Most often, children get sick with colds in the fall or spring and, as a rule, the body easily copes with the virus within a week. But sometimes after the flu or other viral infection the child may have a cough. Long, who has had ARVI, is a fairly common occurrence.
Most parents panic if their child recovers. The next trips to hospitals begin, most often a long search for a diagnosis and the appointment of the wrong treatment, which, unfortunately, can even intensify a prolonged cough. What to do in this situation? How to get rid of residual cough in a child correctly? Let's try to figure it out.
To understand how to cure residual cough after ARVI or after influenza, parents, first of all, need to remember that the manifestation of cough is a protective reaction of the body. You can even say that during a cold, it is simply necessary.
Moreover, it is important that it is precisely the wet version of it that is present, which helps to remove it from respiratory tract all pathogenic microorganisms. A dry cough is more dangerous for the child's body.
Pronounced signs prolonged cough, which does not pose a threat to the child and is simply a residual reaction of the body after an illness:
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Causes of residual cough
Residual cough in a child after ARVI can be diagnosed if it lasts three weeks. But how to determine if this is the norm or is something more serious? If the main symptoms colds passed, but the child's cough does not go away, this can sometimes occur as a result of possible infectious complications.
The reasons for a lingering cough in this case may be as follows:
- pneumonia;
- chronical bronchitis;
- whooping cough.
But most often this is far from a terrible disease, but just the process of cleansing the respiratory tract from phlegm that could accumulate during a cold.
Parents should monitor the general condition of the child: temperature, activity, sleep. If even a slightly elevated temperature persists, an intestinal disorder is present, the child does not eat, etc., of course, you should consult a doctor.
Also coughing may indicate that the child has an allergy. What to do in this case? As a rule, here it is enough to identify the allergen and avoid it; you can give the child an antihistamine (Cetrin, Suprastin).
Usually, viral disease lasts about a week. During the infection, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract becomes irritated and becomes quite sensitive. Therefore, even ordinary dust or dirt will cause coughing.
So, we can highlight the main reasons why a child's cough does not go away for a long time:
A persistent cough in a child can be of two types:
- dry;
- wet;
A dry cough of a prolonged nature can remain with certain diseases - laryngitis, pharyngitis and even obstructive bronchitis. As a rule, with a dry cough, there is nothing to cough up, but the receptors in the airways are irritated. Therefore, the child can cough in a specific, as if "barking" way.
A wet cough means the release of phlegm from the airways. This cough is also called productive. It is by sputum that the nature of the disease is determined.
If the child's cough persists, you need to pay attention to the following alarming symptoms with a wet cough:
- sputum turns green;
- sputum contains blood elements;
- the child does not want to eat;
- the child has shortness of breath;
- chest pains appear.
In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor! If the cough does not go away for a long time, these signs may indicate pneumonia or even tuberculosis.
Here is a table useful for parents with the listed most common types of residual cough (Table 1). In the table, you can also find the main methods of treatment for this problem.
Table 1 - Types of residual cough and their therapy
| Type of cough | Possible disease, cause of appearance | Essential medications or treatments for cough |
|---|---|---|
| which manifests itself at least 2-5 times in one minute, lasts for a month after the illness | Appears after ARVI in a child, stops in the evenings, it is also called psychogenic | For treatment, antidepressants or antipsychotics are prescribed (Nervohel, Notta) |
| Dry, lingering cough with seizures | Tracheobronchitis or whooping cough | Anti-cough medicines (Sinekod, Libeksin) |
| Specific "barking" cough | Laryngitis | Medicines for cough (Stoptussin, Libeksin, when the acute period passes and the cough becomes wet - Ambroxol, ACC, Alteika) |
| Lingering, morning cough | Nasopharyngitis | Medical procedures to restore nasal breathing |
| Whooping cough | Seizures with recapitulations | Cough suppressants - Butamirate, antibiotics - macrolides (Erythromycin, Spiromycin). |
| Night cough | Bronchial asthma | Inhaled glucocorticoids (Budesonide, Salmeterol) |
| Painful | Onset of pneumonia | Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medicines (Nurofen, Erespal), antibiotics (Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone) |
In the autumn and, especially, the spring months, the body suffers from a lack of vitamins, the immune system weakens, during the period of intense stress at school, fatigue of the child's body is also possible. All this leads to the fact that children easily catch colds even from a slight draft or slight hypothermia.
