A child’s wet cough has turned into a dry one: what can be done?

Since the structure of the respiratory system of a child is different from that of an adult, he is more often susceptible to colds and is more difficult to tolerate them.

Small openings in the bronchi, short length of the nasal passages, delicate membranes of the respiratory organs, and many vessels in a limited area of ​​mucous tissue contribute to easy infection and its rapid spread.

In a matter of hours, the affected airways swell, narrow to a minimum size, and the disease progresses severely. A runny nose and cough appear, which indicate the nature of the disease.

How to recognize the type of cough

Many inexperienced parents do not know the difference between a dry cough and a wet one, so they are in no hurry to seek help from a specialist.

A dry cough in a baby can be easily identified by the following signs:

• The attack appears suddenly and disappears abruptly. Sometimes it can go as far as vomiting.
• Often a dry cough occurs at night and does not last long: a matter of seconds.
• A painful symptom does not bring relief.
• Unproductive coughing causes chest pain and promotes further infection in the body.

If a child's wet cough turns into a dry cough, parents should be wary, as an attack may indicate the development of complications. In this case, the little man feels unwell. He has:

• poor sleep;
• chest pain;
• inflamed eye membranes;
• profuse lacrimation;
• weakness - the child becomes lethargic;
• gagging;
• loss of appetite;
• headache;

A wet cough with sputum is significantly different from a dry cough. You can recognize it by the following features:

• no chest pain;
• relief is observed after the attack;
• wheezing is present;
• before coughing there is a feeling of accumulation of mucus;

During ARVI, coughing attacks are sharp, strong, accompanied by weakness and elevated body temperature.

Laryngitis is characterized by barking, loud, slightly whistling cough.

With tracheitis, the cough is severe. It is dry, deep, chesty, painful, manifests itself both during the day and at night. Attacks can last quite a long time and be accompanied by slight sputum.

Bronchitis is characterized by paroxysmal loud coughing. This is the main symptom of the disease. In the first days, the cough is dry and obsessive, and then changes to another form and becomes wet, with sputum discharged.

Pleurisy involves the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and the upper membranes, called the pleura. The disease can be recognized by dry paroxysmal expectoration with sharp pain in the chest. The patient suffers from shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

Whooping cough is specific, so it is easy to recognize. It is painful, dry, leading to vomiting and manifests itself in the form of numerous attacks.

Measles is a serious infectious disease characterized by a dry, obsessive cough, rash on the cheeks, fever, and conjunctivitis.

When does a wet cough become dry?

Cough is the body’s reflex defense against infection. It helps clear the respiratory tract of mucus, where pathogens accumulate.

At the initial stage of the disease, a dry, irritating, painful cough appears. Treatment is aimed at making it moist . In this case, the patient is given expectorants that dilute the accumulated mucus and help remove it from the body.

When the child recovers, he only clears his throat. The symptom is not paroxysmal and does not cause pain to the baby. A single cough does not last long and goes away on its own.

If a child’s dry cough does not disappear after a wet cough, parents should be alerted. The main reason for this disease is improper treatment of the disease. This symptom requires immediate consultation with a doctor, as it can provoke the emergence of new diseases:

• If the infection affects the upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, tracheitis, and laryngitis occur.
• When microorganisms affect the lower respiratory organs, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy develop.
• Often, reflex spastic attacks lead to tuberculosis and whooping cough.
• There are cases when a wet cough turns into a dry one due to an allergic reaction to long-term use of medications.

Methods for treating intermittent cough

If the patient's wet cough has turned into a dry one, self-medication is unacceptable, especially for children. Otherwise, the process of restoring respiratory function may take a long time.

Therapy for adults

The main therapeutic task is to remove pathological fluid from the body. For this purpose, adult patients are prescribed mucolytic drugs: Mucaltin, ACC, Fluimucil, Bromhexin, Mucopront.

They activate the work of the cilia of the bronchial epithelium, reduce the adhesion and viscosity of sputum. Most medications in this group have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and expectorant properties.

When a dry cough after a wet one lasts for several weeks, inhalation procedures help. They are:

• hot, when breathing over the vapors of boiled potatoes, essential oils, medicinal plants;
• cold, using a special device - a nebulizer. The procedure excludes the internal administration of medications. To carry it out, liquid medications with mucolytic action are used: “Ambrobene”, “Lazolvan”, “Rotokan”, which are dissolved with saline solution.

Drinking plenty of fluids alleviates the symptoms of the disease. To eliminate dry cough, use rosehip decoctions, teas with lemon, honey and raspberries, decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, jelly, and warm milk.

Therapy for children

When a child has an infectious-inflammatory process, the following medications can supplement the treatment regimen.

• Antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Flemoxin Solutab, Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Suprax, Sumamed, Azithromycin.
• Preparations to enhance immunity: “Grippferon”, “Derinat”, “Imudon”.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: “Gerbion”, “Ambroxol”, “Bronchipret”, “Gedelix”.
• Hormonal and antihistamine medications: Pulmicort, Cromohexal, Dexamethasone.
• Expectorants: Bromhexine, Fluimucil, Gedelix.

