A cough is a sharp reflex exhale. It occurs as a reaction to the accumulation of mucus in the bronchi, the presence of foreign particles in the form of viruses and bacteria. A sharp exhalation of air in infants is poorly developed, because their chest muscles are still weak, so when coughing, vomiting often occurs. Any treatment should begin with a doctor’s call, and not with a visit to the pharmacy. Moreover, this must be done immediately, because the small body is still very imperfect and it will not be able to overcome the cause of the cough. Moderate inflammation in children is very easily complicated by acute.
Cough Reasons
Choosing how to properly and how to treat a cough in a 5-month-old baby, you need to find the reason. This is not a disease, but just a symptom. The reason can be both a commonplace cold and a foreign body entering the bronchi - the spectrum is wide enough. The most common causes of cough:
- ARVI;
- allergy reactions;
- laryngitis;
- airway obstruction;
- bronchospasm.
In an allergic reaction, the allergen can most often be dust, pet hair, plant pollen. A cough of this origin intensifies at night. At the same time, there is no temperature or runny nose. In the house and in the child’s room, there are usually plenty of dust collectors: curtains, upholstered furniture, toys, books, carpets, pillows, bedspreads, etc. The only treatment will be to eliminate contact with allergens.
In some babies up to a year, coughing occurs for no reason. It can be considered physiological when the lungs are cleansed of mucus. No treatment is needed.
Dry indoor air is a very common cause of a cough symptom. This is especially noticeable at the beginning of the heating season. Prevention is wet cleaning and the use of an air humidifier.
Children love to stick everything in their mouths and can accidentally swallow a small object, feather or hair. Such a cough begins abruptly with a cry, the child begins to suffocate. To release the respiratory tract of the child, it is better to tilt down and tap on the back with your palm. Try to open your child’s mouth and pull out the item. Even if you were able to pull out the item, show the baby to the doctor to examine the respiratory system.
During teething, coughing is an optional, but possible symptom. In this case, increased salivation occurs, if a cough occurs in the throat of which.
Features of baby cough
A cough in a 5-month-old baby has its own characteristics and differs from an adult.
- The child will be able to fully cough up phlegm only by 4-6 years. Up to this age, sputum can appear in the lungs, but cannot be excreted without assistance.
- A mild cough is complicated and goes into a difficult process very quickly.
- Unproductive dry cough often turns into vomiting. The threshold for the gag reflex is very low and is activated even with a minor irritant.
- A coughing child does not sleep himself and does not let his parents sleep.
- Most often, the cause of cough in infants is ARVI. For this reason, coughing and snot are fellow travelers.
- If the cough does not stop for a long time and becomes permanent, it is necessary to examine the child at the surgeon for anomalies in the development of the maxillofacial departments, esophagus and bronchi.
The principles of drug treatment
All drugs for the treatment of cough are divided into 4 main groups:
- Antitussive - act on the cough center and suppress it. Such funds are used for dry, unproductive, debilitating cough. For example, with whooping cough.
- Mucolytics - sputum is diluted and its secretion is facilitated.
- Mucoregulatory - block the production of sputum by the glandular cells of the bronchi. They allow the damaged epithelium of the respiratory tract to recover, accelerating recovery.
- Expectorant - promote the elimination of sputum. This is achieved by activating the movements of the ciliated cilia in the trachea and bronchi.
The principles of cough treatment according to Komarovsky E.O.
Komarovsky does not get tired of repeating to parents that with the first symptoms you do not need to look for miracle pills in pharmacies. This is more necessary for the self-affirmation of the parents themselves, in order to feel that for their child they bought the most expensive and most effective tool. It is better to direct all the energy to create the necessary conditions for the recovery of the baby.
What will the mucolytic do? It will increase sputum. But since the child has a weak chest, his ability to cough is minimal. He will not be able to increase the coughing push by force of will and will simply be choked with sputum.
Give a mucolytic and leave the child to sleep in a dry, warm room - this is the fastest way to obstructive bronchitis and pneumonia. So argues Komarovsky. Mucolytics abroad are not prescribed for children under 5 years old.
So how to treat a cough in a 5-month-old baby? It is necessary to improve the rheological properties of sputum, i.e., its viscosity, which is quite achievable.
And what needs to be done according to Komarovsky
To ease the cough of the baby, moisten up to 60-70% of the air in his room, do regular wet cleaning, the room temperature should be 18-20 degrees. Drinking plenty of fluids will no worse contribute to cough reduction than medicines from pharmacies.
Parents are sure that when coughing you can’t go outside, it is better to wait in the warmth. This is fundamentally wrong. Coughing is a direct indication for walking.
“If a child begins to cough when going out for a walk, this indicates accumulation of dry mucus in the bronchi. Fresh air quickly moisturizes it, and it increases in volume, causing a cough, ”Komarovsky writes. “In no case do not return home, and then with each subsequent walk the baby will cough less and less. You cough for 2-3 days and everything will stop, ”he emphasizes.
Non-drug literate cough relief in infants
Babies are shown bed rest for the duration of the disease. You can walk in the fresh air against the background of normal body temperature for at least 15 minutes, with a small one - 5 minutes, dressing the child in the weather and not wrapping him. If the weather is windy, at least stay on the balcony.
Ventilate the room regularly (every 40 minutes). The concentration of pathogens in the air is significantly reduced.
Humidifying the air in a coughing baby's room is very important! This prevents the drying of sputum. Dry air provokes a cough, and viruses multiply faster. It is advisable to have a humidifier at home, which should be switched on to the air ionization mode for disinfection and humidification. It has a sensor that displays the temperature and humidity level of the air.