Often, the child's body is weakened after illness and after antibiotics. Therefore, the recovery period is slow and after a cold, do not forget about prevention at home. Namely, to warm the throat, dress warmly, drink plenty of fluids, try not to overcool.
As already mentioned, in a month or two, the work of the lungs and the respiratory tract is normalized. After suffering a cold, this is normal. However, at the time of restoration of the functions of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, it is important to remember the precautions so that a relapse of SARS does not occur, and also to ensure that the cough does not worsen.
It is impossible not to pay attention to a lingering cough in a child without a fever, hoping that he can go away on his own. If left untreated, complications may develop. Still, it is worth checking with a doctor in order to heal a cold to the end.
Among the tests, they usually offer to pass:
- general blood analysis;
- sputum analysis;
- listening to the chest;
- chest x-ray;
- mantoux test, if necessary, to exclude tuberculosis.
The main question parents ask is how to treat residual cough in a child. AT folk medicine There are many methods that will help if a child's cough does not go away for a long time.
Here are a few of them:
When choosing how to treat residual cough, the main thing is not to harm the child. Therefore, you need to know in advance about possible contraindications (allergic reaction, individual intolerance).
If long moist cough the child has run without temperature for more than a month, you can consult a doctor to complete the treatment of the baby. In this case, expectorant drugs and mucolytic agents are usually prescribed (Mukaltin, Alteika, Ambroxol, Pertussin, Gerbion). Doctors can also recommend a course of chest massage.
If a dry cough after a flu or a cold does not go away for a long time, you can also ease the child's well-being a little in such simple ways:
- ventilate the room as often as possible;
- beware of sudden changes in temperature in the room in which the child is after an illness;
- humidify the air. Carry out wet cleaning once a day or install a specialized humidifier.
It is worth remembering that the cause of a child's long cough can be very different - from allergies to serious infectious diseases... Therefore, you should not self-medicate and, if serious symptoms are detected, immediately consult a doctor who will explain what to do.
If this residual phenomenon after a flu or a cold, then you need to carefully monitor the recovery process in order to prevent a relapse of the disease: warm the child, avoid hypothermia, give the child a lot of liquid to drink, enrich the diet with vitamins. To avoid such phenomena, it would be ideal to warn the child's body. It is necessary to strengthen the immune system in advance, before the onset of the seasons of colds.
It is normal for a child to have a cough in the first two weeks after suffering a respiratory illness. It is called residual and helps the body to quickly clear the mucus accumulated during the illness. But if the cough lasts a month, and there is no coughing up of mucus, this is a reason for contacting specialists. Perhaps he is a symptom of a serious chronic illness.
Causes of a lingering cough
Not always incessant appears after ARVI or ARI. Sometimes it is not accompanied by any additional symptoms and seems to start for no reason at all. This situation should be all the more cause for concern. After all, a cough is a reflex act and by itself it cannot be a disease. This is just a symptom, and the reasons that cause it can be very different:
- foci of inflammation - periodically fading and renewing again;
- chronic infections - mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc.;
- allergic reactions - with a weak effect of an allergen, it happens in a child who lasts more than one month;
- hypothermia - especially after intense physical activity in the open air;
- small foreign bodies - (grains of sand, wool, hairs, beads) can be in the respiratory tract for a long time, constantly irritating them;
- irritation of the larynx - caused by exposure to physical or chemical factors (polluted air, smoke, strong odors);
- reflux disease - severe irritation of the esophagus due to the throwing of stomach contents into it;
- psychogenic factors - severe stress, constant tension can cause laryngeal spasm and reflex cough.