In order to get rid of a dry cough, it is important to follow simple rules:

• Provide your child with plenty of warm fluids.
• Regularly humidify the indoor air.
• If your cough bothers you at night, you should place two pillows under your head.
• When wet cleaning a room, do not use aerosols or aggressive cleaning agents.
• Do not self-medicate; be sure to show the child to a pediatrician, who will prescribe the correct diagnosis and therapy.

Traditional medicine to relieve cough

Folk remedies can serve as an aid to basic medications. At home, decoctions based on medicinal plants are widely used. Coltsfoot, wild rosemary, chamomile, pine buds, licorice root, thyme, oregano, and thermopsis help eliminate dry cough.

Medicinal herbs are brewed as follows:

• Ten grams of herbal raw materials are poured into a glass of boiling water.
• The resulting mass is infused for about half an hour.
• Drink half a glass three times a day before meals.

Inhalation procedures using a nebulizer have a positive effect in the fight against the disease. They are prescribed to children from three years of age.

The technique helps to quickly get rid of dry cough and has a small number of contraindications.

The device directs sprayed medicinal particles directly onto the mucous membranes of the patient's upper respiratory tract, resulting in a rapid recovery.

The solutions used for the nebulizer are different. The most powerful drugs are:

• Bronchodilators: Berodul, Berotek;
• Mucolytics: Fluimucil, Lazolvan.

Simple mineral water helps eliminate dry cough. It thins mucus, promotes coughing, and removes stagnant biological fluid. Inhalations can be carried out using decoctions of linden blossom, plantain, sage and St. John's wort.

If the child is not allergic to natural honey, it can be used to treat residual dry cough. The bee product is washed down with warm milk with the addition of a teaspoon of baking soda.

Freshly squeezed carrot juice mixed with sugar syrup in equal proportions has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. The drink eliminates hoarse voice, sore throat, dry cough, strengthens the immune system, and activates the body’s strength to fight the disease. Drink a teaspoon of this natural remedy several times a day.

The child's wet cough turned into a dry cough

Cough without illness

Physiological cough can also occur in older children. If the child is not sick, there is no cough during the day, and a coughing attack occurs at night, pay attention to the humidity and temperature in the room. Elementary overheating and dry air lead to drying out of the mucous membrane not only in children, but also in adults. In children, the reaction to dry hot air occurs faster, since the child's respiratory tract is less adapted to the aggressive influence of the environment.

In the same way, a child can react to cigarette smoke, dust, and the presence in the air of strong odors of perfumes, household chemicals, and paint and varnish products made with solvents. In such situations, lowering the room temperature, moisturizing, ventilating and drinking plenty of warm liquids quickly calm the cough.

Cough as a symptom of illness

A wet productive cough occurs when the airways are cleared of mucus. In most diseases that begin with a dry cough, the appearance of a wet cough is a good sign, indicating positive dynamics in the course of the disease.

A wet cough is not painful. This cough is accompanied by wheezing; the child feels an accumulation of mucus and therefore often decides to cough up.

Read about what causes a wet cough in a baby and how to treat it in this article.

A child has a dry cough - the onset of the disease

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Reasons for the transition of a dry cough to a wet one and methods of treatment

If a wet cough turns into a dry cough in a child or adult, this indicates an increase in the viscosity of bronchopulmonary mucus. Typically, this process occurs with prolonged inflammation of the respiratory system, swelling of the epithelium in the bronchioles.

Dry cough requires complex treatment with the use of mucolytic agents that reduce the viscosity and elasticity of sputum. This helps clear mucus and restore the drainage function of the bronchi.

Ignoring the problem is fraught with the accumulation of viscous secretions in the lungs and bacterial inflammation of the ENT organs.

Why does a wet cough turn into a dry cough?

Cough is a reflex reaction that occurs when cough receptors are irritated by allergens, pathogens (fungi, viruses, bacteria), dust or mucus.

It performs protective functions, clearing the airways from bronchopulmonary sputum. During inflammatory and infectious processes, the amount of mucus in the respiratory organs increases 7-10 times.

This is due to an increase in the activity of glands in the bronchi and trachea, which produce liquid secretions.

Most often, a productive (wet) cough is provoked by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the laryngopharynx or bronchi. The mucus that flows down the walls of the airway irritates the cough receptors. Because of this, a reflex act occurs, accompanied by a sharp exhalation of air from the lungs. Thanks to it, the ENT organs are cleansed of pathogens and mucous secretions.

The reasons for the decrease in cough productivity lie in inadequate treatment of the underlying disease and non-compliance with the drinking regime. When mucus accumulates in the bronchi and bacteria or viruses multiply in it, bronchitis occurs. Therefore, if a symptom appears in an adult or child, it is necessary to promptly contact an ENT doctor.

Cough attacks are most often provoked by the following diseases:

• bronchiolitis;
• nasopharyngitis;
• postnasal drip syndrome (in other words, when snot flows down the back of the throat);
• pneumonia;
• whooping cough, influenza, measles;
• tracheitis;
• obstructive pulmonary disease;
• laryngitis;
• pharyngitis.

