person do not always manifest themselves in exactly the same way as in adults, and the speed of these processes is sometimes amazing in its speed and consequences.

If you suspect a cold or there are associated complications, it is best to call emergency pediatric medical care. You shouldn’t rely on improvised remedies and folk methods - they are good for adults, teenagers and even preschool children, but if a newborn coughs, you should at least consult a doctor. If necessary, the specialist will prescribe appropriate treatment, taking into account the characteristics of the disease, as well as the age of the little man.

Text: Elena Yasakova

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Cough in an infant - causes, how and how to treat (medicines)

With the arrival of cold weather comes a period of colds. Babies are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are just learning to fight foreign bacteria. Hearing a cough in a baby, a young mother may become confused and not react in time, although this is a very serious symptom. In this article we will look at what causes coughs, how to treat coughs in newborns, and review popular cough medicines for babies.

Causes of cough in an infant

First of all, it is necessary to recognize the nature of the cough.

A child's cough may be:

By its intensity and sound, you can understand whether the cause lies in the disease or whether something is interfering with the normal functioning of the respiratory tract. So, the most common causes of cough in an infant.

1. ARVI

In more than 90% of cases, cough is the first symptom of the onset of acute respiratory viral infection. The baby coughs occasionally, the intensity of the cough increases in the evening and at night. The throat is red and inflamed. The cells begin to secrete mucus. A prolonged cough in an infant that lasts more than 2 weeks is very dangerous. Immune defense is weakened, the process can become chronic.

2. Inflammatory process of the upper respiratory tract

It is characterized by an obsessive cough, dry at first. Very painful for a child. If left untreated, it can lead to complications. The most dangerous is false croup. With it, the walls of the throat sharply narrow, and the child, due to a lack of oxygen, begins to whistle hoarsely and choke. The disease requires immediate medical attention.

3. Dry indoor air

May cause a sore throat. If an infant has a severe cough that has no prerequisites for illness, you should pay attention to normalizing the humidity in the newborn baby’s room.

4. Inflammation of the middle ear

When the child has inflammation of the middle ear, a reflex cough begins. This is the body's reaction to this inflammation. When pressing on the earlobe, the child emits a sharp, piercing cry - this means that the cause is ear pain. The best option is to call an emergency ambulance.

5. Foreign body inhalation

If a foreign object gets into the child’s respiratory tract - any - urgently call 03. The child’s life is at risk and time counts by seconds. Do not knock on the back or try to “knock” this object out - you may end up with it getting stuck in the trachea or bronchi.

6. Polluted air

Is it smoky in the room, or is it too polluted outside? Don't be surprised if your child starts coughing nonstop. The longer you stay in such conditions, the more harmful substances the baby’s immature and delicate lungs will absorb.

Treating a cough: what mom needs to know

Treatment of cough, both with and without fever, should be carried out only under the supervision of a pediatrician. At the first symptoms, you need to start the prescribed therapy.

But here's what a mother can do to alleviate the child's condition:

  • Monitor the optimal humidity level in the room. If the heating season has begun and the radiators inevitably dry out the air with their heat, purchase an air humidifier or make one yourself from improvised means. You can fill a container with clean water and place it on the radiator - the water will evaporate and the humidity will increase. As a last resort, you can spray the room with water from a spray bottle once an hour.
  • Ventilate your home at least twice a day. A lack of oxygen will only worsen the condition of your baby’s respiratory system.
  • Give your baby a light back massage. It helps remove sputum and improve the child’s well-being.
  • Offer your child to drink more often. Especially if the baby has an elevated body temperature. To avoid dehydration, keep water, tea, and juices available to your child.
  • An old folk remedy for cough for infants is rubbing with animal fat. It is best to do the procedure before bed. Rub the baby's body thoroughly on the back and chest, wrap it up and put it to bed. In the morning the child will feel much better. See the detailed article: How to treat a cough in an infant with folk remedies
  • Don't forget about walking. Inhaling fresh air, the baby's lungs open, fill with strength and freshness. The baby will be distracted from the painful cough, and a good mood always has a positive effect on the healing process.