Therefore, the first thing to do if a child's dry cough does not go away is to conduct a diagnostic examination and establish the exact reasons. Without this, even the most intensive course of treatment may not be effective.
Diagnostic methods
Usually, a child's diagnostic examination begins with a thorough examination by a pediatrician. He listens to the lungs and bronchi for wheezing or other sounds characteristic of serious diseases. If in doubt, an x-ray of the lungs is prescribed 
or a computed tomogram.
Sometimes bronchoscopy is necessary. This is not a very pleasant, but completely harmless procedure, which is carried out in a clinical setting using modern equipment. A thin tube is inserted into the bronchi, at the end of which a miniature video camera is installed. It allows you to examine in detail and assess the state of the mucous lining of the bronchi, as well as take sputum for analysis.
If the child is wet, then sputum analysis is simply necessary.... It allows you to identify the causative agent of the disease and at the same time test it for resistance to various medications. This means that the doctor will be able to prescribe the most effective course of treatment.
It is necessary to collect sputum for analysis correctly. This should be done in the morning on an empty stomach. It is also impossible to brush your teeth and treat your throat with medicines - this may affect the results of the study. You just need to rinse your mouth with clean water and spit out the phlegm into a sterile glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
If necessary, additional methods of examination can also be prescribed: blood tests, a test for tuberculosis, spirometry, etc. The importance of the examination cannot be underestimated.
Even such serious diseases as pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema, detected in time, can be cured or achieved a stable remission. And when neglected, they can be fatal.
Dry
If a child has a dry, lingering cough that is paroxysmal and does not go away for a month, the doctor may prescribe antitussive drugs. They work in different ways, so it's best not to buy them yourself. For example:
If the infectious nature of the cough is identified, a course of antibiotic therapy is necessarily prescribed.Many mothers take this negatively. And completely in vain! New generation antibiotics have minimal contraindications and side effects, but at the same time they allow you to completely destroy the pathogenic microflora that caused the underlying disease. And home methods can "heal" the disease and just provoke a long cough.
The only way to get rid of allergic cough is the intake of antihistamines. Their constant use is undesirable. Therefore, it is very important here to identify and eliminate the allergen as soon as possible. Often it is not possible to do this on your own, especially if the symptoms usual for allergies are implicit: there is no runny nose, swelling, redness of the eyes and skin rashes. Then it is better to contact an allergist - he can prescribe tests that will help narrow the range of searches.
Don't forget about immunomodulators. They are effective not only for acute respiratory viral infections, but also in those cases when for a long time. Usually they are also prescribed for tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic pneumonia and other diseases. The most popular are "Interferon", "Anaferon", etc. They help the body to cope with the disease faster, but at the same time do not destroy the beneficial microflora that lives in the body.
In most cases, it is useful to combine traditional and folk methods treatment. But before doing this, it is better to consult a doctor.
Certain herbs and milk reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. Others enhance the effects of drugs. Rinsing, inhalation, warming up and massage will significantly speed up the healing process. With a correctly chosen course of treatment, even the most severe cough completely disappears in a maximum of a month.
Wet
A wet cough after a dry cough indicates an improvement in the situation and that the baby is on the way to recovery. In this case, the sputum leaves easily, it is transparent or milky white. Treatment should be directed towards ridding the child of mucus residues as soon as possible.
The most advisable is the use of sputum-thinning and coughing-out drugs: Mukaltin, Lazolvan, Ambroxol, Gerbion, Bromhexin, Alteika, etc.
It is also necessary to provide the child with:
Drainage massage and breathing exercises contribute well to the active discharge of sputum. It is better if a specialist shows you how to do it correctly. The course of treatment should be at least 7-10 procedures, which must be performed daily. All this time, the baby should be warm, otherwise a passing cough may worsen again.
