Cough is one of the most common symptoms of teething. Although a cough can sound awful, it's not a sign of a serious condition in the rule. In fact, coughing is a healthy and important reflex that helps protect the airways in the throat and chest.
But sometimes, your child will cough justify a trip to the doctor. Understanding what different types of cough could mean will help you know how to take care of them and when you go to the doctor.
"Barky" Cough
Barky cough is usually caused by a swelling in the upper part of the respiratory tract. Most of the time, comes a barky cough from croup, a swelling of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
Croup usually is the result of a virus, but can also be from allergies or a change in temperature at night. Younger children have smaller airways that, if swollen, can make it hard to breathe. Children younger than 3 years old are at the most risk for croup because their airways are so narrow.
A cough from croup can start suddenly and in the middle of the night. Often a child with croup will also stridor, a noisy, harsh breathing (often described as coarse, musical sound), occurs when a child inhales.
Whooping cough
Whooping cough is another name for pertussis, an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Children with pertussis will have spells in between back-to-back coughs without breathing. At the end of the cough, then they will take a deep breath in a "whooping" sound makes. Other symptoms of pertussis are a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough and a slight fever.
Although pertussis can occur at any age, it is very difficult in infants under 1 year old, do not have the pertussis vaccine. Pertussis is very contagious, so your child should the pertussis at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months and 4-6 years to get shot. This shot is given as part of the DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis).
The Tdap vaccine (which is similar to DTaP but with lower concentrations of diphtheria and tetanus toxoid for adults) are given in children 11-12 years and again in adulthood as part of a tetanus booster. Adult is recommended that this pertussis vaccine since immunity to pertussis receive reduced over time. By protecting yourself against pertussis, you are also protecting your kids from getting it.
Since whooping cough is very contagious, it can spread from person to person through tiny drops of fluid in the air from the nose or mouth when people sneeze, cough or laugh. Others can become infected by inhaling the drops or to touch the drops on their hands and then her mouth or nose.
Cough with wheezing
If your child makes a wheezing (whistling) sound when breathing out, this could mean that the lower airways in the lungs are swollen. This can happen with asthma or with a viral infection (bronchiolitis). Can also happen if the wheezing lower respiratory tract is blocked by a foreign body.
Nocturnal cough
Much cough worse at night. If your child has a cold, the mucus from the nose and sinuses can drain into the throat and cause coughing during sleep. This is only a problem if the cough does not allow your child will sleep.
Asthma can also trigger nighttime coughs because the airways tend more sensitive and irritable at night.
Daytime cough
Cough, cold air or activity may get worse during the daytime. Try to make sure that nothing in your house - like air freshener, pets, or smoke (especially tobacco smoke) - Does your child cough.
Cough with fever
A child, a cough, mild fever and runny nose probably has a common cold. But cough with fever of 102 ° F (39 ° C) or higher can sometimes be due to pneumonia, especially if a child is weak and breathing fast. In this case, call your doctor immediately.
Cough with vomiting
Children often so much that her gag reflex cough triggers so that they vomit. Also could a child have a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up has to throw when many of mucus flow in the stomach and causes nausea. Usually this is not cause for alarm, if the vomiting does not stop.
Persistent cough
Colds are caused by viral cough can last for weeks, especially if your child has a cold right after another. Could cause asthma, allergies or a chronic infection in the sinuses or airways persistent cough. If the cough lasts for three weeks, call your doctor.
When to call the doctor
Most childhood coughs are nothing to worry about. However, call your doctor if your child:
has difficulty breathing or working hard to breathe
is breathing faster than normal
has a blue or dark color on the lips, face, or tongue
has a high fever (especially if your child is coughing, but do not have a runny or stuffy nose)
has any fever and is less than 3 months old
is an infant (3 months old or younger) who was for more than a few hours cough
makes a "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
is coughing up blood
has stridor (a noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
has wheezing when breathing out (unless you already have a home asthma plan from your doctor)
is weak, cranky, irritable or
dehydrated
What is your doctor
One of the best ways to diagnose a cough is by listening. Knowing what the cough as help your doctor decide how to treat your child sounds. The treatment for various kinds of cough can vary, based on the cause.
Because most coughs are caused by viruses, doctors usually do not give antibiotics for coughs. A cough caused by a virus only needs to run its course. A virus infection can take up to two weeks so long.
Unless not let a cough, your child will sleep, cough medicines are not needed. They could help stop a child cough, but do not treat the cause of the cough. If you choose to use an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine, call the doctor to be sure the correct dose and to ensure that it is safe for your child.
Do not use OTC combination medicines like "Tylenol Cold" - they have more than one medicine in them, and the kids can have more side effects and are more likely to get an overdose of the drug.
Cough medicines are not recommended for children under 6 years.
Home Treatment
Here are some ways to help your child feel better:
If your child has asthma, make sure an asthma plan from your doctor. The plan will help you to provide the right asthma medications.
For a "barky" or "croupy" cough, turn on the hot water in the shower in your bathroom and close the door so the room will steam up. Then sit in the bathroom with your child for about 20 minutes. The steam should help your child breathe easier. Try reading a book along to pass the time.
A cool-mist humidifier in your child's room might help with insomnia.
Sometimes a short exposure to the cool air of the outdoors is to relieve the cough. Be sure to dress your child appropriately for the outdoor weather and try this for 10-15 minutes.
Cool drinks like juice can be soothing and it is important that your child hydrated. But do not give soda or orange juice, as this violates a throat that is sore from coughing.
Do not put your child (especially a baby or toddler) OTC cough medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Cough drops are OK for older children, but children under 3 years can choke you. It is better to avoid cough drops unless your doctor says that they are safe for your child.