A 4-month-old child has a cough without fever: what to do?

The appearance of a cough in a child causes concern for many parents, but this symptom does not always indicate illness, especially if there is no fever or other signs of illness. However, there are diseases that manifest themselves as a long-term cough, so parents should know what diseases can cause a cough and how to treat it correctly.

Coughing protects the respiratory system from all harmful and unnecessary substances that can enter the lungs.

This reflex frees the mucous membrane from viruses, allergens, dust, bacteria and various harmful compounds. This is why periodic coughing up to 10-15 times a day is normal. And if parents do not notice any other negative symptoms, there is no need to run to the doctor or buy cough medicine.

In infancy, coughing can serve as a protective reaction against tears or milk entering the respiratory tract (a newborn may cry or choke on milk, and coughing acts as a protective reflex). If your baby is teething, excess saliva can also enter the respiratory tract and cause a cough.

The cause of frequent coughing in children, which is easy for parents to eliminate, is excessively dry air in the room. The sudden appearance of a coughing attack can be associated with the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract, for example, if crumbs get into the child’s trachea while eating.

Allergy. A child may react by coughing to house dust, various food products, household chemicals, plant pollen, fluff in the pillow and other allergens.
Bronchial asthma. The disease manifests itself as paroxysmal coughing, which often occurs at night.
Infectious lesions of the bronchi or upper respiratory tract. If the causative agent is a fungus, cytomegalovirus or chlamydia, there may be no increase in temperature. Parawhooping cough or tuberculosis can also manifest as coughing attacks without fever.
Residual cough after illnesses of the respiratory system, for example, after acute bronchitis. The baby may cough for several weeks after the end of the acute phase of the disease.

The appearance of a cough and runny nose without an increase in temperature often indicates an exacerbation of chronic rhinitis, for example, after hypothermia. In the case of such rhinitis, snot flowing down the back of the throat causes a wet cough. In such a situation, it is important to direct treatment to eliminate the runny nose, for example, rinse the nose with Aquamaris and instill drugs that constrict blood vessels.

Treatment of cough without fever should be comprehensive and aimed at the cause of the disease, since cough is only one of the symptoms. Children undergo various procedures, are treated with folk remedies, as well as medications prescribed by the pediatrician. Let's consider all treatment methods in more detail.

Among the medications prescribed by a doctor for coughs without elevated body temperature, the following groups of drugs are distinguished:

Antitussives. Medicines in this group affect the cough center in the child’s brain, so their use is justified for a painful dry cough. Children can be prescribed Sinecode, Paxedalin, Omnitus, Libexin, Codelac.
Antihistamines. Such medications are prescribed to children with an allergic cough without fever. These include Fenistil, Erius, Cetrin, Zodak, Zirtek, Suprastin.
Expectorants. They are prescribed when sputum appears to improve its separation. The most popular products in children are in the form of syrups, for example, Gedelix, Marshmallow Syrup, Bronchicum, Licorice Root Syrup, Doctor Theiss, Prospan, Herbion and others.
Mucolytics. Such drugs affect viscous sputum, as a result of which it becomes more liquid and makes it easier to cough up. These include Ambrobene, Bromhexine, Flavamed, Bronchipret, ACC, Fluditec and other drugs.
Antibiotics. Medicines of this group are indicated in case of a bacterial infection, which can only manifest itself as a cough without fever. The selection of the right drug and its dosage is carried out by a pediatrician.

For a dry cough with normal body temperature, steam inhalation can be performed. During such procedures, the child breathes over a pan of boiling liquid, such as a herbal infusion, or through a steam inhaler.
Inhalation using a nebulizer will help you cope with coughs of any kind. This is the name of a special device that can turn liquid medications into small particles and deliver them to the respiratory tract. Without consulting a doctor, you can pour saline or Borjomi into the nebulizer. If the procedure was prescribed by a pediatrician, nebulizer inhalations can be performed with Lazolvan, Rotokan, Tussamag, Miramistin, Furacilin and other medications.
When coughing against a background of normal body temperature, warming procedures are allowed, for example, rubbing the child’s feet with warming ointments or warm foot baths.
If the cough is wet, a special massage called drainage will help improve sputum production. Its peculiarity is the position of the child’s body - while the mother massages the back and chest, the baby’s head should be lower than the body.