Bed rest with normal and a little elevated temperature is no longer necessary, but noisy and too active games are best avoided. When the child moves, the lungs and bronchi are cleared faster than when the body is horizontal. Therefore, it is not necessary to forbid him to play in bed while sitting and move around the room. Of course, severe overwork should not be allowed - it is necessary to gently return the baby to bed in time.
Preventive measures
The best prevention of cough is a wisely structured daily routine, no stress and proper nutrition. Children more than adults need stability and a sense of security. And even more so if the child is sick. Thus, it will be possible to eliminate stress-induced long cough in a child, improve his general condition and mood.
Simple preventive measures that must be followed constantly will not allow the cough to drag on for a month or more:
During periods of mass illness, acute respiratory diseases one should try not to visit places with a child where a large number of people gather, and before sending him to a child care facility, carefully smear the nose with oxolinic ointment - it will not allow infections to penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.
If it does not take a long time, it is important not to run it. When you cannot cope with it on your own in 3-4 weeks, an examination is necessary. When, after the treatment, the cough returns again, a second examination and so on until an accurate diagnosis is established. AT childhood chances are good to completely cure even serious chronic diseasesbut every year they fall. This is why it is so important not to waste time.
Kachel is a natural physiological reaction of the body to the ingestion of a foreign object into the respiratory tract. This is normal and is intended to protect the body's respiratory function and normal gas exchange in the lungs.
However, if the child's cough persists, this is a reason to be wary. Its dry and wet appearance can be symptoms of various diseases and pathological conditions that require correction.
Although the described symptom is not dangerous, it gives a lot of discomfort to the child himself and his parents: a painful, "clogging" cough causes pain in the upper and lower respiratory tract, headache, does not allow you to sleep normally, etc. What do you need to know about such a manifestation?
What is a cough, why it occurs and lasts a long time
Cough is a defense mechanism aimed at evacuating foreign bodies from the airways. Such bodies can be both solid objects (for example, if food particles get in while eating), and phlegm, mucus with a large number of pathogenic bacteria.
This symptom appears as a result of irritation of a special type of epithelial tissue, which is richly lined with the walls of the trachea, bronchi and lungs. The villi of the epithelium become irritated, initiating the cough process.
However, if a child's cough does not go away for a month, this is already a pathology. It occurs as a result of a long production of mucus or irritation of the epithelium by the waste products of an infectious agent.Causes of prolonged cough in children
Continuous cough in a child is considered if the manifestation lasts more than a month. There are many possible reasons for the development of this symptom. Most of them are due to a pathological process. Among the most common diseases:
Allergic reactions
The most common pathological cause of persistent cough in children. We can talk about the following diseases:
- Tracheitis. Allergenic inflammation of the trachea.
- Laryngitis. Inflammation of the larynx.
- Allergic bronchitis:
Most often it occurs in a chronic form with minimal symptoms. The manifestations include a prolonged dry cough.
Bronchial asthma is the most serious disease. It is a bronchospasm caused by the development of a pathological reaction.
At the heart of any allergic reaction is the immune response, during which the body takes the allergen for the causative agent of the disease and produces special antibodies to destroy the conditionally harmful substance.
As a result of the combination of the antibody and the allergen into a single complex, an active release of histamine and the destruction of surrounding cells occurs. In particular, epithelial tissues are destroyed, their irritation occurs and, as a result, a prolonged cough in children for more than one month.
- The presence of a foreign object in the respiratory tract:
These are relatively small bodies located outside the sensitive epithelium. In this case, the reaction will be sluggish if the body is in the pathways for a long time.
Reflux esophagitis
It develops much more often in adults, but if the child's cough does not go away for a long time, the cause may be gastroesophageal reflux.
As a result of the pathogenic process, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the lumen of the esophagus. Organ irritation is noted and, as a result, a cough reflex is initiated.
