A cough occurs when the lungs suddenly push out air.
What causes a cough?
Coughing is a reflex. It happens to the body automatically.
The force of a cough can clear an airway that is blocked.
It clears mucus and pus from the airways.
Irritation in the throat can cause a cough.
It is sometimes the symptom of asthma, heartburn, or allergies.
Smoking, second-hand smoke, and pollutants in the air can cause a long-lasting
cough.
Coughing can be a symptom of a viral infection, such as the common cold.
Coughing can be a symptom of a bacterial infection, such as bronchitis.
Coughing can be a side effect of some drugs and medications.
Coughing can be caused by congestive heart failure.
Babies who cough while feeding may be getting milk in their airways.
What are the different kinds of coughs and their treatments? There are many different kinds of coughs caused by many different things.
Treatment is also different. Never use cough medication for children under 2
years old before you talk to a doctor.
Cough with runny nose
May be caused by mucus running down the back of the throat.
Treated with a decongestant, available as over-the-counter cold medications.
Do not use for children under 2 years old before talking to your doctor.
Cough related to an allergy
Avoid whatever allergen is causing the reaction.
Often caused by dust or allergies to pets.
Take antihistamines.
Dry cough, tickling cough
Caused by throat irritation.
Sometimes helped by sucking on cough lozenges or hard candy.
Do not give hard candy or throat lozenges to children under 3 years
old.
Habit cough, psychogenic cough
Often described as a barking or honking cough.
Has no physical cause.
Habit cough can be caused by nervousness.
Emotional problems are probably the cause of a psychogenic cough.
For example, a child might cough to get their parents' attention.
Many people cannot stop themselves from coughing. They need to see a
doctor for help.
Short, dry, wheezing cough
Heard in asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
Loose, wet cough that brings up mucus
Usually caused by an upper respiratory infection, a cold, or sinus infection.
Caused by mucus dripping down the back of the child's throat.
Cough often begins at night after child has been sleeping.
Cough can occur during the day, too.
Child may have trouble breathing.
Continuous cough that sounds like a barking seal.
Remember that no cough medicine should be taken for longer than 3 weeks. Call
your doctor if the cough has not gone away by this time.
What are signs of a serious problem?
Coughing up blood.
Coughing with chest pain.
Troubled breathing.
Shortness of breath.
Losing weight without trying.
High-pitched sound or stridor when inhaling.
What can I do?
Notice all of the details about your child's cough to help find out what
is causing it. What does it sound like? When does he cough? Does it bring
up mucus?
Humidity sometimes helps ease coughing. Put a vaporizer near your child's
bed or steam up the bathroom.
Give your child plenty of fluids. It will help thin out the material in
his throat and make it easier to cough up.
Dextromethorphan (such as Delsym or Vick's Formula 44) is an over-the-counter
medication that may help ease cough.
Coughing spreads colds and infections from person to person. Teach your
child to cover his mouth and nose when he coughs. Have him wash his hands
after he coughs or sneezes into them.
When should I call the doctor?
Call immediately if your child has any of the symptoms described above in
"Serious problem."
Call if your infant less than 3 months old has a cough.
Call if your child also has a fever or abdominal (stomach) swelling.
Call if the cough brings up thick, greenish mucus that smells bad.
Call if the cough lasts for more than 10 days.
Call if your baby often coughs while feeding.
Quick Answers
A cough occurs when the lungs suddenly push out air.
Coughing can be caused by a partially blocked airway. It is also the symptom
of different viral infections, bacterial infections, and lung diseases.
Coughs may sound dry, gasping, wet and loose, or like a bark. Some coughs
bring up mucus. Treatment may aim to decrease the cough or to help it.
Signs of a serious problem include coughing up blood, having a cough and
losing weight without trying, troubled breathing, or a high-pitched sound
when breathing in.
Call the doctor if your infant less than 3 months old has a cough or if
your child has a cough that lasts for more than 10 days.
References
American College of Chest Physicians. Understanding and Treating a Problem
With Many Causes. (cited 2002 January 22). Available from: URL: http://www.chestnet.org/health.science.policy/patient.education.guides/cough.pted.html
Epstein BA, The Child Who Coughs, the Doctor's Office. (cited 2002 January
22). Available from: http://www.allkids.org/Epstein/Articles/Child_Who_Coughs.html
Kaufman DA. Cough. MEDLINEplus. 2001 October 16 (cited 2002 January 22).
Available from: URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003072.htm
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