It is recommended to give children with a persistent cough:

Tea with added honey.
Warm milk with honey and a little soda or butter mixed in.
Radish with honey.
A decoction of oregano, marshmallow and mother and stepmother.
Viburnum, ground with honey or sugar.
Infusion of pine buds.
Onion syrup with sugar.

If a mother suspects that a cough in an infant may be a symptom of some kind of illness (it does not go away for a long time and bothers the baby), the baby should be shown to a pediatrician.

No cough medicine should be given to infants without consulting a doctor. The pediatrician can prescribe medications approved for children up to one year of age, such as Prospan, Gedelix, Herbion ivy, Linkas, Licorice root syrup and others.

A persistent cough without other symptoms of illness for several weeks should be a reason for additional examination of the child.

The most likely causes of such a cough are an allergic reaction or too dry air in the room, so you need to take care of humidifying the air and take your child to an allergist. In addition, a persistent cough can be caused by psychological factors, which requires contacting a psychologist.

A popular pediatrician calls coughing an important protective symptom that helps clear excess mucus, bacteria, foreign objects or viruses from the airways. When treating a cough, Komarovsky advises focusing on thinning mucus by humidifying the air and drinking plenty of fluids.

A well-known doctor claims that ventilation, frequent wet cleaning, plenty of warm drinks and air humidification help to cope with cough along with expectorants. Komarovsky recommends giving any medications only after consulting a doctor, since treatment should be aimed at the cause of the cough, and not at eliminating the symptom itself.

Some advice from the doctor in the video below.

The diet of a child with a cough should be adjusted so that the baby does not eat either too cold food or very hot food. Prepare nutritious but light meals for your child. Focus on drinking more, giving your daughter or son compote, tea, milk, herbal decoction, fruit juice and other liquids.
Ventilate the room in which the baby is located more often, and also humidify the air in it (preferably using a humidifier, but you can also use a damp cloth or containers filled with water). A cough should not become an obstacle to walking, because fresh air helps relieve it and help you recover faster.
If your child suddenly develops a fever, nausea and vomiting, a bluish tint to the skin, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or any other warning symptoms, do not hesitate to see a doctor. You should not postpone a visit to the pediatrician if your cough is whistling or hoarse.

You can rate the article here

Share this article with your friends if you liked it

Revolutionary, 71 440000 Penza

Source: https://o-krohe.ru/kashel/bez-temperatury/

Causes and treatment of cough in infants without fever

Due to weak immunity, newborns often get sick. The most common symptom of the disease is a cough in an infant without fever. A cough is not always a symptom of a cold; allergies, heart disease, and inflammation often manifest themselves this way, so if this symptom appears, not accompanied by a fever, you should immediately consult a doctor.

There are cases of cough that are not associated with illness.

For example: when dust gets into the bronchi or trachea, in this case a cough will appear as a protective mechanism that activates the cleansing of the body from foreign bodies.

If snot or breast milk accumulates in the trachea, the body calls for a dry cough to help get rid of these accumulations. Also, if a child chokes on saliva or milk, this symptom may appear.

Disease or defense reaction

A cough that is not caused by a disease can be observed in a child only a few times a day and be short-lived, and the baby’s well-being will not deteriorate.

To get rid of this symptom, you need to hold the baby upright, so the stuck pieces of food will leave his body faster.

You also need to ventilate the baby’s room more often and humidify the air in it, doing wet cleaning daily.

In other cases, the child’s cough will be pathological in nature, and it should definitely be treated under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Causes of coughing in illnesses

Dry cough

Acute respiratory viral infection. With this disease, the child begins to have a dry cough, the intensity of which constantly increases, and this coughing gains the greatest strength in the evening and at night. Very quickly, in about 1-3 days, a wet cough replaces a dry cough. Often this phenomenon is accompanied by a runny nose, and the throat becomes inflamed and acquires a red tint.
Diseases characterized by inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. With this disease, the baby suffers from a dry cough constantly, throughout the day and night. With this disease, treatment should be carried out as quickly as possible, since inflammatory processes spread quickly, and the disease may also be accompanied by: runny nose, headaches, rapid deterioration of the child’s general condition.
A foreign body of significant size. When a foreign object enters the child’s body through the respiratory tract, the baby begins to cough sharply for quite a long time. If a child swallows an object and begins to suffocate, it is necessary to immediately provide first aid to the child. To do this, you need to put the baby on your knees, head down, and gently tap on the back with your hand, then open your mouth and pull out the obstacle. After providing first aid, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Also, this symptom can develop due to disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.
Poor ecology, gas pollution in the room, which can turn cough and runny nose into a chronic form.