An excellent remedy for treating cough at the initial stage is a nebulizer. Pour 5 ml saline into a glass. solution (sold in a pharmacy for about 50 rubles) and let the child breathe for 5-7 minutes. The mucous membranes will become moisturized and the sputum will become less viscous. You can repeat the procedure twice a day. This method is effective when there is a cough without fever.

Temperatures are no joke. If you have a cough and a temperature of 38.5, you and your baby will most likely be admitted to the hospital. Don’t be afraid to get there; it’s better not to take risks and be under the supervision of specialists. The main thing is your child’s health, and temporary inconveniences can be tolerated.

Medicines for cough

Remember: all medications can only be prescribed by a doctor! This review is for informational purposes only.

  • For a wet cough, you need a drug that helps remove phlegm. The following herbal syrups have proven themselves well: Gedelix and Prospan. They gently thin mucus, have a sweet taste, and are used twice a day.
  • For dry cough, homeopathic syrup Stodal and homeopathic medicine Oscillococcinum (granules for dissolution in water) help well. Homeopathy has no contraindications and can be used in conjunction with basic treatment.
  • Sopelka patches make breathing easier and soften coughs. They are glued to clothes and are impregnated with extracts of beneficial herbs that have a beneficial effect on the mucous membranes of the nose and larynx.
  • Sprays are contraindicated for infants due to the risk of suffocation. However, in case of severe inflammation, it is possible to use Tantum Verde spray. It has a sweet taste, soothes sore throats and dulls coughing attacks.
This is not the first time I have asked for help here, you are even in my bookmarks. So this time I decided to check whether my friends advised me correctly on cough treatment. You are like a litmus test for me - the last resort is you!

The advice may be useful, but I believe that in any case you need to see a doctor and then act as the doctor says

We need to take care that this does not happen. This means that you don’t need to go for walks in the cold season and don’t let people with colds get close to your baby, he’s a tiny child. While it was winter, I tried to minimize communication with strangers, and we walked less often (especially on the days when quarantine was announced!) BUT if you still happen to get sick, you need to urgently run to the doctor! Otherwise, it may be too late later!

Oh thank you for the internet. It helped me a lot to cure my child)))) and the recipes are all very good

We clicked on reviews about one medicine. At least they put different avatars. All from one album. Who only believes in such comments?

Thank you for the Internet. My child is sick and I can turn to the Internet for help with everything I need.

You should always consult your doctor. Even the use of traditional methods can be harmful. I tried so hard to cure my child’s cough with milk and honey. It turned out that we are allergic to honey. We went to the doctor and were prescribed Prospan syrup. Thank God it didn’t cause any allergies and we gradually got rid of the cough.

The advice in the article is good, but with a small child you should always go to the doctor. In order to eliminate the risk of the same allergy. Prospan syrup helped us, fortunately it is herbal. It is prescribed to remove phlegm and facilitate expectoration.

Children must be treated immediately to avoid further development of the disease. I don’t really believe in the effectiveness of folk remedies; I’ve already had negative experiences. Therefore, only see a doctor. The nose was washed with sea water and sealed with tea. And for cough they gave Prospan drops. They are natural and without dyes, which suits us very well. The cough goes away.

Acillicoccinum has long been said to be a useless remedy. And we still fool people with expensive homeopathy

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Your baby is coughing: should you worry?

An infant is a defenseless and tender creature. Even minor illnesses on his part plunge adults into panic. So why does a baby cough, and what to do if such a nuisance happens in your family, we will tell you further.

Why does my baby cough?

Coughing is a normal, protective reaction of the body.

Until the age of two months, the child coughs because his respiratory system adapts to the new environment. The baby’s behavior does not change, he eats actively and sleeps enough. Over time, such coughing disappears.

Baby teething as a test of endurance

Photo 1. During teething, the child becomes capricious.

The appearance of denticles is a painful process. The baby reacts to it with an increase in temperature, sleep disturbances, refusal to eat, and secretion of a large amount of saliva, which he coughs out (wet cough) or spits.

This phenomenon can be mistakenly mistaken for ARVI. But swollen and reddened gums in the beginnings of baby teeth inform frightened parents that the child is growing up.

