A cough is a natural reflex that clears fluid such as mucus and phlegm from the chest or throat, and it occurs when the nerves in your airways get irritated. This is one of the most common symptoms of colds, allergies, asthma, or other virus infections such as influenza. To know what you should do with your children’s cough, it’s important to distinguish the reason for the cough.

Colds as Cause for Children’s Cough

It’s normal for children to have eight or more colds a year, as they are young and their immune system is still developing. Also, many cold viruses make it even harder for young children’s underdeveloped immune systems to fight against.

What to do: They will build up their immune system gradually and get fewer colds lasting from five days to two weeks. To ease the symptoms and help your kid well faster, you should: 

• Use a saline nose drop or nasal spray to clear out the nasal passages and airways. 
• Teach your children to gargle with saltwater.
• Make sure they drink plenty of water.
• If the symptoms worsen, such as developing fevers, pain, and discomfort, they can take children’s paracetamol to help. However, you should consult healthcare providers to find the best course of action.

Asthma Underlying a Children’s Cough

This is a chronic condition that involves narrowing and inflammation of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. The symptoms can be triggered by various factors, including respiratory diseases and environmental irritants. 

A children’s cough when they have asthma is usually dry, and it often occurs while playing or resting at night. Other symptoms of asthma you might see:

• Rapid breathing
• Chest pain or tightness
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing 
• Fatigue

What to do: work together with your doctor to develop an action plan in which all the information relating to your child’s asthma is listed, including the triggers, the frequency of the cough, and what medication they should take.

Whooping Cough - When Children’s Cough Has a Peculiar Sound

This is a contagious bacterial infection in the airways where the cough is caused by toxins released by the bacteria, which damage and swell the airways. The name comes from the “whooping noise” when inhaling after the cough. Whooping cough is a severe condition, especially for small children. 

Symptoms include: 

• Runny nose
• Fever
• Sneezing

What to do: You can vaccinate your child to prevent them from developing whooping cough. In case your child has whooping cough, stick to the instruction of doctors and healthcare providers for the best treatment. 

What About Allergies?

Allergies happen when your child is exposed to a particular allergen causing their immune system to overreact. The cause of allergies differs from person to person, such as pollen, environmental pollutants, animal fur, food, or even medication. 

Symptoms include:

• Rash
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing 
• Watery, itchy eyes

What to do: If your child experiences allergies often, you should take them to see a doctor or an allergy specialist to have it looked at. Once you find out what the triggers are, you should help your child stay away from them. In some cases, allergies can be severe if left untreated. 

Covid Cough in Children

Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in children are much less frequent than in adults. In most cases, the virus causes a milder infection in children, but some have become very sick.

The symptoms have a lot of similarities with the common cold or the flu: 

• Muscle pain
• Loss of smell or taste
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Runny nose
• Coughing

What to do: Contact a healthcare provider immediately and ask them whether they need a coronavirus test. Strictly follow the instructions of the doctor. 

Nevertheless, one of the best ways to make sure your children’s cough won’t come back is to keep an eye on their health and condition. By doing this, you will be able to act as soon as you see something wrong with them. 

The Hyfe Mind