If a wet cough turns into a dry one, this indicates a chronic process in the respiratory tract and a disruption of the mucociliary system. It consists of ciliated cells with a mucous coating, which is produced by goblet cells in the trachea and bronchi. The mucociliary apparatus ensures the movement of sputum up the respiratory tract.

With a prolonged course of the disease, the viscosity of the mucus increases, which is why it is not removed from the respiratory tract.

Very often, a lingering dry cough occurs after whooping cough, flu, laryngitis and other infectious diseases. If the cough is either dry or wet in a child or adult, complex treatment is started using mucolytics (secretolytics) and expectorants (secretomotor) agents.

How to get rid of a painful cough

The principles of therapy are determined by the disease that provoked inflammation of the respiratory tract. A dry cough after a wet one is treated comprehensively with drugs of etiotropic (antibiotics, antiviral agents) and symptomatic (antitussive, mucolytic, expectorant drugs) actions. In addition, the following rules must be observed:

• eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;
• drink at least 1.5 alkaline drinks (milk, mineral water, herbal tea, cranberry juice);
• humidify the indoor air daily (relative humidity should exceed 60%);
• do daily inhalations with a nebulizer with saline solution;
• during attacks during sleep, place two pillows under your head.

In case of bacterial inflammation of the respiratory tract, steam inhalation should be avoided. An increase in temperature stimulates the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, which leads to a deterioration in health and progression of the disease.

Pharmacotherapy

If the cough becomes dry, the patient is prescribed medications that relax the smooth muscles of the respiratory organs and reduce the viscosity of sputum.

Without adequate treatment for a cold, the infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract. Then bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy occur.

The most effective drugs include:

• Stoptussin is a cough syrup of combined action that has antitussive, mucolytic and expectorant activity. Eliminates night attacks, reduces the viscosity of sputum and promotes its removal from the lungs.
• Prothiazine is a syrup with sedative, antiallergic, secretomotor and antitussive effects. Prescribed for dry spasmodic cough in adults and children over 2 years of age.
• Erespal - anti-inflammatory tablets that increase the internal lumen of the bronchi. They facilitate the discharge of sputum and contribute to the transition of a dry cough into a wet one.
• Bronholitin is an antitussive syrup that has antiseptic and bronchodilator properties. Relieves attacks of painful cough and prevents infectious inflammation of the respiratory tract when sputum accumulates in them.
• Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent that thins mucus and reduces its adhesive (gluing) properties. Normalizes the secretory activity of the bronchi and promotes the removal of mucus from the respiratory system.

To reduce the viscosity of mucus, resorptive drugs are used - sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride. After the transition from a dry debilitating cough to a wet one, expectorant tablets and syrups are taken - Libexin Muco, Bronchosan, ACC, Fluditec, etc. They stimulate the mucociliary system and accelerate the removal of bronchopulmonary mucus from the ENT organs.

In case of a protracted course of the disease, adults and children are prescribed inhalations with compressor and ultrasonic nebulizers. Unlike steam inhalers, they are used even at elevated body temperatures. To eliminate a dry and painful cough, the following drugs are used for inhalation:

• Berodual - expands the lumen in the bronchi, which promotes the outflow of mucus from the lower airways;
• Ambrobene - stimulates the functioning of the mucociliary apparatus, thereby facilitating the removal of sputum;
• Berotek - relieves cough attacks and increases the internal diameter of the bronchi;
• Troventa - inhibits the functioning of the glands in the bronchi, which helps reduce the amount of sputum.

Children with sputum that is difficult to separate are prescribed medications based on herbal ingredients - Thermopsol, Alteyka, Codelac Broncho with thyme. They are less likely to cause side effects and do not put much strain on the liver and kidneys.

Postural massage

If a wet cough becomes dry, a drainage massage is prescribed. This procedure is aimed at clearing the respiratory tract of stagnant mucus. The essence of the technique is to adopt drainage positions that facilitate the removal of viscous secretions from the lungs. During 1 procedure, the lungs are cleared of an average of 150-200 ml of sputum.

Postural massage includes a set of manipulations (patting, stroking) that ensure the movement of bronchopulmonary secretions up the respiratory tract.

For a dry, spasmodic cough, the patient is given mucolytic agents that reduce the viscosity of the secretion. And only after that they begin to perform the massage:

1. The patient takes the drainage position, lying on his side.
2. Place a pillow under the stomach so that the chest is higher than the head.
3. Having lubricated his hands with oil, the doctor begins to rub the central part of the chest.
4. After 7-10 massage movements are performed in the area of ​​the ribs and between the shoulder blades.
5. After 25-30 minutes, the doctor asks the patient to take a deep breath and cough up the mucus.

To facilitate the discharge of sputum, the patient turns the body, tilting his head down. To speed up recovery, it is recommended to take up to 1.5 liters of alkaline drink per day.

