Before deciding what to give the child with a barking cough, you need to determine the root cause of its occurrence. All appointments should be done only by the attending physician after a comprehensive diagnosis. If you self-medicate without establishing the cause of the dry cough, you can harm and provoke the occurrence of complications.
How to determine which cough
The main sign indicating that the cough is barking is that it looks like a dog barking. This is due to the fact that there is a strong swelling of the tissues of the larynx, which entails a change in voice.
It becomes hoarse, coarsens, sputum does not go away, and the process of coughing up causes a lot of trouble. This leads to a deterioration in well-being, weakness, depression, and refusal to eat and play.
If the treatment was not carried out correctly and in a timely manner, this can lead to a number of complications. The child during the course of the disease should be under the supervision of a doctor all the time, and if some symptoms appear, urgent hospitalization is required. These include signs such as:
- the appearance of chills and fever;
- changing the tone of voice;
- cyanosis of the skin;
- worsening swallowing and respiratory reflexes;
- excessive salivation;
- suffocation;
- lethargy;
- loss of appetite;
- nervousness.
Each of the symptoms individually may indicate the development of various diseases. For this reason, if several signs appear at the same time, you need to urgently consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of Barking Cough
What to give the child with a barking cough, largely depends on the reason that triggered its occurrence. Often provoking factors are the following:
- respiratory infections;
- neoplasm of the vocal cords;
- allergic damage to the larynx;
- the presence of a foreign body;
- congenital pathology.
If the temperature does not rise, then this may indicate the penetration of a foreign object into the larynx. In this case, pain appears. If the foreign body is small, then there may be choking.
Gradually, the cough intensifies and manifests itself constantly. If there is a suspicion that something is stuck in the larynx, then you should immediately contact an otolaryngologist or pediatrician. No need to try to independently remove a foreign object. This can lead to very negative consequences. Only a specialist can safely remove a foreign object without damaging the soft tissue.
A strong cough reflex in a child can occur against a background of mental problems. Similar pathologies are quite rare. In this case, a consultation of a neurologist and psychologist is required.
It is worth noting that in this case there are ongoing intense attacks of a fairly strong, barking cough, but the general well-being of the child does not worsen.
What diseases can a cough be associated with?
There are many factors that trigger a symptom that is not accompanied by a fever. It can begin in the presence of diseases such as:
- inflammation of the larynx and trachea;
- diphtheria and whooping cough;
- bronchial asthma;
- allergy;
- viral infectious disease.
If the child has whooping cough or diphtheria, then treatment must necessarily take place strictly in a hospital. Basically, this symptom appears at night and in the morning. This is due to the fact that during night sleep, lung ventilation is reduced. The bronchodilator secret continues to stand out, but does not recede. Gradually, it accumulates in the respiratory system and makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.
At the same time, a barking cough is complicated by the fact that sputum does not expectorate, but creates unpleasant and painful attacks.
Runny Cough
Such a combination may indicate dangerous disorders in the work of the respiratory system, as well as the development of various infectious and inflammatory diseases. A barking cough with a runny nose may appear as a result of pneumonia or bronchitis. In this case, allergy can be eliminated, since such reactions mainly occur without a cold.
Not all parents know what to give the child with a barking cough and how to treat it correctly. You can alleviate the condition with inhalation, which helps eliminate inflammation and relieve irritation in the respiratory system. For the procedure, you can use tincture of sage and fir oil. Inhale the steam for 10 minutes.
Additionally, you need to carry out a nose wash. For this procedure, pharmacy preparations, such as Aquamaris, No-salt, Dolphin or self-prepared saline, are used. To prepare it, you need 0.5 tsp. salt add in 1 tbsp. l boiled water.
To know exactly what to give the child with a barking cough and how to treat it, you need to consult your doctor. If the symptoms do not go away for a long time, you need to do an x-ray.
Main symptoms
Not all parents know what to give their child with a barking cough, and when it appears they begin to panic. In fact, this is a kind of protective reaction of the body to the effects of an allergen or other irritant coming from the external environment.
The main sign that appears at the initial stage of the course of the disease is the sounds that accompany the cough. They are quite similar to barking animals. The reason for this condition is swelling of the larynx. This gradually leads to a change in the timbre of the voice. Additionally, the child's condition worsens, and he becomes depressed. In addition, symptoms such as:
- severe weakness, breakdown;
- headache;
- heavy hoarse breathing;
- the appearance of swelling and inflammation of the larynx;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
If treatment is not started in a timely manner, then the risk of serious complications increases. The child is very difficult to tolerate dry cough. Attacks can be quite protracted, as well as very tiring.
It is worth remembering that in a child up to a certain age, the lungs remain not well developed. Because of this, the symptoms of certain diseases are quite acute. In a child, a barking cough without a fever can occur quite often. Without timely competent treatment, complications can occur. Among the signs of deterioration, it is necessary to highlight:
- strong voice change;
- bluish skin tone;
- a strong increase in temperature;
- the child loses consciousness;
- suffocating attacks appear.
It is worth noting that all these symptoms can pose a serious danger to the baby's life. Therefore, when they appear, you must immediately call an ambulance.
Diagnostics
To determine what to give the child with a dry barking cough, you need to immediately conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. Mandatory studies include a general analysis of urine and blood. You may also need:
- swabs and smears from the nasopharynx;
- blood serum test;
- study of the mucous secretion.