Otitis media inflammation of the middle ear. The cough is associated with irritation of the nerve, which innervates the oropharynx and ear cavity with its branches. Therefore, the impulse reflexively passes from the damaged organ to the healthy one, and symptoms of both otitis and pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx) appear.

Low air humidity

Parents try to create a warm, cozy environment for their child, even in the summer, and can overdo it. The child is bothered by a dry, hacking cough. And all because of the too dry indoor climate. Dry air irritates the mucous membrane of the back of the throat.

Advice! Parents, remember that maintaining sufficient air humidity is necessary for both adults and children. After all, water is life. And it is also needed for the functioning of the respiratory system. Be careful!

Contaminated air

Air has a detrimental effect on a small family member. Therefore, stop smoking at least around your child. If a baby coughs in a yard where there is industrial smoke or the result of burning autumn leaves, then it is better to choose a more suitable place for a walk.

Intrauterine infection - infection of the baby before birth

The child faces congenital pneumonia, which is difficult to treat. This happens when a mother suffers from infectious diseases during pregnancy and does not receive adequate treatment.

The baby is sneezing and coughing

Often these are symptoms of a common cold or ARVI. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by fever and copious mucous discharge from the nasal cavity. The same secretions provoke a wet cough when they fall on the back wall of the throat (the sensitive cough zone of the upper respiratory tract), and sneezing.

If the baby wheezes and coughs, this is an alarm for parents. These may be symptoms of acute laryngotracheitis or, as it is popularly called, false croup, which is accompanied by shortness of breath, a specific barking cough (see Barking cough in a child without fever: possible causes), noisy breathing and, if assistance is not provided in a timely manner, can end sadly.

In this case, it is also necessary to humidify the air. Hot steam from a working kettle or a bath with plenty of water (sauna effect), distraction therapy in the form of a back massage or patting the buttocks will help.

Congenital heart disease is accompanied by a dry, frequent cough, shortness of breath, paleness, and blue discoloration of the skin. The baby is restless, the intercostal spaces and fontanelles are intensely retracted when the baby cries.

Advice! Suspicion of a pathology of heart development is a reason to contact a pediatric cardiologist. It is also important to know that infants have a normal heart rate - beats / min at rest, and, for comparison, adults.

What to do if your baby coughs in the morning?

Morning is the time for the reign of the vagus. In other words, physiological activation of the vagus nerve, which causes the bronchi to narrow.

Shortness of breath combined with wheezing are symptoms of acute obstructive bronchitis or bronchial asthma. The latter ailment is hereditary, associated with allergies (see How to recognize an allergic cough in a child) and requires particularly careful examination and treatment. Children whose mothers are accustomed to smoking cigarettes are at risk for developing bronchitis.

Cough after feeding

Occurs for several reasons:

  • Inappropriate position for breastfeeding
  • A large amount of milk in the mother's breast
  • Increased pressure inside the stomach.

Advice! To better regurgitate excess milk, the mother should lift the baby and gently press her to her, put a warm diaper on the tummy, in a word, relax the intestinal muscles. This way you can also stop an attack of intestinal colic, which is manifested by the child’s agitation when he cries after feeding due to bloating and gas not passing.

Treatment of cough in infants

You need to contact a specialist. A doctor who examines and treats newborns is a neonatologist. A pediatrician cares for babies older than one month.

Actions for a runny nose during ARVI

In this case, the baby’s nose should be washed with an antiseptic solution. The best option is drops. Then, using a rubber bulb, the contents of each nasal cavity are removed in turn.

Advice! During this unpleasant procedure, it is necessary to close the entrance to the baby’s ear with your finger to prevent mucus from entering the ear cavity behind the pressure gradient. In this way, you will prevent the development of otitis media.

If the air in the room is dry

Simple ways to increase air humidity in your home:

  • If it is cool outside, it is enough to open the window in the room for a short time.
  • Place a bowl of water near the hot radiator. You can make a simple device from a plastic bottle and secure it in a warm place. The water will evaporate and the climate in the room will improve significantly.
  • Shake the wet towel several times.
  • Hang wet bedding around the perimeter of the room.

When the cause of cough is confirmed bronchial asthma or bronchitis, the doctor prescribes inhalation of saline solution, bronchodilators (bronchodilators) through a nebulizer - a modern device for converting liquid into fine particles that easily enter even the most distant and narrow branches of the bronchial tree.