In the most severe cases, stomach acid can be released into the respiratory tract. This is extremely dangerous as it can cause suffocation and airway obstruction at some point..- Tonsillitis. It is an inflammation of the tonsils. Sore throat causes prolonged cough.
- Flow of exudate (mucus) into the pharynx. The reason lies in the same hit foreign body into the respiratory tract.
- Colds, SARS, flu, etc. Including pneumonia.
- Tuberculosis (a rare cause).
Physiological causes
- Excessively dry indoor air:
Atmospheric conditions play a huge role in the process of normal respiration. The respiratory tract must be moisturized, only then can the process of normal gas exchange be ensured. If the air in the room is excessively dry or the child breathes through the mouth, the pathways may dry out with the subsequent development of a constant cough reflex. For the symptom to go away, it is enough to humidify the air.
- Insufficient water intake:
For optimal production of mucus that moisturizes the trachea and bronchi, it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids. Another reason for coughing due to a lack of water intake is the multiplication of bacteria (after all, it is known that a dry environment is ideal for the growth of pathogenic microflora).
- Respiratory tract irritation with cigarette smoke:
Many parents smoke at home, this is a huge mistake. The smoke from cigarettes irritates the bronchi and leads to the development of chronic bronchitis (after all, we are talking about passive smoking).
The range of probable causes is wide. Only a doctor can understand such a number of factors. It is important to note that each of the noted reasons can cause both dry and wet coughs.
Typical symptoms
It is not so easy to understand the many reasons, but an experienced doctor will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis already at the initial consultation.
Parents of a young patient also need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, as well as the nature of the cough (but it is strictly forbidden to engage in self-diagnosis and even more treatment).
How to distinguish one disease from another?
- Allergic cough. Almost always dry, "clogging", not counting the manifestation of tracheitis. Arises in the morning, intensifies in the evening and night. Accompanied by additional manifestations:
- Shortness of breath. After physical activity, shortness of breath occurs - rapid breathing due to the incipient obstruction of the airways.
- Sputum discharge (in some cases). Always clear, no blotches of blood or pus.
- Suffocate. Choking is the inability to breathe normally due to significant airway obstruction.
- Development of skin rash, runny nose, lacrimation. This symptomatology is common and develops almost always.
- A foreign object in the airway is characterized by a moist cough with a large amount of viscous mucus.
- The cough of an infectious nature is almost always moist, with the release of a viscous exudate. The phlegm is purulent, yellowish. Pain reactions are observed in the throat and chest.
- Symptoms are especially pronounced with pneumonia.:
Characteristic features: chest pain, shortness of breath, choking, an increase in body temperature to febrile marks (38-39 degrees), possibly an increase in thermometer values. This is a characteristic feature of an infectious cough, when an inflammatory process is noted.
- A dry, lingering cough in a child is possible due to tonsillitis:
Such a disease is characterized by a sore throat, the formation of serous plugs, oral breathing disorders, a sharp putrid odor from the mouth and nose. One of the most common forms of tonsillitis is angina.
- Reflux:
Causes a wet, lingering cough in a child due to irritation of the walls of the esophagus and trachea. Concomitant signs: pain in the epigastric region, intense heartburn and other dyspeptic symptoms (heaviness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting). Symptoms are especially severe at night.
- For tuberculosis, the characteristic signs will be: coughing up blood, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pain.
In all other cases, the underlying cause of the cough is not difficult to establish, since a clear causal relationship can be traced. These signs are enough to suggest the presence of a particular disease, but, as already mentioned, it is not worth making diagnoses on your own. Diagnostics and treatment are the prerogative of the attending specialist.
Diagnostics
Doctors-allergists, pulmonologists and otolaryngologists (ENT doctors) are involved in the diagnosis of the underlying causes of persistent cough in children. An integrated approach is required. This is the only way to identify the factor causing the cough.