Wet cough

It often appears during the recovery stage of ARVI; in this case, there is no need to fear for the baby if a wet cough is accompanied by clear mucus. However, if you observe yellow or green snot, this indicates an inflammatory process in the baby’s body.
Allergy. In addition to coughing, this reaction is often accompanied by snot. Allergies appear in newborns prone to diathesis. Some foods, things, animals can cause allergies in a baby. In this case, the cough becomes stronger when the child comes into contact with the allergen, as well as at night. Often a cough and runny nose are accompanied by sneezing, and your eyes may become watery.
Inflammation of the middle ear. With the help of this symptom, the child’s body reacts sharply to developing inflammation. If a child screams when pressing on the earlobe, then the cough has an inflammatory cause.

Cough and runny nose

A baby's cough and snot can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms that enter the child's body along with the air. With weak immunity, bacteria multiply very quickly, aggravating the course of the disease.

In this case, it is necessary to immediately prescribe treatment to prevent complications.

Cough and wheezing

Due to the narrow passages of the nose, infants are very sensitive to the quality of the air they inhale. If a child's nose is clogged with dust from dirty air, he may develop a runny nose and wheezing, as the baby cannot breathe fully.

To prevent this, it is necessary to frequently engage in wet cleaning, maintain ventilation and humidify the air.

This list describes only the main causes of cough in a baby, and only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis when examining the baby.

How to cure a cough

Only a doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment for a baby, since improper treatment can lead to serious complications.

The only thing parents can do is to ease the child’s cough by following these recommendations:

Maintaining normal humidity levels in the house. To do this, you need to collect water in containers and place them near working batteries.
If a runny nose appears along with a cough, you need to put a pillow under the baby’s head so that the snot will go away faster.
If your baby has a wet cough, you can do a back massage, which will help get rid of phlegm quite quickly.
It is necessary to ventilate the room more often or walk with the baby in the fresh air, dressing the child well, since a small amount of oxygen only aggravates the course of the disease.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods of treatment in most cases are not suitable for infants. Therefore, they can be used to treat children only under the supervision of a pediatrician. If, during consultation, the doctor allows treatment with traditional methods, the following may be suitable for infants:

Egg mixture. For preparation you will need: 200 g of milk, 1 tbsp. l. butter, 1 tbsp. l. honey, 1 egg yolk, 0.25 tsp. soda All ingredients need to be mixed, heated and given to the child 3 times a day.
Lime tea.
Chamomile decoction with honey. This decoction will help not only treat coughs, but also eliminate inflammatory processes.
Tea with lemon balm.

All teas and decoctions are prepared according to the same principle: dry leaves or twigs must be poured with boiling water and allowed to brew. Before treating a baby with these infusions, they must be cooled.

Prevention

Any cough can jeopardize the health and future development of the baby, so parents need to constantly ensure preventive measures against this symptom.

Prevention is as follows:

After going outside and when in contact with various types of contaminants, both parents and the baby must wash their hands thoroughly.
If you see that a person is coughing, you should not bring the newborn close to him, as his immunity is still too weak.
There is no need to keep flowering plants or animals in the house during the first year of a baby’s life.
To prevent a cough and runny nose, you should take your child for walks in the fresh air more often or, if this is not possible, at least ventilate the apartment.
After the first month, you need to start hardening the newborn.
Under no circumstances should you smoke in front of your child.
The mother should eat properly and take prescribed vitamins.

Doctor's prescriptions for ARVI

Often, a cough and runny nose, not accompanied by a fever, indicate an acute respiratory viral infection. Many doctors, based on the situation, recommend treatment with the following methods:

Antiviral drugs. They call for treating a sick child using immunomodulatory drugs that have antiviral properties. It is important here to choose a medicine that is suitable for the infant; candles are most often used.
If your baby is suffering from snot, you need to rinse your nose. This procedure is necessary so that the baby’s mucous membranes do not dry out due to mouth breathing, which makes cough treatment difficult. For newborns, rinsing is done using a saline solution, which is dripped into each nostril, three drops. After the procedure, a special oil solution, for example “Ectericide,” is dripped into the baby’s nose once, which will provide protection to the mucous membrane. Under no circumstances should you use antibacterial drops.

