Why Children Cough

Children's Cough Remedies

When you hear one of your children cough, it's often the first symptom you notice that they might have a cold, the flu, or some other illness or disorder.

The type of cough your child has can sometimes give you a pretty good idea of what kind of illness or disorder it might be. The sounds children make when they cough can also help you decide whether a trip to your doctor's office is in order.

Below you'll find a list and a short description of the most common types of coughs that affect children.

Croup - Children who have croup generally have an intense, repetitive, persistent cough. Some people have compared it to the sound a seal makes when it barks. It's caused by swelling that occurs near and around the vocal cords.

Croup is usually caused by a virus, but it can sometimes be caused by allergies. Children younger than 3 are most at risk from this type of cough because their airways are smaller. Croup is often accompanied by a condition doctors call stridor, which causes the child to make a harsh sound when breathing in. This type of cough and breathing usually comes on suddenly during the night.

Pertussis or whooping cough - Pertussis is the medical name for whooping cough, a dangerous infection that affects the airways. Children with whooping cough make a unique sound that many people describe as a "whoop" (thus the name). It comes at the end of a long series of coughs when the child tries to take a breath. A runny nose, sneezing and a low fever are other symptoms.

Few children in industrialized countries get whooping cough anymore because most kids are vaccinated against it at an early age. It can be extremely contagious among those who have not received the vaccination.

Coughing at night - Children with a cold may experience a lot of coughing at night. This happens because mucus drains into their throat from their nose and sinuses while they're asleep.

Daytime coughing - Being exposed to cold air outside often triggers a cough, but even a child who stays indoor is likely to be exposed to irritants that are around more in daylight hours. Active pets, air fresheners, cleaning compounds, even certain food smells may make children cough. Keep children away from tobacco smoke when they have a cough of any kind.

A cough with fever - A child with a cough from a cold may also have a low grade fever. But if the fever begins climbing, especially if it reaches 102 Fahrenheit of 39 Celsius, there's a possibility of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a very serious lung infection and is especially dangerous for children. Call your doctor right away.

Cough with vomiting - Children with a bad cough sometimes vomit because the cough triggers their gag reflex. Plus, there can be so much mucus draining into the child's stomach that it causes nausea. This also happens sometimes in children who have asthma.

Wheezing and coughing - Wheezing usually indicates that air passages are swollen. This often happens with a viral infection or allergies. When you first notice wheezing, you might want to check to see if the child has swallowed something he or she shouldn't have. Wheezing can also be caused by a foreign object lodged in an airway.

Allergies - Children with colds may have a cough that lasts for several weeks. But if it lasts longer than that, talk to your doctor. It's possible your child is developing, or has developed, a condition like asthma or some kind of respiratory allergy. A child with a asthma or respiratory allergy may also cough more at night because airways become more sensitive and irritable.

Calling a doctor Most coughs that affect children go away without the need for a doctor's visit. But there are some clues to watch for that should motivate you to get medical help or advice. These include the following.

• When the child is struggling hard to breathe, is breathing faster than usual or is wheezing.
• When the child's lips, tongue or face begin to turn blue. This is a sign the child is not getting enough oxygen.
• When he or she has a high fever without a runny nose or stuffiness.
• When a series of coughs ends with a "whooping" sound.
• When the child is coughing up blood.

Infants, of course, need close attention. Call the doctor for children under three months old who have a fever, or have been coughing for more than a few hours.

For more information on what to do at home to make your child more comfortable and possibly stop coughing, click on children's cough treatment and best home cough remedies.