Instructions for pulmicort:

  • The active substance is budesonide.
  • Group of drugs: hormonal bronchodilator.

Pulmicort is a drug that dilates the bronchi.

  • The effect occurs 1 hour after administration, but lasts a long time.
  • Release form: suspension for inhalation, 0.25 ml/kg.
  • Indication: bronchial asthma.
  • Price: about 400 UAH.
  • for babies under 6 months, with caution and according to strict indications - 0.25 mg/kg/day, diluted with 0.9% saline before use;
  • children over 6 months - 0.25-0.5 mg/kg/day.

Advice! The solution for inhalation must be prepared strictly according to the instructions and used within 30 minutes.

If there is no nebulizer at home, use inhalations (see How to carry out inhalations for a dry cough at home) over a bowl of steaming tea made from rose hips, sage herb or chamomile flowers. The method is cheap but effective. Dried plants cost pennies in pharmacies, and do not cause side effects when used in moderation.

Mucolytics—medicines that reduce the viscosity of sputum—help turn a dry cough into a wet one.

Mucolytics allowed in infancy

To prevent coughing attacks, traditional medicine advises placing sage leaves in the corners of the nursery.

If it is determined that the baby’s cough is associated with the appearance of teeth, then you can alleviate his suffering with the following techniques:

  • use special toys for biting, which must first be cooled; they relax the gums well and relieve pain due to their distracting effect;
  • grandmother's method - lubricating the gums with a thin layer of honey, but provided that there is no allergy;
  • Dentol 7.5% is an anesthetic ointment approved for children over 4 months of age.

The video in this article will introduce parents to the basic information about physiological coughs and those that indicate illness.

  • Vasilisa: The doctor told me that it’s better not to overuse radish, there may be a reaction. I gave Prospan syrup to grow...
  • Vasilisa: I also believe that treatment of cough in children under 1 year of age should be strictly under the supervision of a doctor. This is just a baby...
  • Vasilisa: I don’t like compresses or inhalations, I prefer the tasty and natural Prospan syrup on ivy. The doctor prescribed it for me...

The information is provided for general information only and cannot be used for self-medication.

You should not self-medicate, it can be dangerous. Always consult your doctor.

Source: http://kashel.su/prichiny/grudnichka-prichiny/grudnichok-kashlyaet-77

Cough in a baby

For every mother, the health of her child comes first. The mother's worries are especially strong when it comes to the health of her infant. If a baby develops a cough, this should not be ignored. It is necessary to recognize the causes of cough and promptly take measures to eliminate it. After all, if appropriate assistance is not provided in time, complications may arise, and the baby’s health will be under serious threat.

Cough, as you know, is divided into dry and wet. It is necessary to track how often the baby coughs and how exactly he coughs. Usually, by the sound of a cough, you can determine whether a child has a cold or whether something is preventing his respiratory tract from functioning normally. In addition, an important role is played by whether the infant’s cough is accompanied by an increase in body temperature or not. If the mother cannot independently determine the nature of the cough and identify its causes, then she should resort to outside help, namely the help of a pediatrician.

Causes of cough in infants

In fact, besides a common cold, there are many reasons why a baby may develop a cough. The main causes of cough in an infant:

- Inflammation of the respiratory tract. Inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract lead to the child having difficulty breathing, and the baby begins to wheeze and cough. And if help is not provided in time, the child may even suffocate.

- Inflammation of the middle ear. Cough in this case is the body’s reaction to this type of inflammation. It is very simple to determine that your baby has inflammation of the middle ear: you need to press your finger on the earlobe. A healthy child will react to this action completely calmly, while a child who is worried about ear pain will scream and cry.

— Polluted or dry air in the apartment. Excessively dry air can cause a baby to constantly have a sore throat, resulting in the baby constantly coughing. In addition, the air in the apartment must be clean. It is necessary to exclude all repair work around the house until the baby grows up - the child should not inhale the smell of industrial paint. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to smoke in the apartment if there is a baby in the family, because inhaling harmful substances is very dangerous for his health. Therefore, if, apart from coughing, no other symptoms of illness are observed, before sounding the alarm, you should pay attention to the air quality not only in the baby’s room, but throughout the entire apartment.