If your baby suffers from a cough, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. Only a doctor can tell you how to properly treat a baby after receiving the results of the necessary studies.

It is important to remember that you should never self-medicate, as this can only aggravate the course of the disease and lead to complications.

Source: https://grudnichky.ru/lechenie/kashel-u-grudnichka-bez-temperatury.html

Cough in a 4 month old child, how to treat without fever

Cough is one of the symptoms that can accompany inflammatory or infectious diseases. It often occurs in children under one year of age, since their respiratory organs are still imperfect. What to do if a child has a cough for 4 months, how to treat it without fever - this will be discussed in the article.

What kind of cough does a 4 month old baby have?

To start treating your baby, you need to understand the reason that causes cough in a 4-month-old child. Here are the following types of cough:

Physiological - such a completely normal cough is not accompanied by fever, the child eats well and sleeps normally.
Allergic - attacks occur in a certain room and under certain conditions, once you remove the source of the allergy, for example, woolen carpets, animals, indoor flowers, how does it go.
If a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, the cough is strained, paroxysmal, and emergency assistance cannot be avoided.
Dry - this type can accompany a cold or inflammatory disease, it is characterized by viscous sputum, which is difficult to separate, a strained cough, prolonged, and can occur at night during sleep.
Wet - sputum comes out well, characteristic of the end of the disease.

Both general recommendations and special procedures and medications will help cure a cough.

How to treat a cough without fever in a 4 month old baby

An important point in relieving a baby of a cough is to create comfortable conditions for him, which consist, first of all, of moist and cool air.

Before starting drug treatment, you can relieve your cough by doing the following:

thorough cleaning of the premises;
humidifying the air in the room;
reducing the temperature in the room;
removal of carpets, wool blankets, animals;
walks in the fresh air;
special exercises and massage.

All of the above will significantly ease coughing attacks. After this, you can treat a cough without fever with medication. Currently, the pharmacy chain has drugs that can be given to children up to one year old. Most often they come in the form of syrups or drops.

If a child has a cough for 4 months, the pediatrician will tell you how to treat it without fever. Drugs with the following effects are usually prescribed:

mucolytic, they dilute sputum;
expectorants, they facilitate the discharge of sputum;
calming, they relieve spasms and reduce attacks.

Modern drugs can be produced in combined form.

In addition to taking the medicine orally, infants aged 4 months can be treated for cough using inhalation. To do this, it is convenient to use special nebulizer devices.

Inhalations for coughing in children aged 4 months

Regardless of body temperature, steam inhalations should not be given to children aged 4 months. A good result in the treatment of cough in children of this age is achieved by inhalation of saline solution, which is done using a nebulizer.

These devices effectively help in the treatment of inflammatory processes in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Breaking medicinal substances into microscopic particles, the device delivers them to the mucous membranes in the very accumulation of sputum.

The procedure can be performed twice a day, for 3-5 minutes, for five days. Inhalations are carried out in normal breathing mode. To increase the therapeutic effect, saline solution for inhalation can be mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with medications:

Lazolvan;
ambrobene;
fluimucil.

Another advantage of inhalations is that, due to his age, the child is only able to take liquid products, so treating him at this age with tablets or powders is very inconvenient. This is where liquid syrups come to the rescue.

Cough syrups for a 4 month old baby

For cough, infants can be given the following medications:

Ambroxol , syrup, is prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons, the medicine is given twice a day, 1/2 measuring spoon, treatment for more than 5 days is carried out only in agreement with the doctor.
Ambrobene , syrup, is given twice a day, 1 ml per dose.
Stoptussin , syrup for children, is given to children weighing over 7 kg, 8 drops 3-4 times a day.

It is important to note that the listed medications will work more effectively if the child is given some liquid after them. Of course, all drinks must be age appropriate.

At this age, the child can be given water; its amount per day during illness can be 100 ml. You can give your baby water in small portions between feedings. The drinking water temperature should be + 26 + 30 degrees.

If tea or carrot juice was introduced into the diet before the illness, then they can also be given to the baby.