Traditional methods

To eliminate a dry, debilitating cough, traditional medicine is often used. For chronic bronchitis in children and adults, medicinal herbs and products that have secretomotor and secretolytic properties are used. The most effective remedies for nonproductive cough include:

• Radish with honey. The top part of the vegetable is cut off, removing all the inner pulp. Melted honey is poured into the resulting bowl and left for 6-7 hours. The liquid is poured into a clean glass and taken 1 tbsp. l. before meals 4 times a day.
• Onions with milk. Grind 2 large onions on a grater, then add 200 g of sugar to them. Add 1 tbsp. l. honey and 100 ml milk. Boil in a water bath for 5-10 minutes. The strained broth is poured into a glass jar and 2 tbsp is added to it. l. honey To eliminate dry paroxysmal cough, take 3 tbsp. l. decoction three times a day after meals.
• Phytocollection. Mix 5 g of plantain, medicinal chamomile and sage. Pour the mixture with 700 ml of boiling water. After 1 hour, filter the infusion and take 50 ml twice a day.

For a dry, tearing cough, it is recommended to use thyme and birch tar. They contain anti-inflammatory components that accelerate the restoration of the throat mucosa. With the systematic use of folk remedies, the feeling of pain and tickling that occurs during coughing is reduced. The most effective recipes for laryngotracheitis and bronchitis include:

• Tea with thyme. 1 tbsp. l. herbs are poured into 200 ml of cold water and brought to a boil. After 15 minutes, the liquid is filtered and taken warm twice a day - morning and evening.
• Birch tar. 1 tbsp. l. tar is mixed with 1.5 liters of warm boiled water and left for 2-3 days. Remove the film from the surface of the solution and pour it into a clean container. Take 10-15 ml 15-20 minutes before bedtime.

Before using folk remedies to treat dry paroxysmal cough in children, you should consult a pediatrician. Honey, tar and other highly allergenic foods often cause hives and skin rashes.

Why is a dry cough dangerous for the body?

• Delayed treatment of cough in adults and children leads to negative consequences and serious complications.
• 
• The symptom occurs against the background of inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs, so untimely treatment of the underlying disease leads to:

• pneumothorax (accumulation of gases in the pleural cavity);
• uterine prolapse (in women);
• inguinal hernia;
• vomiting;
• chronic fatigue;
• fainting.

Frequent coughing attacks lead to an increase in intrathoracic pressure, which is fraught with bettolepsy (cough fainting) and rib fractures. Young children are not able to cough up mucus effectively, which is due to insufficient development of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. A dry cough after a wet cough in a child leads to the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory organs. This entails pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis. Therefore, if a dry cough persists in a child or adult, you should contact an ENT doctor or pulmonologist.

Source: https://kashelproch.ru/vidy/suhoi/perehod-iz-vlaszhnogo

Dry cough after a wet cough in a child

The main reasons for the degeneration of a productive cough into a dry cough in children

Most likely, a complication of acute respiratory infections occurred, and the child began a new stage of the disease. Mainly as a result complications develop:

These diseases affect the child's pharynx and larynx. The mucous membrane of the pharynx or larynx becomes inflamed, which causes pain and a dry barking cough. Coughing attacks can be prolonged and usually occur at night.

The first thing parents should do is give the child a warm drink and organize an impromptu steam room. Bring the child into the bathroom and fill the bath with hot water. The steam filling the bathroom will relieve a barking cough attack.

His breathing will calm down.

And in the morning you need to call the local pediatrician at home. You shouldn’t drag your baby in this condition on public transport to the clinic.

Pharyngitis, symptoms and treatment methods

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the back wall of the pharynx. Pharyngitis is classified according to the location of inflammation:

1. Catarrhal, when only the pharyngeal mucosa is inflamed.
2. Granular, which is characterized by damage to the deeper layer of the pharynx - the lymphadenoid elements located under the mucosa.

Pharyngitis is classified according to the duration of the disease:

1. Acute, which may be accompanied by fever, a suffocating, lingering dry cough, and pain in the back of the throat.
2. Chronic, the symptoms are the same, but not as pronounced as in the acute form. The word “chronic” itself suggests that complete recovery has not occurred. The disease acquired a sluggish chronic form. In case of unfavorable conditions, pharyngitis becomes acute.

Pharyngitis is diagnosed by visual examination of a sick child. The following signs indicate this:

• Hyperemia is bright red, not only the tonsils are affected, but also the soft palate.
• Swelling and infiltration of the posterior pharyngeal wall.
• Inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, then there is no doubt that this is pharyngitis. How to treat pharyngitis in young children? As a rule, treatment is symptomatic.
• Antibacterial agents are very rarely prescribed. Today, Derinat spray has proven itself well for children. It not only kills pathogenic microbes, but also promotes mucosal regeneration. Well tolerated by children and easy to use.
• Usually it is enough to apply warm compresses to the neck area or rub the child with Dr. MOM warming ointment, dress him warmly, give him a warm drink, and put him to bed.
• Steaming your feet in warm water is a good way to relieve cough. Then you need to wipe the feet dry, massage them thoroughly and dress the baby warmly.