— Foreign body stuck in the throat. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous causes of cough in an infant, no less dangerous than inflammation of the respiratory tract and middle ear. In this case, you should act very quickly, because the child’s life is at risk.

— An incipient cold or viral infection. This is perhaps the most common reason why a baby coughs, indicating that the baby is starting to get sick with a cold or flu. With colds and acute respiratory viral infections, the child’s cough practically does not bother him during the day, but it worsens in the morning, after waking up, and in the evening, before going to bed. Sometimes even at night a cough prevents the baby from sleeping peacefully. At the same time, the baby's throat becomes inflamed. An increase in body temperature is often observed.

How to help a baby if he is coughing?

It is possible to take any measures to treat and prevent cough only after the true causes of its occurrence have been established. Thus, in case of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, surgical intervention by experienced doctors is necessary. If there is a suspicion that the cause of the baby’s cough is inflammation of the middle ear, it is also necessary to urgently take the baby to the hospital.

If a foreign body is stuck in the throat, you need to immediately call an ambulance, or take the child to the hospital yourself. You can only trust a specialist doctor to remove an object stuck in your throat. It is unacceptable to try to pull it out at home, and even more so to knock the child on the back so that the object comes out on its own. Such actions can lead to the fact that the foreign body, on the contrary, will go even deeper and block the child’s breathing.

If the cough is the result of an incipient cold or acute respiratory viral infection, then you can provide the baby with medical care at home, provided that the baby does not have complications or high fever. You can, for example, rub your baby’s chest and legs with baby warming balm. How to help a baby clear his throat? To alleviate the baby's condition, children's drinking paracetamol should be given at night. It will have a calming effect, so your baby will sleep peacefully at night. However, before treating an infant’s cough at home, even with a seemingly harmless cold, you should consult a doctor, and he will tell you what to give the infant for a cough (after all, most medications are contraindicated for infants). Perhaps, at the initial stage of the disease, it will be enough for the baby to take cough syrups made from medicinal herbs. During illness, you need to give your child more to drink - juices, water, mother's milk.

How to prevent cough in an infant?

As a rule, in the autumn-spring period, all people are most susceptible to colds. During this period, infants have the hardest time, since their immunity is still developing, and the child’s body is not yet able to independently fight all bacteria and viruses.

To prevent frequent illnesses and coughs in an infant, parents should adhere to the following recommendations:

  • Monitor the baby's personal hygiene. You should bathe your baby every day until he reaches six months, and change diapers and nappies in a timely manner.
  • Follow the baby’s daily routine appropriate for his age. The baby must have a certain sleep and wakefulness schedule (the child must always be put to bed at the same time) and a meal schedule (breakfast, lunch, dinner, as well as two additional snacks are required).
  • If possible, take your baby for a walk every day in the fresh air. Walking outside plays a significant role in strengthening the immune system in children.
  • Feed the baby only warm food. Drinking and food for the baby should not be cold or hot - you should always taste the food before giving it to the baby.
  • Breastfeed your baby more often, including at night. Breastfeeding helps to naturally strengthen the child’s immunity - the longer the baby feeds on mother’s milk, the less often he will get sick, because breast milk contains all the nutrients and elements necessary for the child’s body.
  • Ventilate the children's room daily, even in the cold season. It is recommended to ventilate the apartment twice a day - best in the morning and evening.
  • If necessary, humidify the air in the apartment. This can be done using a special air humidifier, which can be purchased in the store. If there is none, then during the heating season you can hang wet laundry on hot radiators, and in the warm season, simply spray the room with clean water using your hand or a spray bottle.
  • Maintain a constant temperature in the apartment. There is no need to hover your child, but you should not allow him to become hypothermic. The optimal temperature for an infant is degrees.
  • Maintain cleanliness in the apartment. This is especially true for the baby’s room; it needs to be wet cleaned twice a week.
  • Protect your child from contact with soft toys, as they carry germs.
  • Wash your child's toys regularly with soap. You should purchase rubber or plastic toys for your child. Firstly, they are safer for the baby (the child cannot get hurt), and secondly, they are easy to wash. In addition, the baby should not be allowed to play with small toys and objects. The danger lies in the fact that a child can easily put it in his mouth and choke. Also, a foreign object may become stuck in the throat, and the child may choke.