When a child has a cough for 4 months, you can ask your doctor how to treat it without fever using traditional medicine methods. He will recommend safe and effective folk remedies.

How to treat a cough in a 4-month-old child using folk remedies

When treating an infant with folk remedies, it is important not to harm the baby. Sometimes even the thought of treating a baby with chemicals causes panic in parents. They believe that it is too early for their baby to take medicine. In this case, wraps and rubbing will help cope with the cough.

The simplest and safest remedy is camphor oil . It acts as a mild warming and distracting agent. A small amount, about 1 tbsp. l.

, camphor oil is heated to + 37 degrees and lightly rubbed into the chest and back. After which the child is wrapped in a dry diaper and covered with a blanket.

After 30 - 40 minutes, the baby needs to be changed into dry clothes and kept under the blanket for some more time.

A proven remedy for coughs that are difficult to treat is curd compress . For it you will need to take about 100 g of cottage cheese and 20 g of honey. The cottage cheese needs to be heated to +50 g in a water bath and honey added to it. Stir everything well and place on film.

Apply from the back and chest, cover with a diaper on top. Keep the mixture for 40 - 50 minutes. The procedure can be performed 2 times a day for 5-6 days. The curd compress is completely safe for the baby. Honey cake also has a mild effect on coughs.

It is not difficult to prepare it at home. It is enough to mix a few tablespoons of warm water with one spoon of honey and flour. From the resulting dough, form a cake to the size of the child’s back, cover it with a diaper and hold it for 40 - 50 minutes.

If the child falls asleep during the procedure, the cake can be removed after waking up.

Cough massage

In many cases, relief from cough and sputum discharge can be achieved with the help of a special massage. To do this, the baby is placed on his tummy so that his hips are slightly higher than his shoulders.

The procedure begins with lightly stroking the back along the spine. Then they move on to soft tapping with their fingertips in the area of the intercostal spaces.

I start tapping from the bottom, gradually moving up to the shoulder girdle.

The total duration of the procedure should be 12 - 15 minutes. If you use a small amount of Dr. MOM ointment for massage, it will be more effective.

A cough massage can be performed 2-3 times a day. This procedure has virtually no contraindications. After the massage, you can hold the baby in your arms with your head up for a while.

Despite the fact that many experts consider cough to be a completely natural condition of a child, it still needs to be treated. This is primarily due to the fact that a child who coughs heavily cannot eat and sleep peacefully. A 4-month-old child has a cough; what to treat without fever is decided by the doctor and the baby’s parents. In any case, treatment should be adequate and help the child within 1-2 weeks.

Adblock detector

Source: https://lechu-kashel.ru/kashel-u-rebenka-4-mesyatsa-chem-lechit/

5 reasons that can cause a child to cough without fever: says the doctor

Article last updated: March 24, 2018

Cough is the body’s protective reaction to the introduction of a foreign agent into the respiratory tract. Based on the nature of sputum discharge, it is divided into wet and dry. This allows you to select the right treatment in the future.

Causes of cough in a child without fever:

allergic component;
inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract;
foreign bodies in the respiratory tract;
helminthic infestations;
physiological cough.

Allergies and cough in a child

Children, especially under one year of age, are often susceptible to diathesis. Against this background, a paroxysmal dry cough may occur. The main thing here is to eliminate the allergen: dust particles, pet hair, indoor plants.

Pediatrician Baranov A.A. in his book he describes the primary and secondary prevention of allergic sensitization. To prevent hypersensitivity, you need to:

Maintain breastfeeding for as long as possible (at least 6 months);
eliminate passive smoking;
periodically (2 times a year) donate blood for specific Ig E, which indicates the presence of an allergic component;
exclude contact with animals, dust, etc. (hypoallergenic life);
follow a hypoallergenic diet.

If allergy symptoms occur, treatment is carried out with antihistamines (Zodak, Zyrtec, Loratadine), inhalations with drugs that expand the lumen of the bronchi (Berodual, etc.) up to 3 times a day. Inhalations with physiological saline solution (to moisturize the mucous membrane of the bronchi and upper respiratory tract).

It is necessary to strictly observe the age dosage and follow the doctor’s prescriptions. Any medications have contraindications, which must be read before use!

Laryngitis and bronchitis

These are insidious inflammatory diseases that are accompanied by a dry hacking cough. With laryngitis, it has a “barking” character and is accompanied by hoarseness.