In addition, the doctor conducts a survey to accurately understand what symptoms are observed and what treatment to prescribe.
Treatment
It is very important to know what to give your child with a dry barking cough, so that you can quickly ease his well-being and speed up recovery. To do this, carry out inhalation with alkaline solutions or steam. You can also apply herbs, such as coltsfoot, chamomile, sage. It helps to soften the cough of inhalation with mineral water. This will help reduce the narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi and swelling of the larynx. In addition, herbs help reduce inflammation in the respiratory system.
In the room where the child is, you need to ensure the optimal level of humidity. To do this, you can use a humidifier or hang a damp towel on the battery. Evaporation of water has a beneficial effect on the bronchi, the cough becomes moist.
It is necessary to offer the child a warm drink as often as possible. With a dry barking cough, raspberry and chamomile tea helps. The liquid softens the mucous membrane of the throat, eliminating soreness.
No need to force a child to eat forcefully. Parents are sure that during the illness the body must gain strength so that the baby recovers faster. Refusal of food during a strong cough is considered quite normal. You can offer your baby low-fat broths and mashed potatoes. It is necessary to exclude any food that can irritate the throat, provoking an even greater cough.
In the absence of temperature, the child can do foot baths. Also, the legs are warmed by putting mustard plasters in socks. Feet should always be warm. It is important to take walks in the fresh air without contacting healthy children. Fresh air, especially after rain, promotes the production of sputum and a faster recovery of the baby.
If the cause of the cough is an allergy, then you need to determine the allergen and eliminate it. During the attack, the baby needs to be given antihistamines. However, to determine what can be given to the child with a barking cough, only the attending doctor can.
Medications
With a barking cough in a child, what kind of syrup should I give? Only a doctor can decide, based on the reason that provoked him. With angina, the child is prescribed antibiotics, as well as drugs that stop the cough reflex. A good tool is considered "Sinecode." In addition, a spray for the throat, which has an antimicrobial effect, is prescribed.
If the cause of the cough is inflammation of the bronchi or trachea, then it will be advisable to take anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as mucolytic syrups, in particular, such as Broncholitin, Ambrobene, Ambroxol.
What to give the child with a dry barking cough without a temperature, provoked by an allergy? You can stop it with antihistamines. They help reduce inflammation and irritation of the larynx, swelling. Such funds include Loratadin, Tavegil, Zovirax, Suprastin.
Many parents are interested in what to give the child with a dry barking cough with a temperature provoked by whooping cough. In this case, antimicrobial and antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as antitoxic drugs. Antibacterial drugs include Klacid, Augmentin, Ceftriaxone. These agents have a wide spectrum of action.
As a result of treating a child with antibacterial agents, dysbiosis can develop, which is quite difficult to treat. To avoid the death of beneficial microflora in the baby's body, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are prescribed. A good remedy is considered to be "Bifidobacterin", "Canadian Yogurt" in capsules, as well as other drugs.
To accelerate recovery and stimulate sputum discharge and thinning, children need to take syrups. Answering the question of what kind of syrup to give the child with a barking cough, it must be said that such means as “Alteyka”, “Ambrobene”, “Doctor Mom”, “Herbione”, “Broncho Veda”, “Deflu” are especially popular. , "Broncholitin", "Lazolvan."
If the temperature rises, then antipyretics are prescribed to reduce it. They also have analgesic effects and eliminate inflammation. These include Nurofen, Panadol, Paracetamol. To quickly eliminate laryngeal edema, it may be necessary to use hormonal agents: Dexamethasone, Pulmicort, Prednisolone.
What to give the child with a dry barking cough and pus in the eyes can only be said by the doctor after a comprehensive diagnosis. Therefore, when such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Folk remedies
What to give a child at 3 years old with a dry barking cough and whether it is possible to use folk remedies at this age is of interest to many parents. The main objective of therapy is to create conditions for the discharge of sputum. This contributes to a plentiful warm drink. It can be fruit drinks, teas, juices. If the child does not have lactose intolerance, then you can drink warm milk with the addition of soda and butter. Such a drink warms, envelops, moisturizes the mucous membrane of the larynx.
What to give the child at 1 year old with a dry barking cough, only a doctor can tell, therefore, when alarming symptoms appear, you need to immediately call a doctor at home. At this age, similar symptoms may indicate whooping cough. It is also allowed to apply:
- rubbing the sternum and back with honey;
- consumption of warm chamomile tea;
- steam inhalation of boiled potatoes.
For babies who are breast-feeding, you need to increase the number of feedings. Mother's milk is a natural antiseptic that helps speed up the healing process.
Tips by Dr. Komarovsky
Regarding what to give a child at 5 years old with a dry barking cough, Dr. Komarovsky has his own opinion. An experienced pediatrician says that the use of medications should only be in the most extreme cases, since the drugs only block attacks, contributing to the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory system.
More useful will be the provision of certain conditions in which the body can independently cope with the problem. The most important thing is to ensure optimal indoor air humidity. In addition, you need to often ventilate the room. You can use traditional medicine methods.
Possible complications
It is very important to know exactly what to give the child with a dry barking cough at 4 years of age and younger to prevent complications. If the therapy is incorrect, then respiratory failure, bronchial asthma and more serious problems may occur. This is important when it comes to treating a child of any age.