Exercises and massages have a positive effect on improving the baby’s health. They have a strengthening effect on the baby’s body as a whole. You should choose a simple type of massage that the mother can do to the baby on her own at home. The same goes for charging.

Thus, it is within the power of loving parents to do everything so that the baby develops a strong immune system and the child is exposed to various diseases as little as possible. And if the baby does get sick with something and starts coughing, don’t panic. The main thing is to take timely measures and provide assistance to the baby so that the illness does not last too long!

Source: http://nashkarapuzik.ru/zdorovye/simptomy/grudnichok-kashlyaet.html

How to treat a cough without fever in a newborn, infant and child over 1 year old?

Coughing in an infant is quite rare compared to children aged 1 to 7 years. If the baby receives only mother's milk as food, then the risk of suffering from a cold for up to a year is minimized. If you have a runny nose and high temperature, you can suspect ARVI. If there is no snot, the thermometer shows 36.6 C, and the child begins to cough, you should be checked for allergies or whooping cough. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, since the respiratory muscles of newborns and infants are not sufficiently developed. The baby will not be able to cough up mucus from the lungs and bronchi, which leads to stagnation of mucus in the respiratory tract and the occurrence of complications.

Types of cough

A baby's cough is the same protective reflex inherent in nature as sneezing. Mothers worry when they notice that their child is coughing. Pediatricians consider a slight manifestation of the reflex to be the norm, even if the baby coughs several times a day. There are two types of cough:

  1. Dry. Characteristic of the initial stage of ARVI, parawhooping cough and whooping cough, bronchial asthma or an allergic reaction, which makes it difficult to make a correct diagnosis. An examination by a pediatrician is necessary, since mothers without experience often mistake a wet cough for a dry one (see also: how to treat dry cough in children?). A baby under 3 months of age swallows mucus rather than coughing it up, so parents are confused.
  2. Wet. If a baby’s cough begins without fever, this means that the disease is nearing completion. There is no need to worry when the sputum is clear and thin. Yellowish or greenish mucus indicates a serious infection in the respiratory tract.

Basic therapy

Treatment of cough is always individual and is prescribed only after examination by a doctor. The course depends on the nature of the disease and includes:

  • Antipyretic drugs. If the temperature rises when coughing, syrups with ibuprofen or paracetamol will help reduce it.

If the cough is accompanied by a high temperature, syrup will help bring it down

  • Antiviral medications. ARVI can be treated with immunomodulatory drugs. Doctors recommend using Viferon suppositories, since they have no contraindications or age restrictions (we recommend reading: in detail about Viferon suppositories for newborns). The drug can be prescribed to children from birth to one year.
  • Rinse the nasal passages. If thick snot prevents the baby from breathing, he sneezes and begins to breathe through his mouth (we recommend reading: what to do if your baby sneezes often?). After a short period of time, the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat will dry out, and the child will cough. Before going to bed, it is important to rinse the baby’s nose with saline or saline solution. During the day, you can instill 3 drops into each nostril 4 to 8 times. After the rinsing procedure, it is useful to drip the nose with an oil solution of “Ectericide” in a dosage of 1 drop. This will create a thin protective layer of medicine on the mucous membranes.
  • Homeopathy. To cure an infant’s cough, pediatricians prescribe medications based on natural products. Particularly popular is the Stondal syrup, which has proven itself to be an excellent antitussive, bronchodilator and expectorant.

If a month-old baby's cough is accompanied by snot, but the temperature remains within normal limits, this may indicate pharyngitis, laryngitis or rhinitis of allergic etiology.