It is dangerous because with it, especially in young children, swelling of the larynx quickly increases and an attack of suffocation may occur.

In practice, this usually happens in infants at 6–7 months. Laryngitis and bronchitis are a consequence of a cold and may be accompanied by other respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose. The cough can become chronic and last up to 2-3 months if not treated adequately.

What to do to prevent chronic cough?

First aid for acute laryngitis is inhalation with saline and adrenaline, in a ratio of 1:5, up to five times a day. This quickly relieves swelling of the larynx.
Drink plenty of fluids. You can give still mineral water in small sips.
Antitussives and mucolytics.

Foreign body in the respiratory tract

The cause of a cough may be the accidental entry of balls, buttons, coins or small stationery into the respiratory tract. The cough begins suddenly, the child’s voice disappears, breathing becomes difficult, and the skin turns blue.

In this case, an emergency call to the ambulance is necessary! Parents, be careful! Do not leave your baby unattended, hide all small objects!

Cough can also be caused by helminthic infestations. Some types of parasites are able to penetrate the lungs, which causes symptoms such as coughing. These are echinococcosis, alveolococcosis, which can easily be contracted from dogs and cats. You can catch psittacosis from parrots, which is also accompanied by a cough.

Because of this, skin rashes may occur, total immunoglobulin E and eosinophils in the blood may increase, which will falsely lead the doctor to think about an allergy.
But experienced pediatricians know that if allergic dermatitis or an allergic cough is suspected, it is necessary to exclude helminthic infestations in the child.
Twice a year it is necessary to take tests for worm eggs, especially if the child attends a children's group, and, if necessary, carry out sanitation with anthelmintic drugs.

Medications in the treatment of pathological cough in children

Antitussive drugs are divided into:

expectorants;
mucolytic.

The first group is used to improve sputum discharge. Drugs from the second group are intended to liquefy it.

Expectorants:

Stoptussin;
Codelac;
Bronchicum.

Mucolytic drugs:

ACC;
Ambroxol (Ambrobene, Lazolvan);
Ascoril.

The most common in pediatric practice is Ambroxol, or Ambrobene.

Children under 3 years of age should be given these drugs with caution, as there is rapid and profuse discharge of large quantities of sputum.

It is difficult for a baby to cough up such a volume. A good effect is achieved by using a nebulizer, thanks to which the drug directly enters the bronchi and lungs.

Herbal remedies are also useful. True, in order to avoid allergic reactions, you should not get carried away with them. For infants, calendula, chamomile and thyme are used.

Physiological cough

In newborns, due to the anatomical features of the respiratory system (the bronchial mucosa is delicate, covered with many blood vessels and a thin layer of mucus), a physiological cough often occurs, which allows the upper respiratory tract to be cleared of accumulated mucus.

Its peculiarity is that:

it is not accompanied by a rise in temperature;
the baby eats well, sleeps, and is not capricious;
does not require drug treatment.

Dr. Komarovsky advises to eliminate this type of cough:

ventilate the room 3 - 4 times a day for 10 minutes;
perform daily wet cleaning;
humidify the air;
walk in the fresh air for 1.5 hours.

During teething, in the fourth to fifth month of life, the child experiences profuse salivation, which may result in coughing. It also does not require treatment.

In general, we can say that coughing in infants under one year of age is a completely normal symptom, if there is no elevated temperature. This clears the airways of accumulated mucus and dust.

Article rating:

Source: https://kroha.info/health/disease/kashel-bez-temperatury-u-rebenka

How to treat a cough in a 4 month old baby

You need to understand that coughing is a natural process aimed at clearing the respiratory tract of foreign bodies and mucus.

Most often, spasms in a 4-month-old child are associated with insufficient development of the respiratory system and peculiarities of the gastrointestinal tract (regurgitation of food).

But under certain conditions, the appearance of uncontrolled chest contractions should be a reason to seek qualified help. For example, if you suspect pneumonia or tuberculosis.

Common Causes of Breathing Problems

First of all, parents must exclude the possibility of a foreign body closing the respiratory lumen.

A 4-month-old child is already able to grab various objects, so the risk that the baby simply chokes is very high.

If chest spasms occur without fever or other manifestations of a pathological condition, then it is necessary to perform a drainage massage and, if necessary, call an ambulance.

