Cough

A cough is the sound your child will make when the cough reflex suddenly expels air and secretions from the lungs. Continuous coughing lasting more than 5 minutes is considered a coughing spasm. Coughs are usually caused by a viral cold or viral bronchitis. Other common causes of a cough include croup, bronchiolitis, asthma and allergies. Pertussis causes a 2-6 week cough with post-cough emesis.

The distinguishing Pertussis features include: child appears to be choking or suffocation; ten or more coughs occure with each breath; choking lasts for 1-2 minutes and in half of the children the cough ends with a whoop. The most common cause of chronic cough is asthma. Some asthmatic patients will cough and not wheeze. Yellow or green sputum or phlegm is a normal part of the healing process of viral tracheitis or bronchitis. This means the lining of the trachea has been damaged by the viral infection and is being coughed up as new mucosa replaces it. Viral bronchitis causes a cough for 2-3 weeks. Antibiotics are not helpful in viral bronchitis. The main treatment for a productive cough is to facilitate it with good fluid intake, a humidifier and warm chicken broth or apple juice for coughing spasms if the child is older than 1 years of age. 

Reasons to Have Your Child Seen

We would want your child to be seen immediately if severe difficulty breathing, passed out with coughing, lips or face are bluish when not coughing, possibility of choking on small object that could be caught in throat or child is weak. Depending upon the situation we may want you to call 911. Reasons to seek medical assistance:

• Difficulty breathing (less than 1 year old) not relieve by cleaning of the nose
• Difficulty breathing (older than 1 year old) present when not coughing
• Lips have turned bluish during coughing
• Rapid breathing
• Fever greater than 105° F (40.5° C) if child is over 12 weeks of age
• Fever greater than 100.4 F (38° C) if child is under 12 weeks of age
• Fever present for 3 days
• Severe chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Continuous nonstop cough
• Child is less than 1 month old
• Age 1-3 months with cough lasting more than 3 days
• Any concerns you may have for your child

Home Care Advice for Cough

Cough Medicine for Mild Cough: For children greater than 1 year of age give 2-5 ml of corn syrup as needed as a homemade cough syrup. It may thin secretions and loosen the cough. After age 4, use cough drops.

Dextromethorpahn (DM) for Severe Coughs: Coughing interfering with sleep or school can use a cough suppressant (DM) present in most over-the-counter cough syrups if your child is greather than 1 year of age.

Coughing Spasms: Give warm apple juice or chicken broth to relax the airway and loosen up phlegm. Children greater than 4 years of age can suck on hard candy or cough drops to coat the irritated throat. Also, limit talking during these times. 

Benadryl for Severe Coughing Spasms: When swallowing warm fluids and breathing warm mist does not help, you can give a dose of Benadryl if your child is greater than 1 year of age to help suppress the cough and relax your child.

Vomiting: For vomiting associate with coughing give small, fequent amounts of fluid or formula. Cough induced vomiting is more common with a full stomach.

Humidifier: If the air is dry the use of a humidifier can help decrease the coughing. 

Avoid Tobacco Smoke: This will make cough worse.

Fever Medicine: If fever greater than 102° F give acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).

If you have any concerns about your baby's health, please call. This Website is meant to be a guideline, not a substitute for the care of a competent health care provider. Please do not give any medicines without talking to your doctor first. We are happy to help you in any way we can. 

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