Laryngitis, symptoms and treatment

• I degree stenosis - the child breathes without shortness of breath, but when breathing there is retraction of the lower part of the sternum and the navel area.
• Second degree stenosis - cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle occurs, which indicates oxygen starvation due to poor air passage through the narrowed lumen of the larynx. The heart rate increases, and all the pectoral and abdominal muscles participate in breathing.
• Grade III stenosis is characterized by noisy breathing, sweating, and bluish pallor of the face.
• IV degree stenosis is a direct threat to life, loss of consciousness, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing.

Laryngitis requires bed rest and the following recommendations for treatment:

Source: https://lor-bolezni.ru/kashel/suhoj-kashel-posle-vlazhnogo-u-rebenka.html

Wet or productive cough in a child - how to treat it

Any child, even the most caring parents, can start coughing. At the same time, medicine does not always help in the treatment of wet cough, so parents should learn to make a diagnosis on their own and understand the treatment.

A child's wet cough develops for many reasons, each of which requires specific tactics.

To prevent the formation of complications and unjustified prescription of antibiotics, you need to know the reasons for the production of excess sputum in the respiratory tract.

Causes of wet cough in children

Phlegm is mucus that is produced by the glands of the trachea and bronchi. Sputum is pathological in nature, that is, it appears with the development of any disease. Although normally mucus is also produced, but in an amount that does not cause a cough reflex.

The sputum is often mixed with sinus secretions. This occurs in children suffering from a runny nose, in which mucus from the nose flows down the back of the throat into the trachea, where it mixes with sputum and is coughed up.

The causes of a wet cough in a child are divided into three groups:

• Non-infectious (overproduction of mucus, allergies, bronchial asthma).
• Viral infections (ARVI, viral rhinitis).
• Bacterial infections (sinusitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough).

Based on the color of the coughed up sputum, you can suspect the cause of a wet cough:

1. Transparent, liquid, mucous membrane appears due to allergies or viral infections.
2. Transparent, thick, glassy cough in bronchial asthma.
3. With impurities of pus, yellowish or green sputum due to a bacterial infection.

A wet cough can be cured only based on the cause of its occurrence. Since standard treatment is often prescribed, cough in children develops into a protracted cough, when it becomes unclear whether there is any disease or whether it is simply overproduction of mucus.

Important! Children under 2 years of age are strictly prohibited from giving mucolytics - drugs that thin out sputum. It is also not always advisable to prescribe these drugs to older children, since compliance with simple hygiene rules successfully replaces the use of mucolytics.

How and with what to treat a wet (wet) cough in a child?

Treatment of wet cough in children should include the following principles:

• An allergic cough goes away when the child’s contact with the allergen is limited. Until this point, taking antihistamines only relieves symptoms. Therefore, in order to get rid of a prolonged allergic cough, you should devote all your efforts to searching for the allergen, cleaning and purifying the air in your living space.
• The viral infection goes away on its own in 5-7 days if hygiene is observed. Most antivirals have no effect on the duration of a cold. But it should be remembered that in case of a viral infection there is no point or indication to take antibiotics.

• A bacterial infection can only be treated with antibiotics. But here, too, not everything is clear, because there are drugs of choice, and if they have already been prescribed to a child in the near future, their effectiveness during subsequent treatment drops sharply. In this case, reserve drugs help out. There are cases when doctors start therapy with reserve drugs, and if they are ineffective, it is difficult to choose a safe and reliable medicine.

Important! Mucolytics are recommended to be taken only in cases of bronchitis and pneumonia. In other situations, their use can cause hyperproduction of mucus, which the child cannot cope with, which will cause an exacerbation of a wet cough and the development of complications.

In addition to a wet cough, the disease manifests itself with other symptoms. First of all, you need to pay attention to body temperature indicators.

With or without fever

An increase in body temperature is caused by specific compounds - pyrogens. They can be infectious or non-infectious. Infectious include fragments of the shell of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

This explains the increase in body temperature at the onset of infection. Further, immune mechanisms are added to the mechanism of development of fever; they also ensure a rise in temperature during exacerbation of allergies.

A wet cough in a child without fever may be a consequence of uncomplicated rhinitis, a sluggish allergic process, or hyperproduction of mucus while taking expectorants.

The child should be treated using the following recommendations:

1. Put the child to bed, do not feed large amounts of high-calorie food to reduce heat production.
2. The inhaled air should be cool, below 20 °C, to increase heat transfer.
3. The baby should be warmly dressed or placed under a blanket, since the child should only breathe moist, cool air, and not freeze.
4. Drinking plenty of fluids is the main principle of reducing fever and combating wet cough. This causes thinning of the blood, sputum, profuse sweating and a decrease in body temperature.

Important! With the combination of these recommendations, you can lower the thermometer reading by 1-1.5 °C without taking pills. It should also be said that the use of medications will be ineffective if all of the above measures are not followed.

In case of heat above 38 °C, you can use rectal suppositories, syrup, tablets, most often Paracetamol is used for children. Fever above 39.5 - 40 °C must be treated by injection, which can be done by contacting specialists.

