Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of an illness in a child. From this, most parents often ask themselves what it is and how to treat it. There are many diseases in which a child coughs, and this is not always a cold or a viral infection. To begin with, you should recognize the causes, and only then eliminate the cough itself. However, in the first place, you should consult a doctor, as he will give the most complete information, including the ability to determine the disease by the accompanying symptoms and test results.
It should immediately be noted that physiological and pathological cough is conditionally isolated. In the first case, this is a natural process that does not require intervention and treatment. This kind is especially characteristic for small, including infants. In this way, the lungs and bronchi are released from the accumulated mucus, crumbs, foreign objects. If a 5-month-old baby coughs for no apparent reason, it is necessary to trace the factors accompanying this reflex. Physiological cough is characterized by short duration, periodic recurrence in the absence of other symptoms of the disease. Often he is so weak that the child does not even interrupt the game without noticing him.
Parents should be careful if the child coughs not as usual, with wheezing or an attack lasts long and painfully. It is worth remembering that one of the reasons may be getting into the respiratory tract of a foreign body, and, therefore, immediately check this option. To do this, the oral cavity of the child is initially checked, it is placed on its knees facing the adult face down, after which it is worthwhile to spend several sliding, jerking blows in the area of the scapula.
In the case when the cough is caused by colds or viral diseases, it is worth evaluating its appearance (dry, wet, barking), and try to make it the most productive, that is, with the discharge of sputum, and the attack should last as little and as painless as possible. For this, special medications and inhalations, which are prescribed by the pediatrician, are used. In the case when the medical worker has not yet examined the child, and it is necessary to alleviate the attack, it is better to turn to proven folk remedies, for example, herbal preparations or inhalations with warm steam.
It should be noted that the child coughs for some time even after the elimination of all other symptoms of the disease. In this case, it is recommended to periodically measure his temperature, monitor general conditions, and be shown to a doctor to determine the presence or absence of wheezing in the lungs.
It often happens that a child coughs at night. In cases where this interferes with rest, after consulting a doctor, you can give him antitussive drugs. However, you must be careful with such drugs and not abuse them, since this reflex is still a protective function of the body. Sometimes night coughing, especially in preschool children, can indicate diseases such as adenoids or gastrointestinal reflux.
In cases where the baby is tormented by a prolonged dry cough without obvious symptoms of a cold, it is worth consulting with such narrow specialists as an ENT, an infectious disease specialist, and a gastroenterologist.
An important condition for treatment, if the child is coughing, is the regimen. This will help not only create favorable conditions for the remaining components of the treatment, but also quickly restore strength, as well as contribute to the prevention of complications. It is necessary to protect the baby from any irritating factors, such as smoke, unpleasant odors, dyes, etc. The room where the patient will be must have high humidity (you can use special devices for this). It is also important to follow a diet and drinking regimen ( carbonated drinks and black tea are excluded).