Cough remedies for infants

Infants and one-year-old children can be treated with safe forms of medications - drops and syrups. Cough medications are divided into three groups:

  1. Mucolytic. They are produced on the basis of hydrochloride, acetylcysteine, bromhexine and ambroxol, which thin out thick mucus in the respiratory tract. Among the popular ones are: “Mukodin”, “Flavamed”, “Fluditek”, “Mukosol”, “Bromhexine”, “Ambrobene”, “Lazolvan”. Syrups are given to children under one year of age, but only after consultation with a pediatrician.
  2. Antitussives. Prescribed for dry cough, which has the form of attacks. The drugs reduce the occurrence of the cough reflex, which is most effective in the treatment of whooping cough. Contraindications include children under 2 years of age. Panatus and Sinecod syrups are approved for children in the first year of life if therapy is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.
  3. Expectorants. They are effective if a month-old baby has a wet cough, but the sputum is difficult to clear. Syrups based on plantain or ivy extract are prescribed. Additionally, the composition includes plant components: coltsfoot, wild rosemary, thyme, oregano, elecampane, marshmallow, licorice, anise, thyme. Among the well-known drugs recommended: “Prospan”, “Doctor MOM”, “Gedelix”, “Bronchicum” and “Dr. Theiss." "Prospan" and "Bronchicum" are allowed from 4-6 months. A one-month-old baby may be allergic to herbs, so you need to monitor the baby’s well-being. If a skin rash or swelling appears, you should stop taking the medication and visit your pediatrician.

If a newborn sneezes and coughs, the doctor calculates the dosage of the drug (we recommend reading: a child coughs while sleeping - what to do?). An overdose of an expectorant medicine is dangerous, since the cough of a one-month-old baby may be prolonged. The volume of mucus secreted will increase, but a baby between the ages of one month and one year physically cannot cough it up.

First aid for a baby

Before the doctor arrives, parents can follow simple tips to alleviate the baby’s condition. At home, it is difficult to determine why a baby is coughing and sneezing, but you can help reduce negative symptoms:

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. If a newborn is coughing, then only water is allowed to drink. When breastfeeding, it is necessary to offer the breast more often. Do not forget that high temperature leads to dehydration. You can't miss a dangerous signal if you watch the diaper filling. If you urinate infrequently (once every 4 hours), you need to start drinking water from your little one. Babies from six months of age are offered raisin water, a decoction of rose hips or linden, diluted juice or dried fruit uzvar.
  2. Minimum clothing. The warmer the baby is dressed, the faster he loses moisture. The mucous membranes dry out, so the baby begins to cough.
  3. Walks in the open air. If the child has a cough, but other health indicators are normal, short walks are allowed. The exception is weather conditions when it is severely frosty outside. Don’t be alarmed if your baby only coughed during the day, but in the evening after a walk the cough got worse. This leads to better mucus removal.
  4. Comfortable air humidity. In order for a dry, painful cough to turn into a wet one, it is not necessary to resort to medications. It is enough to set the air humidity in the house at 50-70%. The temperature in the room where the baby is located should not rise above 22 C. 18 C is considered ideal, otherwise the sputum in the respiratory tract will be more viscous and thick.
  5. Safe inhalations. Steam procedures are prohibited to avoid burns to the skin and mucous membranes. If your baby is coughing, it is recommended to install a humidifier next to the playpen during the illness. For a dry cough, doctors advise filling a bathtub with hot water and adding soda to it. Then take the baby in your arms and sit in the bathroom, inhaling the moist alkaline fumes.

For wet coughs, the last recommendation is contraindicated. Steam will only worsen the baby's painful condition.

Additional measures: do's and don'ts

A wet cough in one-year-old children is often accompanied by mucus that is difficult to separate. In this case, drainage massage will help. You can invite a specialist to your home who gives professional massage to babies, but the mother can carry out some manipulations on her own:

  • lay the baby on his back;
  • place your palms on the chest and stroke it from bottom to top;
  • turn the baby over on his stomach;
  • “walk” along the back with gentle circular movements, avoiding the spine area.

The massage should be completed with light pats from bottom to top. It is advisable to position the baby so that the head is below the buttocks.

Fearing the negative consequences of taking medications, mothers, on the advice of their grandmothers, resort to the use of traditional medicine. Pediatricians are categorically against such experiments on children's bodies:

  1. Thoughtless manipulations almost always lead to the opposite effect. Compresses with dry mustard, vinegar or vodka cause burns and poisoning. Dangerous spasms of the bronchi and larynx often occur.
  2. Babies in the first year of life develop allergies to medicinal herbs, so breast mixtures, infusions and decoctions should be used after consultation with a specialist.