Diagnostics is based on a number of instrumental, laboratory studies and functional tests.
Instrumental research:
- X-ray chest cavity... Provides an opportunity to assess the condition of the lungs. It is used to detect bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
- Bronchoscopy. It is prescribed for suspected neoplastic processes, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis. Allows the doctor to see the condition of the respiratory tract with his own eyes.
- MRI / CT diagnostics. It is considered the "gold standard" in diagnosing lung problems. Due to the high cost and low availability in Russia and the CIS countries, it is extremely rare.
- General blood analysis. It always gives a picture of inflammation: leukocytosis, increased ESR, low erythrocyte count. Eosinophilia is almost always observed in allergic reactions not corrected by pharmaceuticals.
- A blood test for specific immunoglobulin E. This substance is synthesized in large quantities during an immune (allergic) reaction.
- Blood biochemistry.
- Tuberculin test.
- Sputum analysis.
Don't forget about functional tests:
- Allergic tests. In the course of this study, the presence of allergies is revealed and it is established to which substances the body reacts most actively.
- Stress (provocative) tests.
- In combination, these methods are sufficient to identify the underlying cause of the cough.
Treatment
If the child's cough does not go away, the treatment will be predominantly medication and consists in eliminating the root cause of the manifestation.
- Antihistamines pharmaceuticals.
- Indicated for allergies. The first and third generation drugs have proven themselves best. The first generation is indicated for the relief of acute conditions, the third - does not act so quickly, has a mild effect and a minimum of side effects (for example, Cetrin).
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. Shown at infectious lesions... Designed to relieve inflammation (Ketorolac, Nise, etc.).
- Analgesics. Appointed when high temperature to relieve pain.
- Antipyretic.
- Bronchodilators. This includes Berodual, Salbutamol. Drugs in this group are designed to relieve swelling and spasm of the respiratory tract.
- Antibacterial drugs. Appointed only after sputum analysis and detection of the sensitivity of pathogenic flora to antibiotics. Self-administration is not allowed.
- Antiseptics (for throat diseases). Lubrication with silver iodide, Miramistin.
- Anesthetics (to relieve sore throat).
- Antacids (for reflux). Rutacid, Gastal.
At the end of the acute period, physiotherapy and breathing exercises are indicated. The specific procedures are selected by the attending physician. Self-medication is unacceptable.
Preventive actions
The disease is easier to prevent than to treat it later. To avoid a lingering cough, you must:
- Ventilate and humidify the room regularly.
- Do not smoke in the house under any circumstances.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid stress.
- Avoid contact with the suspected allergen (as much as possible).
- Timely sanitize all areas of chronic infectious lesions.
- Avoid contact with TB patients.
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene.
A lingering cough brings a lot of discomfort to the child. In most cases, it is pathological, but there are exceptions. In any case, it is possible to understand the reasons only with the help of a competent doctor. Self-diagnosis and treatment is a dead-end path.
May 20, 2017 Victor Marchione
To get an answer to this question, a doctor is needed: only a professional can accurately establish the etiology of a long-lasting cough, that is, diagnose the disease of which it is a symptom. Treatment will depend on this, which can be symptomatic (relief and weakening of cough) or etiological (elimination of the cause of the cough).
From a physiological and medical point of view, cough (in Latin - tussis) is a reflex reaction of the cough center of the brain in response to signals from irritated receptors of the respiratory tract. And so sensitive nerve endings are present not only in the nasopharynx or bronchi, but also in the diaphragm zone, in the outer shell of the heart (pericardium), in the esophagus and even in the gastric mucosa.
Pediatricians include among the causes of prolonged cough in children: respiratory infections, chronic forms of tonsillitis and sinusitis, pharyngitis (including atrophic), tracheitis, laryngotracheitis, adenoiditis, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory mycoplasmosis or chlamydia, the presence of cytomegalovirus, respiratory allergies (allergic pharyngitis and bronchial bronchitis).