In winter it is advisable to include it more often due to heating. In the absence of a humidifier, you can just hang wet towels, arrange basins with water, etc.
In case of hepatitis B, put the baby to the chest more often - protein is consumed especially quickly during illness. When the coughing baby falls asleep, periodically change its position for better sputum removal. It is desirable to make a pillow higher, this will facilitate breathing. Flowing mucus will not fall on the wall of the pharynx and tickle the larynx.
Physical methods of lowering the temperature in a 5-month-old baby are not used. This refers to rubbing with diluted alcohol, vinegar, vodka. Such methods are not shown up to 2 years.
The nasal passages are cleaned using a special aspirator (manual or electric). The child can also be washed with a spout using a solution of sea water ("Aqua Maris", "Aqualor", "Otrivin"). The temperature of the solution should be 37 degrees. After its introduction (after 1-2 minutes) the snot is sucked off with a small pear or a special suction.
Arguing on the topic of coughing in a 5-month-old baby, Komarovsky argues that in this case, heavy drinking plays a significant role: "A bucket of compote and fresh air - this is the treatment." As a drink, you can use compotes, chamomile tea, rosehip infusion.
Also in the pharmacy you can buy a complex of essential oils “Breathe”. You can drip a few drops on the bedding and let the baby breathe. These measures are already 90% of the help in eliminating cough. The share of drugs is only 10%. Komarovsky believes that babies, in principle, are not needed.
Go to the pharmacy
The use of drugs gives psychological comfort to parents. This proves to them the strength of their love for the child. Do not ask the pharmacist how to treat a cough in a 5-month-old baby. This is not worth doing, because its goal is to sell more. Evgeny Olegovich believes that drug therapy is acceptable, but it does not need to be carried away.
What rules should be followed?
How to cure a cough in a 5-month-old baby should be advised by a doctor. Not all drugs are suitable for babies, so the choice of medicine should be strictly justified. Do not buy babies with mucolytics. An abundance of drugs in pharmacies usually causes confusion.
How to treat a cough in a 5-month-old baby and what to take? Komarovsky indicates the safety and effectiveness of herbal preparations. On his advice, they are safe for the baby.
What to give to a 5-month-old child from coughing? In most cases, you need to focus on improving cough. An example of such drugs may be:
- "Althea";
- "Prospan" (derivative of ivy);
- "Gedelix" (ivy syrup - give in diluted form);
- Pulmotin;
- Sinecode
- "Panatus";
- ammonia anise drops;
- Pertussin (derivative of thyme).
Of the homeopathic remedies, Stodal is effective.
A cough medicine is given to a 5-month-old child only after they first make sure that there is nothing to cough, that is, a cough should be unproductive.
How to treat a cough without fever in a child?
Pediatricians prescribe the following drugs to infants:
"Ambrobene" - syrup can be taken even by newborns. It liquefies mucus, breathing eases and sputum. It can be used for inhalation. Take 2 ml per day.
How to get rid of a cough for a 5-month-old baby yet? You can take "Bronchicum". It contains an extract of thyme. Syrup is given 1 time per day for 0.5 tsp. Also prescribed "Stoptussin." These drops are intended for dry cough without fever. Give 1 drop after feeding 2 times a day.
Inhalations for the baby
When treating a cough in a 5-month-old child, steam inhalations are prohibited. But you can do the following - pour boiling water into the bathtub and warm the bathroom. Put a little essential oil into the water - eucalyptus, thyme, sage, etc. Keep the coughing child in the room for no longer than 5 minutes.
Massage
It improves sputum discharge. Massage can be done independently by one of the parents.
- The baby should be hungry, it is best to do the procedure before feeding.
- Mom sits on the edge of the sofa, legs need to be set at an angle of 90 degrees. The child is placed on his mother’s legs belly down.
- With one hand, the baby is firmly held by the legs, the other is gently tapped on the back. As a rule, children perceive this as a game and laugh.
The duration of the massage is 1-3 minutes.
Folk remedies
If a 5-month-old baby has a runny nose and cough without fever, then warming with decoctions of coltsfoot and plantain can be done.
Compresses with camphor oil, mashed potatoes, cabbage honey, rubbing the feet and backs with badger fat or warm camphor oil are considered effective.
A cough in a baby can also be treated as follows: vegetable oil is heated in a water bath, a small towel or napkin is moistened in it, applied to the back, covered with wax paper on top and the baby is wrapped. Hold such a compress for about 2 hours.
You can do garlic inhalation. Warming up procedures are allowed only at normal temperature for 20-40 minutes. In most cases, children fall asleep.
In the absence of allergies, some pediatricians recommend drawing an iodine grid on the back of a child. This is best done at night.
Warming up with salt when coughing in a 5-month-old baby is carried out similarly to a potato compress. Sew linen bags for it to prevent salt from spilling out. They are heavily heated with salt inside placed on a rolled towel and kept from one hour to two. The method is safe and effective. Dress your baby in dry clothes and do not go outside the next couple of hours after the procedure.
What can a 5-month-old child cough? From 4 months you can give a rosehip infusion, from a month - chamomile tea and fennel and anise infusion. They are given 1 tsp. between feedings.
Cough Prevention
For prevention, it is necessary that the child does not supercool and does not overheat. Be sure to walk with him in the fresh air. In the offseason, large congestions of children should be avoided during walks. It is advisable to give the baby a regular massage of the back and chest. The room where the baby is staying longer should be clean, moist, without drafts.