We must not forget that the time of shortages has long passed, and medicine does not stand still. The pharmaceutical industry can offer a lot of effective and safe drugs.

Medicinal herbs that are effective and efficient for adults are not always suitable for infants

Expert opinion

Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky does not see anything terrible in the cough reflex, since it is inherent in all people. The resulting snot flows down the nasopharynx in children, so the body is forced to get rid of mucus. When diseases of the upper respiratory tract or lungs occur, the volume of sputum increases and is removed through a natural reflex.

If the snot in the nose dries out, it becomes difficult to breathe, leading to further complications. Komarovsky believes that preventing mucus from drying out in the bronchi is also important if the little one coughs. It is necessary to provide the baby with enough fluids and provide access to fresh, cool air. Without consulting a doctor, it is prohibited to use antitussive drugs, which are effective only for whooping cough. It is permissible to use mucolytic and expectorant drugs if it is evening outside and you need to act somehow.

Symptoms of any type of cough allow you to visit a pediatrician and get the necessary recommendations. The following drugs are effective and relatively safe:

  • lazolvan;
  • acetylcysteine;
  • bromhexine;
  • potassium iodide;
  • mucaltin;
  • ammonia-anise drops.

They should be in your home medicine cabinet, but the dosage is determined by the doctor. The specialist will also advise on the advisability of using a particular medicine.

Mucaltin is an inexpensive but very effective expectorant drug

The danger of complications after ARVI is the development of acute bronchitis or pneumonia, and there are frequent cases of secondary bacterial infections. The baby is prescribed antibiotics in tandem with additional medications. Such treatment will negatively affect the formation of the immune system, but there is no other way out. For this reason, Komarovsky recommends not to self-medicate, contact specialists in a timely manner and not expose the baby to danger. If a child experiences pneumonia before the age of 2 months, the alveoli of the lung remain affected and stop developing.

How dangerous is whooping cough?

With whooping cough, the cough reflex has some characteristic features; only a pediatrician is able to make a correct diagnosis. Timely DPT vaccination does not completely protect against infection, but allows you to transfer the disease in a milder form. Massive refusal of vaccination in recent years has led to the fact that whooping cough is more common among preschool children. Self-medication and mothers’ confidence in their own actions complicate and slow down the diagnosis, since doctors are consulted at 2-3 weeks of illness.

Whooping cough and its severe forms are deadly for infants due to paroxysmal, hacking cough, which provokes severe vomiting, respiratory failure and even respiratory arrest. Symptoms of whooping cough include:

  • dry cough, similar to a common cold;
  • in subsequent stages, the cough becomes more painful, without turning into a wet form;
  • the cough reflex occurs on exhalation and is paroxysmal in nature;
  • after a prolonged cough, the child takes a deep breath, which is accompanied by a whistle;
  • Sometimes a coughing attack can result in vomiting with the discharge of viscous sputum.

The cough reflex can occur up to 50 times a day, which should alert parents. Whooping cough is a bacterial infection, so antibiotics are used in treatment. Antibacterial agents are effective at the first symptoms, when the cough center is not yet in the stage of excitement. Additionally, antitussive drugs are prescribed to reduce the frequency and intensity of the cough reflex. The course lasts from several months to six months so that the baby ceases to be contagious and does not pose a danger to others. Walking in the fresh air is not contraindicated during therapy, and it is advisable for parents to be patient.

I think that it is advisable to wait until the morning to treat a cough with medications if there is no fever. Before the doctor arrives, you can provide plenty of fluids and humidity in the nursery room, and put cough medications aside.

For the first time in a year, we caught a cough and runny nose, the doctor told us to massage the sternum and showed us how. rub it with fat before going to bed (I used goose fat) and drink the expectorant syrup Prospan, it is allowed for infants, as it is vegetable and without alcohol. This treatment cured our cough in just five days.

Attention! All information on the site is provided for informational purposes only and is for informational purposes only. For all questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, you must consult a doctor for an in-person consultation.

Source: http://vseprorebenka.ru/zdorove/simptomy/kashel-u-grudnichka.html