Barking cough: clinical picture and methods of treating pathology

Barking cough is a symptom of a wide range of diseases

A barking cough can accompany many diseases; as a symptom, it manifests itself in the form of painful, rough attacks with the sound of a dog or seal barking. Physiologically, such a cough is not advisable: during an attack, mucus is not removed, but only the receptors lining the respiratory tract are irritated.

Treatment of barking cough in adults and children is carried out after identifying the cause that provoked the manifestation of the clinical symptom.

Features of a barking cough

A barking cough in adults and children, although it has no physiological significance, brings significant inconvenience and worsens the quality of life of patients. Coughing attacks are characterized by intrusiveness, they are quite painful and in some situations lead to vomiting and respiratory arrest.

With a barking cough, the airways are swollen, their lumen narrows significantly. It becomes difficult for a person to breathe, his voice becomes rough.

Coughing attacks can occur suddenly and not stop for a long time. If a barking cough appears, you should immediately consult a doctor, who will identify the disease that provokes the symptom and prescribe effective measures to correct it.

A barking cough is debilitating and greatly interferes with normal life.

Causes of barking cough

The pathological conditions that are accompanied by bouts of barking cough include the following:

• acute respiratory diseases of viral and bacterial etiology, including laryngotracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis (see Cough with pharyngitis: how and how to treat it);
• whooping cough;
• true croup, or diphtheria;
• false croup;
• allergic pathologies;
• oncological processes;
• foreign body in the respiratory tract.

The attending physician takes the necessary diagnostic measures to determine the cause of the false cough. Only a correct diagnosis is the key to successful therapeutic correction of the condition.

Effective therapies

Despite the impressive range of causes of barking cough, treatment in its case will have not only different, but also similar features. The correct answer to the question of how to treat a barking cough can only be given by a competent specialist, depending on the characteristics of the clinical case. However, it is worth familiarizing yourself with some general principles of treatment for the condition.

Drinking plenty of fluids makes the patient feel better

The most important goal of treatment is to transform the dry form of cough into a wet one. With the help of therapeutic measures, coughing attacks gradually become productive, and the patient's condition improves. Sputum is produced in an amount sufficient to be removed from the respiratory tract.

Drug treatment involves prescribing drugs from the following three groups:

1. Mucolytics.
2. Expectorants.
3. Antitussive medications.

Only a doctor can understand how to get rid of a barking cough with the help of medications. First, in any case, measures are taken to correct the underlying pathology; eliminating the cough itself plays the second most important role. Antitussives are prescribed with caution, since the most effective drugs from this group can cause persistent addiction.

Cough suppressants often come in the form of syrups

Medicines from the groups of mucolytics and expectorants are prescribed at the stage of converting the dry form of cough into a wet one. The intensity of cough attacks may not decrease, but productivity increases significantly.

Gradually, the airways are cleared of pathological secretions, and the cough goes away. The price of drugs from these groups is quite reasonable.

The answer to the question of how to treat a barking cough provides some general recommendations, namely:

1. Regular inhalations (see What inhalations can be done for a cough). With their help, the mucous lining of the respiratory tract is moistened, sputum is thinned, and its elimination is improved.
2. Drink plenty of fluids . Sufficient fluid intake facilitates the process of formation and removal of sputum. You can drink warm tea, milk, herbal infusions, mineral water.
3. Creating a comfortable microclimate in the room where the patient is located . The room should be regularly ventilated, and the air should have optimal humidity.
4. Strengthening the immune system : taking immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.

You need to understand that the treatment of barking cough has its own characteristics based on the provoking disease. Attention should be paid to aspects of treatment of the most common causes of barking cough attacks.

Treatment of cough with whooping cough and parawhooping cough

A long barking cough can be a symptom of such severe pathologies as whooping cough and parawhooping cough. These viral diseases are of a similar nature. They are also characterized by one common feature: the intensity of coughing attacks is higher, the younger the patient is in age. Most often, the disease manifests itself in young children.

Parawhooping cough is not as severe as whooping cough. With this pathology, there is no increase in body temperature, and the child’s condition in the intervals between coughing attacks is satisfactory.

Currently, vaccination against whooping cough is carried out in the first months of a child’s life. This does not exclude the possibility of the disease, but in vaccinated children the severity of the disease will be significantly lower.

