Coughing occurs due to an attempt by the body to clear the respiratory tract from excess sputum. As such, coughing is not a disease, but rather a means of combating its consequences. Therefore, methods of treating this symptom are determined by the diagnosis made by the doctor. And this diagnosis most often sounds "acute respiratory viral infection." An adult, having felt certain symptoms of SARS, rarely seeks medical help and successfully recovers. But if we are talking about a coughing child, then this requires the advice of a pediatrician, since only a qualified specialist will be able to correctly assess the causes of coughing and prescribe adequate treatment. Therefore, any treatment for a cough in a child should be started only after consulting a specialist.
If you are wondering: “Is the child coughing, what is the treatment?”, You should know that there are two types of cough: dry and wet. Dry or unproductive cough is a real torment for the child, because it causes painful irritation of the throat and does not bring any relief. In especially severe cases, vomiting may occur. If such a cough is accompanied by a barking sound, then this may indicate the development of the inflammatory process in the larynx - laryngitis. Also, unproductive lingering cough is one of the symptoms of whooping cough, the disease is quite difficult for young children, but it can be cured, especially with the help of antibiotic therapy in the early stages in a hospital. In this case, the treatment of a cough in a child is combined with the elimination of symptoms of throat irritation.
A productive wet cough usually appears a few days after the onset of an acute respiratory tract disease, its peculiarity is that after it the child feels relief, since mucus from the bronchi is coughing up. The appearance of a wet cough suggests that the disease is receding. If suddenly the situation does not change and after treatment the condition of the child becomes worse, then it is necessary to notify the doctor about this. Treatment of coughing in a child is best controlled by your pediatrician.
In the event that after a visit to the doctor it becomes clear that the disease, accompanied by a cough, proceeds without complications and does not require treatment in a hospital, then parents are quite capable of helping a sick child to cope with this unpleasant symptom. Their task is to provide the baby with normal conditions for the restoration of his body, namely, moist air, a comfortable temperature in the room and, very importantly, the purity of the air, which is achieved by frequent airing. Drinking plenty of water is also a must when coughing, it can be a compote of fresh or dried fruits, alkaline mineral water , fruit and berry teas with a high content of vitamin C. The temperature of the drinks should be approximately equal to the child’s body temperature. All this will allow you to replenish the reserves of fluid in the body and helps to thin the sputum in the respiratory tract.
To these actions, inhalations can be added, which will lead to intensive hydration of the mucus and will have a beneficial effect on the body due to essential oils and phytoncides of plant origin. But since this is a hot couple, parents should be extremely careful to protect the child from burns, and with younger children this procedure is generally better not to carry out. Small children are more likely to rub with coniferous or eucalyptus oil, but again, remember that a child younger than six months should not be rubbed. "Children's cough ... How to treat it," - often ask young mothers who do not know what to do except rubbing. Try joint inhalations using special devices.
If nevertheless all these measures do not help and the child is tired of a dry cough, then the doctor will prescribe mucolytic agents that will help make the sputum more fluid and ensure its discharge. These drugs, which are used in pediatrics, are usually of natural plant origin and come in the form of syrups with a pleasant taste and smell. The cough treatment for the child should be correct, and parents should monitor the regularity of medication.
Thus, there are many ways to effectively help a child with a cough, but parents should not use them on their own without hearing the opinion of the doctor.