Allergic cough

Another cause of cough without fever is considered to be an incorrect response of the immune system to external stimuli. A 4-month-old child actively explores the world, inhaling various smells and touching objects. Chest spasms can be caused by household chemicals, washing powder, and even the perfume used by mom or dad.

You can suspect an allergic cough based on the following signs:

during a sharp exhalation, sputum does not come out;
nasal congestion appeared;
eyes become very watery, eyelids swell;
A rash and redness appear on the skin.

In order for the baby to stop coughing, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of contact with the irritant. Doctors recommend ventilating the room, increasing humidity, removing indoor plants and animals, and testing bedding for dust mites.

First teeth

The source of cough in a 4-month-old child can be the process of teething. According to statistics, gum inflammation occurs in every 3rd child. In this case, treatment is not required; you just need to wait until the bone tissue stops interfering with the baby.

It is important to be able to distinguish between a pathological cough caused by an infection and spasms that occur due to saliva getting into the throat.

How does your baby react to teething?

copious amounts of saliva;
increased body temperature;
There is no wheezing in the chest when coughing.

Many mothers advise paying attention to the child’s mouth. Inflamed gums force the baby to constantly scratch them, so he puts toys in his mouth and is capricious during feedings.

Infection or virus

The most dangerous condition is when a child at 4 months learns for the first time to fight acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. Most often, the infection or virus is brought by parents on their hands or clothes. It is quite difficult to avoid infection, since the “little man’s” immunity does not yet know how to correctly recognize pathogenic microorganisms.

You can understand that a cough is due to damage to the body by pathogenic microorganisms by the following accompanying symptoms:

green or yellow sputum;
the child has problems with bowel movements (diarrhea);
body temperature rises sharply or, conversely, decreases;
When listening to the chest, wheezing can be distinguished.

Such signs of the disease require immediate medical attention. There is no need to be embarrassed to call a pediatrician at home. Often, timely assistance helps to avoid dangerous complications.

How to treat a cough

Pediatricians advise avoiding taking pharmacological drugs. Often, spasms in a 4-month-old baby can be calmed without medication. First of all, you need to allow the baby to move. The vertical position of the body and frequent turns of the body contribute to the accelerated discharge of sputum and a speedy recovery.

It's a good idea to drink plenty of fluids. A dry cough does not bring relief, so it is important to thin the mucus in the airways. Herbal tea, juice diluted with water or compote are allowed.

Drainage massage is very effective. You can treat a cough in a 4-month-old child by patting him on the back. The baby should be placed on his knees so that his head is slightly lower than his shoulders. Often such simple manipulations alleviate the condition of a small patient.

The use of medications must be approved by a pediatrician. Doctors prescribe pharmacotherapy when changing the regimen and humidifying the air do not give the desired result. Sometimes treatment combines several different medications, for example, during the day the baby is given syrups to ease coughing, and at night a sedative is recommended for normal sleep.

Popular cough medications for a 4-month-old baby:

syrups "Gedelix", "Prospan";
plant complexes “Solutan”, “Pertussin”;
breast mixtures in tea bags.

If the spasms are caused by an allergic reaction, the patient can be treated with Fenistil and Suprastin drops. The main thing is to correctly determine the dosage and obtain approval for the use of such drugs from a pediatrician.

Source: https://stop-kashel.ru/chem-lechit-kashel-u-rebenka-4-mesyatsa/

Features of cough treatment in children at 4 months

In some cases, a child’s cough is a sign of pathology, while in others it is not. Even children of the most caring parents are not immune from this condition. A healthy child coughs up to 10 times a day, mainly during the day. With a cold and other pathologies, the number of cough impulses increases significantly. How to understand the reasons for its appearance and how to treat a cough in a 4-month-old child?

How to understand the causes of cough?

A cough in a 4-month-old child has a different character depending on which parts of the respiratory system are affected and what caused it.

Whooping cough is one of the childhood respiratory infections. In this case, the cough of a 4-month-old child is paroxysmal, paroxysms occur mainly at night. characterized by a long breath, redness of the face and often vomiting.
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx. The cough is rough, reminiscent of a dog barking.
Tracheitis is inflammation of the trachea. The cough sound is very rough, like a “barrel”.
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi. In this case, at first there is no sputum, but it appears after a few hours, especially if the cause is respiratory viruses.
An attack of bronchial asthma. From the beginning, this is a non-productive cough, which, as the bronchi expand, becomes wet (viscous sputum is released).
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung tissue. In the first days it is a dry cough, which becomes wet as you recover.
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. This is a painful cough, which is accompanied by severe pain in the chest associated with the friction of the pleural layers against each other.

