What Is Good For Cough In Children?

Cough in children can be seen not only in winter, but also in summer. Although it is mostly caused by upper respiratory tract infection, there may be many reasons behind it.

So, what is good for cough in children? What are effective herbal formulas? How to pass dry cough and phlegm cough in children? Let’s move on to our recommendations!

Why do children cough?

Cough is mostly caused by irritation in the respiratory tract. When the nerve endings in the throat, trachea and lungs become aware of this irritation, they cause the reflex of forcefully expelling air from the respiratory tract, namely coughing. Although it is not usually a serious condition, the underlying cause needs to be treated. The main causes of cough in children are:

•Colds / upper respiratory tract diseases,
• Asthma,
• Bronchiolitis,
• Croup, •Influenza,
• Pneumonia,
• Allergy is coming.

What causes a dry cough at night in children?

Cough in children may increase especially at night. In allergies and sinusitis, mucus flows backwards from the throat, causing a dry and hard-to-stop cough at night. Irritation in the throat and sinus infection can trigger this condition. If your child is coughing only at night, he may have asthma or reflux.

What causes a cough with phlegm in children?

Upper respiratory tract infections such as flu, flu and pharyngitis can cause a cough with phlegm. Fever and cough in children  are indicators of respiratory tract infection. 

Cough with phlegm in children with an allergic body is seen especially in the winter months. Nasal congestion can also trigger a phlegm cough. If left untreated, cough with phlegm in children can lead to serious diseases such as pneumonia. 

What can be the causes of persistent cough in children?

If the cough negatively affects the child’s daily life and does not go away, it can be a symptom of other diseases. Although cough that does not go away in children is seen due to many reasons, the reasons differ according to age groups. Chronic cough in young infants is usually;

It is caused by reasons such as • Asthma,
• Reflux,
• Recalcitrant bronchitis,
• Congenital causes,
• Chronic sinusitis, • Foreign body aspirations.

In children in the older age group, cough that does not go away is sometimes not due to physical reasons; It can also be seen due to psychological factors. Apart from this, although rare;

• Tuberculosis,
• Cystic fibrosis,
• Bronchial enlargement can also cause coughing.

What is good for dry cough in children?

• Regardless of the cause of cough, water is the most effective method as an expectorant in children. Therefore, the child’s drinking plenty of fluids accelerates the healing process. 
• Humidifying the air with a humidifier or steam machine helps the child who does not sleep due to coughing breathe easily at night. However, these tools must be cleaned with detergent so that dangerous fungi and bacteria do not grow.
• Raising the head of the bed may be helpful if nighttime coughing in children is associated with allergies and asthma. As long as your doctor gives you, you can also use bronchodilators or various asthma medications. 

What is good for cough with phlegm in children?

Cough with phlegm in children shows a more difficult recovery process than in adults. Because children have difficulty in expelling the phlegm cough. At this point, it is necessary to pay attention to the nutrition and sleep of the child. Laying face down on the lap and tapping on the back is also an effective method to help with sputum production.

What are the formulas that are good for cough with phlegm, let’s talk about them!

How should children cough syrups be used?

Although cough medicines can be bought without a prescription, the American Food and Drug Administration does not recommend cough syrup for children under the age of 2 because it contains health-threatening elements.  Many studies also show that these drugs do not work in children under the age of 6 and can have possible serious side effects. 

In which situations is cough in children risky?

• If the child has difficulty in breathing
• If he has a persistent, painful and suffocating cough • If
the cough is accompanied by vomiting and bruising, • If his
eating and sleeping patterns are disturbed due to coughing,
• If he has a barking cough or with a metallic sound,
• If he suddenly has a fever,
• If it produces yellow-green sputum,
• If a foreign body has been swallowed (cough may start after a few hours or days in cases where foreign body enters the bronchi and lungs.), you should contact your doctor without delay.