In infants, persistent coughing during feeding can be caused by oropharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia - a violation of the swallowing reflex and the passage of food into the esophagus.
A cough that does not go away for a long time may indicate bronchiectasis, thyroid problems (hypothyroidism), left ventricular failure, gastroesophageal reflux, tuberculosis, intestinal dysbiosis, or the presence of worms in the child. Finally, it is possible that a long-term dry cough in a child is one of the clinical symptoms of papillomatosis or laryngeal cysts, as well as the initial stage of inherited cystic fibrosis.
Now you obviously have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bwhat to do if the child's cough persists? That's right, go to a good doctor and examine your child. Moreover, one must be prepared for the fact that an otolaryngologist, allergist, pulmonologist or gastroenterologist can be involved in the examination.
It should be noted that, according to pediatricians, only one case of a long-lasting cough in children out of ten is not associated with infectious inflammation of the respiratory tract such as ARVI, tonsillitis or bronchitis.
If your child's cough persists: treatment options
As can be seen from the foregoing, coughing coughing is different - and not only in terms of its cause. The "quantity and quality" of cough can vary over a wide range of manifestations this symptom: dry and with phlegm, with wheezing and whistling, leading to almost vomiting and looking like a slight cough ...
What to do if the child's cough persists due to infectious inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract? In such cases, it is necessary to use drugs with mucolytic and enveloping effects so that a dry cough (as doctors say, unproductive) becomes wet (productive). For very young children (up to 2-2.5 years old), this is enough: the child coughs up sputum and thus the factor that irritates the cough receptors will disappear. That is, the cough will pass. For older children, taking into account the frequent spasm of the bronchi, mucokinetic (expectorant) and bronchodilators are prescribed. But with a very strong (before vomiting) debilitating cough, you may need drugs that block the receptors of the tusson zones of the airways or the cough center.
Dosage of Ambroxol syrup for children under 2 years old - 2.5 ml 2 times a day; 2-5 years old - 2.5 ml three times a day; after 5 years - 2-3 times a day, 5 ml. Prescribed for laryngitis, tracheitis and pneumonia, Acetylcysteine \u200b\u200bis also suitable for the treatment of cough in cystic fibrosis. The instructions for this drug indicate that it can be used from the age of two, however, pediatricians recommend this drug only after 12 years (100-200 mg three times a day) And if at the same time the doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics, then Acetylcysteine \u200b\u200bshould be taken after two hours after them.
To relieve coughing fits with viscous, difficult to cough up, sputum, doctors may recommend combined drugs Guaifenesin (Tussin) or Ascoril. Guaifenesin can be used no earlier than two years of age. A single dose is 2.5-5 ml (every 4 hours), the maximum daily dose is 20 ml; for children 6-12 years old, the dosage is doubled. Taking this medicine, the child should be given more to drink. Ascoril is prescribed up to 6 years old, 5 ml three times a day, children 6-12 years old - 5-10 ml. When using It should be borne in mind that both of these agents increase the production of sputum, therefore, they cannot be used with a productive cough.
What to do if the child does not cough up phlegm?
To facilitate the excretion of sputum with a wet cough, plant products are needed containing marshmallow root (Althea syrup), licorice root, coltsfoot leaves and plantain, sweet clover, oregano, angelica, thyme (thyme). Decoctions are prepared from these medicinal plants at the rate of: one tablespoon of dry raw materials per 250 ml of water (boil for 10 minutes and insist for 20 minutes under a lid). You need to take them after meals - 50-100 liters twice a day.
The well-known Pertussin (taken in a teaspoon or dessert spoon three times a day) contains thyme extract, which also has antimicrobial properties, and is good for dry coughs - as an expectorant and emollient. Herbal medicine Bronchipret also contains thyme (essential oil), as well as ivy extract, due to which it helps to remove secretions that accumulate in the bronchi. Drops Bronchipret can be taken from three months (10-15 drops three times a day, after meals). After a year, the dosage is 10 drops, plus one drop for each year of life.