The state of the air also has a strong impact on the organs of the respiratory system. Thus, passive smoking and extremely low indoor humidity lead to a lingering, unproductive cough.

Coughing only at night is usually associated with inhalation of air contaminated with exhaust gases. A dry and persistent cough indicates excess dust in the room.

Most often it occurs in schoolchildren when classrooms are poorly ventilated.

In most cases, cough at such an early age is associated with a cold - acute respiratory infections. Their risk is especially high if the baby is bottle-fed.

However, a slight cough may indicate that the child has choked on something - milk or formula. To rule out this reason, gently tap on the baby's back.

Everything you need to know about cough patches for children

Therapy

Treating a cough is not an easy task. Under no circumstances should you give your child a drug that has an antitussive effect (suppresses the protective reflex of clearing the airways) and a sputum thinner at the same time. This will lead to the pathological secretion becoming very liquid, easily spreading throughout the lung tissue, and the mechanism aimed at removing it will be suppressed.

Therefore, only a pediatrician should treat cough. To promote the child's recovery, parents should only follow the general recommendations presented below (Tips section).

Pharmacological therapy is prescribed only if the cough disrupts the baby’s normal condition and threatens the development of complications. Most often, at this age, syrups based on Ambroxol or Bromhexine are prescribed. These active components have a complex therapeutic effect:

They dilute the sputum so that it is easier to remove, i.e. the cough impulse was more productive;
Facilitate the removal of the resulting secretion.

The main task in “antitussive therapy” is to make sputum liquid.

In addition, drugs based on Ambroxol and Bromhexine have a direct antiviral and immunomodulatory effect, i.e. influence the cause of the pathological condition. Thus, recovery from a cold is accelerated.

An important advantage of these drugs is that they do not increase the amount of sputum produced, so the cough does not worsen during therapy.

Be careful with herbal expectorants. Before the age of 4 months, they can cause allergies.

Some of these drugs are classified as narcotic drugs, while others are classified as non-narcotic drugs. Antitussive treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor. It is often performed in a hospital.

Tips for parents

A cough in a 4-month-old child requires not only taking medications as indicated, but also following general recommendations.

Ventilate the room regularly.

This will help reduce the concentration of pathogenic viruses and bacteria that are constantly in the air. Make sure there are no drafts. It is advisable to stay in another room for ventilation.

Cool air prevents mucus from drying out, so it is easier to remove.

It is good to use special air humidifiers. But if this is not possible, then a water container placed under the battery will do. This recommendation is especially relevant during the heating season, when the air humidity in the apartment (house) becomes very low. Under such conditions, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is constantly drying out, and this greatly irritates the cough receptors.

How and with what to cure a child’s cough at 3 months - recommendations

Give your baby more fluids.

What is the best cough drink? Of course, breast milk. It will not only make the resulting mucus less viscous, but will also transfer to the baby the protective antibodies that are present in mother's milk. There are especially many of them before 6 months of age, then the concentration decreases somewhat. If the water balance in the baby’s body is normal, then he urinates every 3 hours.

It is important for parents to monitor how often their child passes urine. If less than once every 3 hours, then the volume of fluid you drink should be increased.

Interestingly, liquid in the digestive tract is absorbed at a temperature close to body temperature. Therefore, in order for absorption to occur quickly, give water heated to 32-39°C. This is another reason why breast milk is the best liquid.

Don't let your baby lie in the same position for a long time.

This promotes stagnation of phlegm. In such conditions, pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply especially actively, so complications often develop. Turn your baby over every 30 minutes from one side to the other. It is good to resort to postural drainage techniques. Gently tap your fist on the back of the baby lying on his tummy, from bottom to top.

Conclusion

How and how to treat a cough in a 4-month-old child, depending on his condition and the reasons that caused this symptom, only a pediatrician can say for sure.

The doctor will definitely conduct an objective examination, only after that he will determine the diagnosis and give specific recommendations. Considering the potential risks of diseases accompanied by cough, treatment should not be delayed.