Important! If the child is lethargic, feels unwell, behaves inappropriately, is choking, does not want to drink at a temperature below 38 °C, then an antipyretic drug should be given immediately.

For colds, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections

With a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, expectoration of sputum is a consequence of rhinitis. That is, first the development of inflammation of the sinus mucosa occurs. Mucus drains down the back of the throat, spreading infection and irritating cough receptors.

This cough should be treated as follows:

• Rinsing the nose with saline solutions. You need to buy a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, which is sold in every pharmacy. The solution is poured into a washed nebulizer from under the vasoconstrictor drops and applied up to 5-6 times a day. You can pour the solution into the nose directly from a syringe without a needle and let the child blow his nose or use a blow dryer. Pharmacy salt drops – Aquamaris, Salin.

• If a cough has already appeared, then you can gargle with a solution of salt and soda. Add a teaspoon of salt and soda to a glass of water. The method is used only if the child can gargle and spit out the solution.
• Give your child warm compotes, tea, and water to drink. This event replaces taking expectorants.
• Frequent walks in the fresh air at any time of the year. In winter, at least take the baby out to the balcony to breathe.
• Ventilate the apartment, increase air humidity. The optimal temperature for a room thermometer is 20 °C.

If assistance was provided incorrectly, the viral infection may be complicated by a bacterial one, which will lead to the development of bronchitis and even pneumonia.

For bronchitis and pneumonia

A cough with phlegm in a child, which is accompanied by wheezing in the lungs, indicates bronchitis.

If the body temperature is elevated to 38 °C, there is no shortness of breath, and the child is not suffocating, then this indicates a mild course of bronchitis. Inflammation of the bronchi can be either viral or bacterial.

In mild cases, taking antibiotics is not recommended, since it is not always clear what pathogen caused the process.

Treatment for mild bronchitis:

1. Lowering the thermometer icon in the apartment to 19-18 °C.
2. Cleaning the apartment without using household chemicals, using simple clean water. Remove all carpets from the room where the child is.
3. Give plenty of fluids. Even if the baby doesn’t really want to, try to get him to drink.
4. When the temperature rises, follow the rules described above.
5. Mucolytics: Mucaltin, Althea and Doctor Mom syrups, Ambrocol, Bromhexine. The remedies will only work if the child is given something to drink.

For obstructive bronchitis you should:

• Observe all of the above.
• Antispasmodics, such as No-shpa to relieve bronchospasm and eliminate bronchial obstruction.
• In some cases, Eufillin is prescribed to expand the lumen of the bronchi.

Bacterial bronchitis with coughing up purulent sputum and high fever can only be treated with antibiotics. If all the symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, then we are talking about pneumonia - pneumonia.

The diagnosis is made on the basis of an X-ray examination of the lungs. The disease is treated only under the guidance of specialists and often in a hospital setting.

Medications

Treatment of wet cough in a child in cases of severe bronchitis and pneumonia includes the use of drugs:

• Expectorants are represented by herbal preparations - Alteyka, Mucoltin, Gerbion. Synthetic medications with a mucolytic effect - Ambroxol (Lazolvan), Bromhexine. Medicines are sold in the form of syrups, tinctures, tablets and injections. (Useful article - selecting expectorant syrup for a child with a cough)

• Antispasmodics – No-shpa (Drotaverine). Eufillin has a good effect.
• Antipyretic drugs based on Paracetamol. The active substance is contained in the form of rectal suppositories, syrup, powder, tablets. A single dosage is 10 mg per 1 kg of baby's weight.
• Vitamin C, group B.
• Antibiotics of the group of protected penicillins, aminoglycosides, sulfonamide drugs. You should take the medication for at least 5 days, even if the symptoms of the infection have subsided. The tablets must be taken strictly at certain intervals. The duration of treatment is determined strictly by the doctor.

When treating allergic diseases in children, antihistamines should be taken. Also, if the allergen is not found, and the child suffers from frequent exacerbations, then antiallergic drugs are also used for prevention.

Traditional methods

To liquefy sputum, infusions of the Chest Collection are used. For diseases of the respiratory system, preparations No. 1, 2, 3, 4 are effective. Herbs can be used in children starting from 3 years old. You can be treated with traditional methods from the onset of the disease for several weeks.

Important! If folk treatment does not have an effect or the baby’s condition worsens, you need to consult a doctor.

Inhalations

Breathing with herbal vapors can be done from the age of one year. Chamomile, pine cones, linden, and mint are used for this. Dry raw materials in the amount of 3-4 spoons are brewed in a glass. Then the infusion is poured into the bath and the child bathes there. It is better to clear the mucus after such procedures, so it is better to carry them out in the morning so that coughing does not interfere at night.

Older children can have inhalations over a bowl with infusion of herbs and essential oils.

List of the most effective oils:

1. Eucalyptus.
2. Tea tree.
3. Coniferous.
4. Cypress.
5. Mint.

If you have a device - a nebulizer, then with its help you can recover from a wet cough much faster. In severe cases of obstructive bronchitis and frequent attacks of suffocation, drugs that dilate the bronchi are used - Berodual, Budesonite (Pulmicort). Medicines are prescribed only by a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to take them on your own.

Patient care and suitable microclimate

If a child has a wet cough without a high temperature or with an increase in temperature, there is no need to limit the baby’s life activities.

The child should move actively to avoid sputum stagnation, walk outside and breathe fresh, cool air.

The apartment must be wet cleaned at least twice a day and dust must be removed well. It is important to roll up carpets and replace down pillows and duvets with synthetic ones.

The thermometer in the room should be below 20 °C. The air should not be overdried by heaters. You can place a bowl of boiling water next to the bed so that the water vapor humidifies the air. It is better to use special humidifiers. If the baby has allergies or bronchial asthma, then air purifiers have a therapeutic effect.

It is difficult for young children to cough up large amounts of phlegm, so they need help. The drainage massage technique promotes expectoration of mucus. In this case, you need to give the child a lying position, with the head end slightly lowered, or sitting, tilting the torso forward. The massage involves tapping on the back from bottom to top. The technique can be used from infancy.

Consequences and complications

The most serious complication is pneumonia. Children with concomitant pathologies and weakened children are highly likely to get sick, but often pneumonia in a healthy child is the fault of the parents. This means that the baby is being kept in the wrong conditions.

What you should not do to prevent a common cold with a wet cough from developing into severe pneumonia:

1. Do not force a child to breathe hot, dry, stagnant air. This happens if you do not ventilate the room and heat the air with a heater.
2. Do not give the child anything to drink. Even if he doesn’t want to, you need to cook compote, add sugar or honey, but give the baby something to drink.
3. Children should not be surrounded by dusty carpets, feather beds or heavy pillows. In such an environment, there is a high probability of developing allergies and frequent bronchitis with obstruction.
4. You can’t keep your baby at home during a cold; you should definitely go for walks on the street or on the balcony.
5. Antitussives should not be given for wet coughs. This is strictly prohibited!
6. You cannot give mucolytics for rhinitis or laryngitis, even if you have a cough. You need to rinse your nose and throat, and expectorants will only increase the spread of the disease.

Conclusion

In the treatment of wet cough in children, you need to rely on an objective assessment of the condition. If the child is active, has a normal appetite and is bothered by a wet cough, then it is quite possible to do without medication. But if there is a high temperature, purulent sputum, or deterioration of the condition, you need to contact a pediatrician and be treated with antibiotics so that a complication does not develop.

Wet or productive cough in a child - how to treat it Link to main publication

Source: https://MyKashel.ru/rebenok/chem-lechit-vlazhnyj-kashel-u-rebenka.html

A wet cough turns into a dry cough and vice versa

Many childhood diseases are accompanied by a cough, which in different situations can be dry or wet. The second option most often indicates the beginning of recovery, when productive coughing is observed. However, in some cases, the disease begins with a non-productive cough, then it becomes productive, and at some point it becomes noticeable that a wet cough has turned into a dry one. That is, the reverse process occurred for no apparent reason.

Transitions of cough into different states

During illness, cough can change from one state to another. For example, dry, unproductive coughing is observed at the very beginning of the disease. This is especially pronounced in children, but the same symptoms also occur in adults. During treatment, a dry cough turns into a wet cough, and many parents do not fully understand the features of this condition.

Typically, this phenomenon indicates the success of treatment and the beginning of recovery. Sputum begins to actively secrete and come out, and the airways are cleared. The doctor, examining the child, notes positive changes and recommends continuing the therapeutic course.

But what to do when a wet cough turns into a dry one? Indeed, in this case, all the produced sputum ceases to be expectorated normally and accumulates in the respiratory tract.

Long-term complex treatment will be required, therefore, you should not delay your visit to the doctor.

Timely measures will allow you to begin treatment of dry cough in time and then serious medical intervention will no longer be required. At an early stage, it is much easier to select the necessary medications and clear the respiratory tract of mucus.

Causes of transient processes

The main reason for the reappearance of a dry cough is the onset of the inflammatory process. Most often this happens when the disease is not completely cured, when the action of viruses is reactivated.

The reason may also be a weakened immune system that cannot cope with the additional load and does not fulfill its protective function.

Only the attending physician can finally deal with this problem after interviewing and examining the patient.

Cough itself is a reflex response of the body to the irritating effect of allergens, dust, mucus, and pathogenic microorganisms. It protects the respiratory tract by quickly removing excess mucus.

The glands in the trachea and bronchi are activated and begin to produce liquid secretion approximately 7-10 times the normal volume.

Along with the mucus, all foreign bodies come out, causing irritation of the cough receptors.

The main cause of wet cough is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

If treatment conditions are not followed and therapy is incorrect, cough productivity begins to decline. This is facilitated by the lack of abundant drinking and other drinking disorders.

If a wet cough turns into a dry cough in a child, this can be caused by pneumonia, whooping cough, influenza, ARVI, tracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis and other diseases.