Ammonia-anise drops, which should be taken by children over 12 years of age, have not lost their effectiveness in facilitating the coughing of sputum - 10-12 drops each (previously diluted in a tablespoon of water) 3-4 times during the day.
Do not forget about steam inhalation of alkaline mineral water or ordinary baking soda (500 ml of boiling water - a tablespoon), as well as inhalation with infusion of eucalyptus leaves and pine buds (a glass of boiling water - a tablespoon).
What if the child does not have a cough that makes him vomit and does not allow him to sleep normally? It is for such situations that medicines muco-regulating principle of action, affecting the cough center. For example, Sinekod (Butamirat) cough syrup is recommended for children: 3-6 years old - 5 ml of the drug three times a day, 6-12 years old - 10 ml each, over 12 years old - 15 ml three times a day. Syrup is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age. A single dose of Sinekod drops (4 doses per day): children from 2 months to a year - 10 drops, 1-3 years old - 15 drops each, and over 3 years old - 25 drops each. This drug is contraindicated in newborns under 2 months of age. Taking Sinekod can cause side effects (headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin and hives).
What to do if the child's allergic cough persists?
The children's allergist, who identified a specific allergen that causes respiratory allergies in the child, apparently recommended this allergen (cat, parrots, fish, new woolen carpet, etc.) to be removed from the apartment. And, of course, he prescribed an antihistamine. It is best if it is a last-generation remedy that does not cause increased drowsiness and does not dry out mucous membranes (for example, Erius or Cyterizin). Drugs in this group are prescribed individually - depending on the intensity of manifestation of respiratory allergic symptoms.
A cough of allergic origin is removed with the help of inhaled corticosteroid preparations (Beclomethasone, Beklazon, Budesonide, etc.), the appointment of which is entirely within the competence of the attending physician.
We tried to imagine at least part of what to do if the child's cough persists. With the number of probable causes of a prolonged cough, parents should not risk the health of their children - seek medical help in a timely manner.
Childhood illnesses are unlikely to have passed at least one mother, and the most common among them, of course, are flu and acute respiratory infections. One of the main symptoms of such diseases is cough. It can be dry and wet, but usually after a week and a half, the baby recovers. But sometimes a child's cough does not go away for a long time, and the parents do not know what to do in this case. First of all, consider the reasons for this.
Why a child's cough does not go away for a long time: the most important factors
To understand how to deal with excruciating coughing attacks, you need to know what they can be caused by. Among the reasons for this condition, we highlight the following:
- The wrong atmosphere in the home. It may be too hot or dusty in the apartment, so it is recommended to carry out wet cleaning every day, humidify the air well, and remove dust collectors such as carpets or soft toys.
- The crumb does not drink enough which leads to increased dryness of the throat and, as a result, to the growth of pathogenic bacteria. That is why a child's cough does not go away sometimes for several weeks.
- Someone from your family or neighbors smokes,which also provokes throat irritation.
- There are often drafts in your home, so your baby may catch a cold again before he recovers.
- Your son or daughter character cough, as a reaction of the body to wool or dust.
If a child's dry cough does not go away for weeks, it is worth thinking about how to fix the situation. For this:
- Carefully keep the air humidity 40-60%. An excellent option would be, but if it is not there, you can get by with wet towels that are hung on the radiators in the warm season, frequent washing of floors and installing many containers of water to evaporate it.
- Consult a doctor who will prescribe special drugs that turn a dry cough into a wet one: Stoptusin, Gerbion, Libeksin, Sinekod, Bronholitin, etc. If, judging by the test results, a bacterial infection has joined, antibiotics are prescribed.
- A good result is given by steam inhalation with a solution of soda or alkaline mineral water.
Often a child's wet cough does not go away. But this state can also be dealt with:
