Dry cough in a child: what causes it and how to treat the symptom

A cough that lasts more than 2-3 weeks is considered persistent. It can be dry or wet, frequent or rare, but it always causes a lot of trouble and anxiety. A cough can interfere with sleeping, eating, and even breathing. If the cough does not go away for a long time, it is necessary to deal with the original source of the disease.

Causes

A cough of any kind is a symptom of the disease. A persistent cough may be due to a cold, serious infection, or other illness. The main causes of persistent cough:

A persistent cough in a child may indicate a number of diseases.

• ARVI;
• bacterial infection;
• allergic reaction;
• presence of helminths;
• severe runny nose and irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx;
• exposure to smoke or smog;
• foreign object in the respiratory tract;
• nervous shocks.

Most often, a cough is caused by the action of microbes or viruses and occurs due to infection of the respiratory system by pathogens. The cause of the cough may be worms; they cause a dry cough.

With heart pathology and the presence of diseases of the stomach or intestines, coughing occurs.

With adenoiditis and other inflammations of the nasopharynx, a cough appears, which worsens at night due to mucus flowing down the back wall of the nasopharynx and impaired nasal breathing.

If your child coughs constantly, this may indicate an allergy.

The causes of allergic cough vary from person to person. They depend on the type of allergen that causes an enhanced immune response in the child’s body. This cough occurs during bronchial asthma or hay fever.

A child may cough or cough frequently due to severe stress or emotional tension. A neurological cough occurs before important events in a child’s life, in a tense environment at home or in an educational institution, or after a strong fright.

A prolonged cough can bother you either every day or from time to time. To better understand its cause and determine subsequent treatment, it is necessary to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms.

Additional symptoms

A child who coughs constantly may have other symptoms associated with the illness. One of the important symptoms is the nature of the cough. A dry cough without fever can be caused by whooping cough or allergies. A wet cough is usually found with ARVI. Cough with fever occurs with bronchitis, flu, inflammation of the ENT organs, pneumonia and scarlet fever.

The cause of a wet cough can be determined by the color of the sputum.

A wet cough is considered productive and is characterized by coughing up sputum. Based on the color of the coughed up mucus, the doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis.

If the mucus has a green tint, this is a sign of pneumonia and sinusitis; yellow color indicates the presence of a purulent process. With tuberculosis, brown sputum appears.

Thick, whitish sputum is characteristic of ARVI; with allergies it is transparent.

The most dangerous is a paroxysmal cough with suffocation, especially in infants and preschoolers. This cough occurs when a foreign body enters the child’s respiratory tract.

The baby may choke on food during feeding or put a small toy into his mouth.

If parents are familiar with first aid techniques, they will be able to rid the child of a foreign object in the respiratory tract on their own; if not, then they must urgently call an ambulance.

A cough that occurs at night or in the morning and is accompanied by whistling and severe wheezing is also dangerous. It may be accompanied by high fever, shortness of breath, impaired consciousness, and respiratory arrest. Common additional cough symptoms include:

A runny nose is one of the most common accompanying symptoms

• runny nose and colds;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• intoxication and fever;
• inflammatory process.

Acute cough lasts up to three weeks. In the absence of proper treatment, it may be replaced by a lingering cough lasting 1-2 months. A chronic cough may not go away for a very long time, up to a year or more. It is usually a sign of serious illness.

Diagnostics

There is a physiological cough, which is a reflex aimed at removing phlegm, dust and foreign particles from the respiratory system. A healthy child can cough more than 15 times a day.

If the cough becomes constant, interferes with sleep, is accompanied by fever or vomiting, sore or sore throat, or if the child sneezes frequently, you must take the child to a pediatrician to diagnose the disease.

If you have a prolonged cough, the doctor must first rule out serious illnesses - whooping cough, laryngitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis. To diagnose the causes of cough, laboratory tests are prescribed:

To identify the causes of frequent coughing, a general blood test is taken from the child.

• general blood analysis;
• sputum analysis;
• allergy tests;
• stool examination for helminths.

A blood test shows the general condition of the child and the presence of inflammation in the body. Sputum is used to identify pathogenic flora that could cause the disease. An allergy test is carried out if there is a suspicion that the cough is allergic. It will help identify the allergen that is causing the problem.

Additional examination methods:

• radiography and fluorography;
• bronchography;
• fibrobronchoscopy;
• spirometry.

X-rays and fluorography help identify obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Bronchography is an X-ray examination of the bronchial tree using contrast. It is used if it is not possible to diagnose the disease using gentle methods, as well as if there is a suspicion of the presence of a foreign object in the respiratory organs.

The fiberoptic bronchoscopy method allows one to examine the mucous membranes of the patient’s trachea and bronchi under anesthesia. One of the indications for the procedure is a cough of unknown origin that lasts for over a month. Spirometry measures the patient's respiratory parameters, such as lung volume. The method is popular for bronchial asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease and allergies.

Treatment options

If any illness occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor. Depending on the cause of the disease, the doctor will prescribe medications that will help relieve the symptoms. There are two types of antitussives:

Different groups of medications are used to treat dry and wet cough in children

• drugs that prevent the cough reflex;
• drugs that thin sputum and accelerate its elimination.

Drugs from the first group are used to treat dry cough. The drugs are prescribed by a doctor when the cough becomes painful for the child, leading to vomiting and chest pain. After taking the medicine, the cough stops within 20-30 minutes.

A productive cough is treated with expectorants that help thin and remove mucus. For children, medications from both groups are available in the form of syrups and suspensions.

If the cough is caused by a bacterial infection, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. To choose the right medicine, the causative agent of the infection is determined using diagnostics. For allergies, antihistamines are prescribed and contact with the allergen is avoided.

To liquefy and remove mucus from the bronchi, inhalation is carried out with a nebulizer

Inhalations are also used to treat cough. The medicine in this procedure works directly in the respiratory tract, acting on the cause of the cough.

Inhalation reduces bronchospasm and helps thin mucus. Treatments can be done at home using steam or a nebulizer.

Steam inhalation is effective only for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and is contraindicated at elevated temperatures.

There are no such restrictions for a nebulizer. It generates an aerosol cloud of small particles, which allows the medicine to enter not only the upper but also the lower respiratory tract.

Inhalation with a nebulizer is allowed even for infants; it stops painful coughing well. For the procedure, either regular saline solution or special medications prescribed by a doctor can be used.

For effective treatment, inhalations should be repeated 2-3 times a day.

If you have a persistent cough, you can treat it with traditional medicine. Children brew herbs, such as chamomile and sage, and give them to drink several times a day. If a child coughs frequently, his throat may feel sore; in this case, warm milk with propolis or honey helps. Before using folk remedies, you must make sure that the child is not allergic to herbs and bee products.

Prevention

It is almost impossible to completely avoid childhood diseases, but if proper prevention is carried out, the child will get sick less. Ways to prevent persistent cough include:

Hardening is one of the most famous ways to strengthen children's immunity.

• hardening;
• humidification and air purification;
• proper nutrition;
• maintaining hygiene.

Prevention does not guarantee that the child will not cough at all, but the course of the disease will be easier. Children with chronic and recurrent respiratory diseases are recommended to visit a sanatorium and enjoy sea air.

If it is not possible to change the climate, then daily walks in the fresh air and a course of vitamins during the season of viral activity are mandatory. Prevention of allergic cough is also the absence of contact with allergens.

When dealing with cough prevention, you need to understand what the possible causes of its occurrence are. At the first symptoms of the disease, you should go to the hospital to immediately take control of the situation and prevent the development of a lingering or persistent cough.

Source: https://pulmohealth.com/bolezni/kashel/postoyannyj-kashel-u-rebenka/

Dry cough in a child: 7 causes, 6 symptoms, how to treat, the opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

A cough becomes one of the first symptoms of a cold in a child. It represents the body's defenses, aimed at cleansing the body of harmful bacteria. With the help of coughing, the mucus accumulated in the trachea and bronchi comes out.

At the same time, the choice of medication and treatment tactics depend on the nature of the cough and how it changes during the development of the disease. After all, what is used for a wet cough is not always suitable for a dry one.

And the reasons for the same dry cough are different.

Causes of dry cough

In children of the first years of life, a dry cough is caused by an increase in the viscosity of sputum, impaired “sliding” of sputum along the bronchi, and weak functioning of the bronchial muscles.

A dry cough usually occurs in the first days or first hours of the disease. More often this is typical for diseases such as acute respiratory infections, laryngitis, pharyngitis, whooping cough infection, influenza, parainfluenza.

Also, the cause of a dry cough can be bronchial asthma, neuroses, hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils, runny nose, pneumonia, bronchitis, foreign bodies in the respiratory organs, left ventricular heart failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergies.

If you have a dry cough, the doctor finds out the connection between the cough and:

• Contact with a child who has been coughing for a long time
• Body position, time of day
• Eating, the presence of pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (regurgitation, for example).
• Pathology of ENT organs (postnasal drip syndrome)
• Contact with allergens
• Physical activity, cold air
• Psychotraumatic situations

How to distinguish an allergic cough from an infectious one?

If a dry cough is infectious in nature, then there should be signs of infectious inflammation: acute onset, fever, deterioration of the condition. If the general condition is slightly disturbed, and the main problem is a cough, and the cough is prolonged, there was contact with something unusual, then most likely this cough is allergic.

Alarming symptoms when a dry cough appears

Contact your doctor immediately if:

1. The cough is paroxysmal. Occurred suddenly during the day, while eating or while playing.
2. The cough is rough, barking, disturbing hoarseness of voice, noisy rapid breathing, shortness of breath.
3. Temperature rise above 38.5 degrees for more than 3 days.
4. There is a second wave of temperature after improvement, accompanied by increased coughing, deterioration of health, and the discharge of thick, foul-smelling sputum.
5. Shortness of breath, frequent shallow breathing without fever, dry, obsessive paroxysmal cough.
6. The cough continues for more than 2-3 weeks.

Principles of treatment of dry cough

When treating a cough, not everyone thinks about eliminating its true causes, focusing primarily on eliminating annoying symptoms. It is worth remembering that cough is not a disease, but a symptom of an illness. The first step is to make a diagnosis and then determine a treatment plan.

A big mistake parents make is purchasing medications on their own without a doctor’s prescription. Incorrect treatment can worsen the course of the disease. Dry and wet cough require completely different medications.

1. Determine the source of cough (posterior rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, irritation of the cough center)
2. It is necessary not to treat a cough, but to increase its effectiveness.

1. The strength of the cough impulse, the ability to cough consciously, the strength of the respiratory muscles, the volume of air inhaled.
2. Quality of sputum (thick, thin)

An effective effect on phlegm is impossible without a sufficient amount of fluid to drink, clean, humidified air in the bedroom, and restoration of bronchial patency!

1. Drink plenty of fluids.
2. Airing the room. The air temperature is about 20 degrees.
3. Warmth on the chest.
4. Air humidifier (steam inhalation). Air humidity should be about 70%.
5. Distracting procedures (mustard plasters, for example) - be careful!!

Medicines for the treatment of dry cough

Medicines may:

1. Affect sputum rheology
2. Improve the functioning of the ciliated epithelium
3. Activate bronchial contractility
4. Reduce the excitability of the cough center
5. Reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings.

If a dry cough (especially in the first hours or days of illness) does not greatly harm the child, does not cause problems, is not paroxysmal, does not lead to vomiting, and the child feels well, then it is advisable not to suppress such a cough.

After all, if we prescribe antitussive drugs that act on the cough center in the brain, the child will stop coughing, and therefore the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria and foreign bodies will occur, thereby the cause remains inside, and the condition worsens.

Cough medicines such as Sinecode, Codelac, Stoptussin can be used only when the cough is ineffective and useless. For example, with whooping cough.

Another group of drugs are expectorants and mucolytics, such as ambroxol, lazovlan, ambrobene, ACC. They increase the amount of mucus, the sputum becomes thinner and easier to cough up.

Expectorants and antitussives should be prescribed by a doctor. The simultaneous administration of mucolytic and antitussive drugs is unacceptable. There are many herbal, purified preparations that are safe for your baby and can be used on your own. For example, plantain herbion, linkas, stodal.

The use of inhalations relieves cough well. There are inhalers that create coarse and fine solutions.

Coarse aerosols act on the upper respiratory tract, fine aerosols act on the lower respiratory tract. Inhalers capable of creating finely divided solutions are called nebulizers.

The steam inhaler creates a coarse aerosol, therefore it is intended for the treatment of the upper respiratory tract (runny nose, pharyngitis, laryngitis).

Inhalations should be carried out independently only with saline or alkaline solutions. A doctor must prescribe medications for inhalation. Inhalations should not be carried out when the child has an elevated temperature or if the child has purulent diseases, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, and sinusitis.

Massages and rubbing can be performed if the child does not have a fever. Rubbing with ointment with aromatic oils, for example Doctor Mom, is possible if the child is over 2 years old, has no allergies and the baby does not have whooping cough.

Drainage massage is indicated for bronchitis; it helps better discharge of sputum.

How to relieve an attack of dry cough, which can lead to laryngospasm

Very often, especially in children under 5 years of age, a dry cough is a harbinger of incipient laryngitis. It is useful for parents to know what to do in such a situation.

1. Make the air in the room humid. You can often relieve a cough that is causing your child to choke by simply turning on the hot water in the bathtub and closing the door so that the child can breathe in the steam.
2. You can steam your feet if your child does not have a fever.
3. Let your child drink more to moisturize the mucous membranes.
4. Use baby syrups. It is better to use natural ones, but it is necessary that the child is not allergic to their components.
5. Inhalation with saline solution or with another drug recommended by the doctor.

The main goal of therapy is not to suppress a dry cough, but to help it turn into a productive one. Comprehensive treatment aimed at the causes, mechanism, and relief of symptoms of the disease allows you to quickly get rid of cough.

With the right treatment, you can get rid of a cough in 2 weeks, otherwise it can turn into a protracted or chronic stage, and this is another treatment that usually cannot be done without an antibiotic.

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Source: https://kroha.info/health/disease/lechenie-suhogo-kashlya-u-detej

Dry cough in a child

A severe dry cough in a child is one of the most common reasons to see a doctor. This is the first symptom of a cold and a protective function of the body, with the help of which it is cleansed from the effects of harmful bacteria and removes mucus accumulated in the bronchi and trachea. Treatment of dry cough in children has its own characteristics and takes into account the root cause of the symptom.

Reasons for appearance

The dry form of cough causes anxiety and pain. It is caused by an infection that has penetrated the upper respiratory tract and irritates the walls of the trachea and bronchi. In a child in the first years of life it occurs as a result of increased viscosity of sputum.

Other causes include impaired movement of mucus through the bronchi and weakness of the bronchial muscles. The appearance of a dry cough in a child signals the onset of a disease, such as influenza, ARVI, or parainfluenza.

The symptom may indicate:

• Bronchial asthma
• Neuroses
• Hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils
• Runny nose
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Foreign bodies entering the respiratory organs
• Left ventricular heart failure
• Gastroesophaneal reflux disease
• Allergic reaction

Knowing the exact cause, you can understand how to help your child with a dry cough.

Relationship between cough and other factors

To understand how to treat the patient, when talking with children, the doctor finds out whether the cough is caused by the following factors:

• Communicating with another child who has been suffering from a cough for a long time.
• The specific position of the baby’s body determines when the attack begins: day or night.
• Nutrition, the presence of diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract.
• Disease of the ENT organs.
• Interaction with allergens (dust, wool, chemicals, mold and others).
• Physical overload and low temperature air.

The reason that a child started coughing may be psycho-emotional trauma. In this case, regular tablets may not have an effect. A consultation with a child psychotherapist will help you get rid of a dry cough.

Allergic or infectious form

Before you can understand how to treat a symptom, you need to understand its nature. Cough is divided into allergic and infectious. Let us examine in more detail the characteristics of each of them. In case of infectious form:

• The temperature rises, there is a feeling of “ache”, pain in the joints
• Nasal discharge becomes thick, changes color and stops over time
• Cough, runny nose, and fever occur simultaneously. Signs intensify and complement each other

Dry cough in a child at night

For an allergic form:

• No fever, but headache may occur
• Conjunctivitis appears (eyes become red and watery)
• Heavy nasal discharge does not change intensity
• The child develops frequent sneezing, itching and swelling of the nose

With an infectious form, the baby’s well-being worsens. If the general condition is disturbed only by a cough, most likely the child’s severe cough is caused by contact with allergens.

Peculiarities

To understand what to do with a child’s cough, you need to pay attention to its features:

• Symptoms do not always indicate a cold, so it is important to show your child to a doctor and follow the prescribed recommendations;
• When choosing medications at the pharmacy, pay attention to the release form. It is difficult for small children to swallow tablets and capsules; it is better to choose syrups, suspensions and solutions;
• The dosage takes into account the weight and age of the small patient. Often liquid products are equipped with measuring cups or spoons;
• Pay attention to the composition of the drug, auxiliary components and age category indicated on the package;
• Find out if the drug has side effects and contraindications;
• A calm environment, bed rest, and plenty of warm drinks play an important role in recovery.

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention

Signs that a child needs urgent medical consultation:

• The cough occurs in attacks;
• Occurs during the day, when eating, or suddenly during play;
• The cough is rough, “barking”, the voice becomes hoarse, the baby breathes noisily and quickly, suffers from shortness of breath;
• The temperature remains above 38.5 degrees for more than three days;
• After a short-term improvement, the temperature rose again, the cough became stronger, thick, foul-smelling sputum was discharged;
• The patient suffers from shortness of breath, breathing is frequent and shallow, there is no increase in temperature, the cough is dry, obsessive, paroxysmal, and does not go away for more than three weeks.

Principles of treatment of prolonged cough

Let's look at how to get rid of a dry cough in a child if it does not go away for a long time. There are four main directions:

1. In most cases, it acts as a symptom of a cold or acute respiratory disease. Complex treatment is carried out using etiotropic and antiviral drugs;
2. Irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx is relieved with emollients, for example, milk with honey and butter. They alone cannot cure a child’s dry cough, but they relieve discomfort in the throat and normalize general well-being. Intoxication of the body is reduced, the cough reflex is suppressed. Important: drinks with a high content of juice and acid, for example, fruit juices, fruit drinks, increase attacks of dry cough due to irritation of the mucous membrane;
3. The use of absorbable plates has a local effect, reduces the inflammatory process, and reduces the severity of the cough reflex at the peripheral level. They can be plant-based or contain synthesized substances. Some of the plates have a mixed composition of an anesthetic, which has an analgesic effect, and an antiseptic, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. When using records and lollipops, the age of the baby is taken into account. In order for them to have a therapeutic effect, they must be completely absorbed, and small children often swallow them. Inhalation also has serious consequences;
4. Medicines of the fourth type suppress cough at the central level, affecting the cough center. As a result, the cough reflex is suppressed and the health of young patients quickly improves. Suppression and suppression of cough in this case is safe for the body. In this case, sputum does not accumulate in the bronchi and lungs. Suppression will not lead to stagnation and negative consequences. Blocking the cough center breaks the cough reflex, reduces the intensity, frequency and severity of attacks, and improves well-being. Centrally acting drugs are most effective before bedtime - attacks do not bother the baby and he can get enough sleep, which will have a positive effect on recovery.

Antitussives for children

Ways to effectively act on phlegm

An effective effect on sputum is achieved due to several factors. It will be removed:

• Drink plenty of warm fluids
• Regular ventilation of the room to approximately 20 degrees
• Carrying out steam inhalations
• Using distracting procedures, such as mustard plasters, but caution must be exercised

Medicines acting on the cough center

Medicines act on the peripheral parts of the cough center or directly on it. Let's look at them in more detail. Drugs that act directly on the cough center, as mentioned above, suppress cough more quickly.

It turns out to have a selective effect without suppressing the respiratory center. This is a fundamental difference from first-generation codeine-based drugs, without loss of reliability and effectiveness.

Some of the drugs allow long-term use without addiction or dependence.

Centrally acting drugs based on butamirate are popular. They suppress the excitability of the cough center and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Some are allowed for infants over two months of age.

For small patients, the form of drops is provided, for older children - syrups, the dosage of which is considered a measuring spoon. The medicine begins to act half an hour after application and retains the effect for six hours.

If we talk about drugs with peripheral effects, we will highlight drugs based on prenoxdiazine. They are not addictive or dependent, but have a lesser effect (up to 4 hours).

How can medications help?

How medications help:

• Affects phlegm
• Improves the functioning of the ciliated epithelium
• Activate bronchial contraction
• Reduces the excitability of the cough center
• Makes nerve endings less sensitive

Pay attention to the baby’s condition: if the cough does not cause serious problems, is not paroxysmal, there is no vomiting and overall health is normal, it is better not to treat it with medications. If this is done, the drugs will act on the cough center of the brain. As a result, the child does not cough, but accumulates pathogenic bacteria and foreign bodies in the body, and the condition will worsen.

How to eliminate a cough attack leading to laryngospasm

In children under five years of age, a dry cough may indicate laryngitis; parents need to know how to get rid of it:

• Increase the humidity in the room so that the child stops suffocating - turn on the hot water in the bathroom and close the door. To relieve an attack, the baby must breathe in the resulting vapors.
• If there is no fever, steam your feet
• Moisten your baby's mucous membranes with plenty of warm fluids
• Give your child natural syrup to which he is not allergic.
• Inhale saline solution or other drug approved by your doctor

What not to do

Let's look at what not to do when a child has a dry cough so as not to harm their health:

1. Do not use drugs for dry and wet coughs together - this will increase phlegm. A suppressed cough reflex prevents the body from clearing mucus from the airways.
2. Try not to frequently use ointments that have a strong odor. Camphor or menthol has an irritating effect on the inflamed mucous membrane of the baby and a new attack begins.
3. Some parents put mustard plasters on if they see their child coughing. If bronchitis or tracheitis is diagnosed, mustard plasters are placed to reflex blood flow into the respiratory organs and increase the discharge of sputum. When laryngitis is diagnosed, mustard plasters will worsen your overall health.

If a child constantly coughs with a dry cough, this is a reason to see a doctor. This symptom hides serious problems, including bronchial asthma and heart failure.

A consultation with a pediatrician will help you understand what causes the symptom and how to treat the little patient without wasting time.

Properly selected medications help coughing children improve their well-being, sleep and recovery.

Source: https://medic-z.ru/suhoj-kashel-u-rebenka

Dry cough in a child: causes and how to treat?

Together with an expert, we discussed the treatment of dry cough in children, a description of the causes of cough, and discussed tips and recommendations for the prevention and treatment of dry cough in a child.

Nadezhda Litvinova

doctor of the highest category, deputy chief physician of the State Budgetary Institution of Health Care "City Children's Clinical Clinic No. 2" of Stavropol for medical work, excellent student of health care

How to treat dry cough in children

Medicines used

How not to treat dry cough in children

General recommendations for the treatment of dry cough

Cough is a reflex phenomenon when the muscular frame of the chest contracts and coughing movements occur under the influence of any irritants. It can be:

various viruses, bacteria, allergens

infections such as whooping cough and measles

oncological diseases

foreign bodies in any part of the respiratory system

other irritants (parents smoking in the presence of the child, polluted air in the room with the child, etc.)

These irritants have a particularly acute effect on young children under 3 years of age. This occurs due to the physiological structure of their respiratory system.

This is the so-called physiological cough. For example, it can occur in children from four months of age, when they begin to actively secrete saliva, which makes them “cough.”

But a physiological cough rarely appears; most often it occurs against the background of some pathological changes.

When should you see a doctor? To be on the safe side, it is better to visit a doctor as soon as a cough appears - only a specialist can determine its type.

Is it possible to self-medicate?

Self-medication is inappropriate in any case, since it is the doctor who can conduct a full examination of the child, carry out the necessary tests, make a diagnosis (find out in which part of the respiratory system the inflammation occurs) and only then prescribe treatment.

This is an acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. In 90% of cases it is a viral and bacterial infection. The most commonly diagnosed disease in children . It occurs in a mild form and does not cause any complications. A doctor can detect pharyngitis easily by examining the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx. The sooner you see a doctor, the better.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tree, bronchi. Based on the severity, mild and severe forms of bronchitis are distinguished. The first occurs if large bronchi are affected and is easily treated. The second occurs when small and medium-sized bronchi and bronchi are inflamed.

It is not fatal, but it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible to receive appropriate treatment. Causes: viral and bacterial infections. Also, recently cases of allergic bronchitis in children have become more frequent.

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. The doctor can make a diagnosis based on the nature of the cough, since the larynx is located below the pharynx and is not visible to him.

Laryngitis is characterized by a barking, paroxysmal cough. Also, during the examination, the doctor can use the auscultation method (listen to the chest using a phonendoscope).

In any case, the disease is easily detected. Most often it is a viral infection.

Depending on the severity, the following symptoms are distinguished: in a mild form – slight swelling of the tonsils, no plaque; in severe cases there is large swelling, the tonsils almost close together, and purulent deposits appear on them.

The child has difficulty swallowing and sometimes even breathing. A dry cough may occur.

This is an inflammation of the trachea. It is characterized by a dry, paroxysmal, prolonged cough. The diagnosis is made easily by a pediatrician.

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs. The cause of the disease can be viruses and bacteria; very rarely the disease is caused by severe hypothermia. This is a serious illness that can end in a sad outcome: death.

Pneumonia varies in severity. The doctor can make a diagnosis using both auscultation (phonendoscope) and percussion (tapping certain areas of the body).

However, a clear, strict diagnosis can only be made after an X-ray examination.

ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) and influenza

Typically, these diseases begin with a dry cough. When it gradually becomes moist with the release of sputum, this is already a good prognostic sign, things are heading towards recovery.

This is a severe allergic disease. It can only be diagnosed by doing a large number of additional studies, because it is very important to identify which allergen the child is reacting to in order to exclude it as early as possible.

Blood tests are carried out for various allergens, as well as additional studies: fluorography, x-ray studies, consultation with specialized specialists: an allergist and a pulmonologist. That is, in order to make this rather serious diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a large comprehensive examination. Bronchial asthma is a serious disease and is rare in children.

In this case, cough is a protective component, with the help of which the body gets rid of viruses and bacteria. You cannot suffocate from it (this is only possible if foreign objects enter the respiratory tract). It only creates discomfort for the child.

There can be no self-diagnosis. As soon as a child starts coughing or has a fever, parents should immediately consult a doctor . A diagnosis can only be made by examining the child: by appearance, by the type of cough, by the condition of the skin and oral mucosa. Doctors even use such seemingly outdated methods as percussion and auscultation. There are many diseases accompanied by cough, and therefore many studies that identify them: X-ray, fluorographic studies; blood tests: general, ELISA and PCR for various infections (can also be chlamydia and microplasma infections), for allergens; consultation with a pulmonologist, allergist.

How to treat dry cough in children

Treatment of dry cough is a comprehensive treatment.1. The child’s daily routine and nutrition: dosed walks in the fresh air, appropriate nutrition, room ventilation, control of indoor air humidity.2. Drug treatment.

If it is, for example, a viral disease, then first of all you need a cure for the virus, and only then gets rid of the cough itself.3. Inhalation treatment, physiotherapy, ultraviolet therapy. These methods are used already in the recovery process.

Medicines used

The main recommendation is to drink plenty of fluids. When a child drinks and swallows, the mucosal fluid becomes lighter - it self-cleanses, and both viruses and microbes are washed away. It is best to drink warm water or tea - hot drinks can irritate the mucous membrane of the throat.

Also, the microclimate of the room where the child is located must be appropriate, the food must be warm and dosed.

There are a lot of drugs for dry cough for children. There are no drugs that have a complete effect on cough.

They can only alleviate it - the cough reflex contraction decreases slightly, but inflammation of the respiratory tract remains.

Antibacterial drugs

Antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) are prescribed in extreme cases and with extreme caution. Firstly, they can have various side effects. Secondly, most often a cough is a consequence of a viral infection; only antiviral drugs help here. Moreover, antibacterial drugs are not sold without a doctor's prescription.

Children are often prescribed inhalations, even with ordinary mineral water and saline solutions. Inhalation is very effective and can be used even in the treatment of small children from the first year of life. During inhalation, the medicine is deposited on the mucous membrane and cleanses it of irritants: viruses, allergens, microbes.

Physiotherapy is also prescribed during the period of convalescence, when things are already moving towards recovery. Most often, this is UV therapy - ultraviolet local irradiation of problem or painful areas. Other procedures are prescribed in case of any complications, but also during the recovery period: magnetic therapy, electrophoresis. For example, electrophoresis is prescribed with various drugs that penetrate the child’s body through diodes and directly reach the site of inflammation.

How not to treat dry cough in children

Most often, parents resort to traditional medicine: they use herbal decoctions, honey, and fats from pets (for chest and throat massage). This is strictly prohibited.

The listed remedies have a lot of side effects.

One of the most important is a possible allergic reaction, due to which swelling from inflammation may increase, which in turn leads to a worsening of the dry cough.

General recommendations for the treatment of dry cough

1. Be sure to consult a doctor in order to diagnose the disease in time and receive treatment. 2. Home regime, appropriate living conditions, nutrition and visiting a doctor. There are no preventive methods to prevent coughing: the infection enters the body by airborne droplets through the upper respiratory tract and causes inflammation. There is specific prevention of ARVI and influenza - this is vaccination and non-specific - taking antiviral drugs. When a child goes to a children's group where he has not been before, he needs to take antiviral drugs for at least the first seven days. Also, do not forget about the seasonal course of multivitamins. All this will be the prevention of dry cough.

Karina AgadzhanyanInfographics: Veronica Kizima

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Source: https://atvmedia.ru/materials/suhoy-kashel-u-rebenka-prichiny-i-chem-lechit