The transition of the wet form to the dry state indicates possible chronic processes in the respiratory tract and dysfunction of the mucociliary system, which ensures the rise of sputum up the respiratory tract.

The spread of untreated infection leads to its entry into the lower parts of the respiratory system and the subsequent occurrence of bronchitis. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor, otherwise the acute form may turn into a chronic condition.

Symptoms and differences of cough reflexes

An intermittent cough that accompanies colds significantly worsens the child’s general condition. Therefore, timely treatment, during which a dry cough becomes wet, is of great importance.

It follows from this that the airways begin to actively clear mucus. Sometimes the reverse process is observed, and the cough becomes dry again. This condition manifests itself in the form of a prolonged or chronic cough.

In this regard, it is of great importance to know the symptoms of each type of cough reflex in order to catch a change in condition in time and begin proper treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is quite possible to continue therapy for a wet cough while it is already dry.

The main signs of a dry cough are as follows:

• It appears suddenly in the form of an attack and ends just as quickly. In some cases, it can provoke a gag reflex, especially in children. Usually lasts for several minutes.
• It may appear mainly at night or in the morning.
• Coughing does not bring relief, even after the attack is over.
• During and after coughing, pain is felt in the chest area.

In addition to the main symptoms, the patient experiences other unpleasant sensations in the form of constant headaches, redness of the eyes, and increased lacrimation. Sleep becomes restless, appetite disappears, general weakness and deterioration of well-being sets in. Nausea occurs periodically, turning into vomiting.

Productive cough has its own differences, manifested by specific symptoms:

• After a wet cough, a lump of mucus is felt at the exit of the throat.
• The cough itself is painless, without any discomfort.
• After coughing, the patient's condition noticeably improves.
• With a wet cough, wheezing is clearly audible due to the large amount of accumulated mucus. It is she who provokes coughing.
• Sometimes small children may experience shortness of breath.
• There are almost never attacks at night.

Treatment of dry cough with medications

If the transition of a wet cough to a dry form has begun, then its treatment is carried out in this direction.

Prescribed medications help relax the smooth muscles of the respiratory organs, reduce viscosity and thin the sputum.

In this regard, the patient is prescribed the following medications, which have proven to be the most effective:

• Stoptussin. Antitussive syrup with a combined effect. Provides mucolytic and expectorant activity, successfully fights nocturnal attacks, thins mucus and activates its removal to the outside.
• Bronholitin. Anti-cough syrup with antiseptic and bronchodilator effects. Stops painful attacks and prevents infection from spreading through inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract when sputum accumulates in them.
• Ambroxol. A mucolytic agent that thins sputum and reduces the adhesive properties of mucus. Under the influence of the drug, the secretory activity of the bronchi returns to normal, and sputum is easily removed.
• Prothiazine. Antitussive syrup that has antiallergic, sedative and secretomotor effects. Prescribed for spasmodic cough accompanied by spasms in the larynx. Suitable for adults and children from two years of age.
• Erespal. Anti-inflammatory tablets. They help to increase the internal lumen of the bronchi, remove sputum and transform a non-productive cough into a wet state.

The viscosity of mucus is noticeably reduced by taking resorptive drugs - ammonium chloride and sodium bicarbonate.

After the debilitating dry cough becomes wet, syrups and expectorant tablets are prescribed. These include ACC, Bronchosan, Libexin Muco, Fluditek and others.

Their action is aimed at stimulating the mucociliary system and accelerating the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract.

Children, in case of difficulties with sputum separation, are prescribed herbal medicines - Alteyka, Thermopsol, Codelac Broncho with thyme.

They rarely cause side effects and do not put much strain on the kidneys and liver. Inhalation procedures using nebulizers help well, especially effective for prolonged illness.

They are carried out with the following drugs intended to eliminate painful dry cough:

• Ambrobene. Improves the functions of the mucociliary apparatus, facilitates the removal of sputum.
• Berodual. Provides expansion of the lumens in the bronchi, thereby activating the outflow of mucus from the lower respiratory tract.
• Berotek. Stops severe coughing attacks, increases the lumen of the bronchi.

Use of traditional medicine

Preparations based on medicinal herbs and products are used in addition to the main therapy to enhance the therapeutic effect. Of these, the most effective are the following when a wet cough has become dry:

• Traditional black radish and honey. First, the top part is cut off, and then all the pulp is removed from inside the vegetable. Liquid honey is poured into the resulting cavity and remains here for about 6-7 hours. Radish juice mixed with honey is poured into a clean container and taken before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon four times a day.
• Milk and onions. Grind 2 large onions and sprinkle the gruel with sugar (200 g). Add honey (1 tablespoon) and milk (0.1 l) here. Boil the entire mixture in a water bath for 5-10 minutes. Strain, pour into a glass container and add more honey (2 tablespoons). Take 3 tbsp for regular attacks of dry cough. spoons after meals 3 times a day.

Source: https://medic-z.ru/vlazhnyj-kashel-pereshel-v-suhoj

The wet cough has turned into a dry cough. What should I do? - a wet cough turns into a dry cough in a child

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