Treatment of cough with whooping cough includes the following measures:

1. Drug therapy: bronchodilators, mucolytics, sedatives, vasodilators, and in rare cases, antitussives.
2. Oxygen therapy.
3. Short course of glucocorticosteroids.

Treatment of cough in allergic pathologies

A barking cough often accompanies conditions caused by hypersensitivity to a specific allergen.

In such situations, the following tactics are provided:

• avoiding contact with the allergen;
• prescription of enterosorbents (Polysorb, Enterosgel);
• antihistamines (Cetirizine, Loratadine);
• hormonal therapy (Prednisolone).

Loratadine is an effective antihistamine

Treatment of cough for colds

For the treatment of colds, the following therapeutic measures can be prescribed:

• antibiotic therapy (if the respiratory disease is bacterial in nature);
• antiviral agents (if the disease is of a viral nature);
• immunostrengthening agents (Immunal and others);
• mucolytic drugs (Acetylcysteine);
• drinking plenty of fluids.

Treatment of cough in case of oncological pathologies

In cases of cancer, there is a high probability of the need for surgical removal of tumors that provoke coughing attacks. Also, in case of tumor pathologies, it is rational to prescribe strong centrally acting antitussives. These medications must be taken strictly according to the instructions.

Treatment of cough when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract

The natural solution to this situation is to remove the foreign object from the airway. To do this, imaging is first performed using x-rays or ultrasound to determine the exact location of the foreign body.

The photos and videos in this article will help you learn in more detail about the causes of barking cough and how to correct it. When treating pathologies that provoke cough attacks, you should strictly adhere to all medical recommendations. Self-medication can be dangerous.

Source: https://Kashel.su/tip/layushhij/layushhij-kashel-80

Barking cough in a child

home › Cough. Symptoms and treatment

A child's barking cough with or without sputum requires immediate treatment. The clinical syndrome indicates the development of complications after illnesses of viral or infectious etiology.

Coughing lasts several days and may be accompanied by an increase in the child’s temperature; the attack can be stopped independently, at home.

Medicines for children are selected individually after identifying the exact cause.

Barking cough without fever: causes

Timely identification of the exact cause of the development of a respiratory symptom helps the attending physician select adequate therapy. A barking or dry cough in a child without fever is often mistaken for a pathology. Predisposing factors are considered to be:

• constant dry air in the room;
• entry of a foreign object into the respiratory tract;
• allergic reactions;
• pathologies of infectious or viral etiology;
• upper respiratory tract diseases.

Unproductive coughing of the barking type is dangerous for infants. A cough without fever with a runny nose, treatment of which should be started as soon as possible, can provoke suffocation caused by nasal congestion.

Barking cough and temperature: causes

A barking cough combined with a fever does not bring relief to the child and often leads to complications. The body is not cleansed in a timely manner, sputum is not separated, coughing attacks are accompanied by vomiting. The patient's airways swell, which leads to narrowing of the lumens. The main causes of barking cough and fever include:

• whooping cough;
• pharyngitis;
• bronchitis;
• laryngitis;
• laryngotracheitis;
• colds;
• allergic reactions (acute);
• pathology of viral infection.

A high temperature indicates the presence of a virus in the child’s body. If a dry cough is accompanied by hoarseness, heavy breathing or wheezing, the risk of developing false croup increases.

The pathology is accompanied by severe swelling, which does not allow air to penetrate through the narrow respiratory lumen. An infant may die from suffocation.

Attacks occur at night - at this time the baby is in a horizontal position and blood rushes to the larynx.

First aid, provided on time, calms the child and reduces the severity of the clinical syndrome. If the barking cough does not go away within 3-5 minutes, then it is urgent to ventilate the room .

Preference should be given to unsweetened compotes, still mineral water and viscous jelly.

Treatment with drugs

Drug therapy that alleviates the patient’s general condition is selected individually. The doctor prescribes medications only after identifying the exact cause and taking a medical history. The safest and most effective drugs are considered:

1. Overslept .
   The medication, which has an antispasmodic, mucolytic and expectorant effect, is available in the form of syrup. It can be used for non-productive coughing attacks caused by respiratory diseases.
2. Erythromycin . The macrolide antibiotic contains the component of the same name, which acts as an active component. Effective for laryngitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis and other diseases of bacterial etiology.

If the barking cough is mild , then taking peripheral medications is mandatory. They relieve not only swelling, but also inflammation, making the child feel better. Drugs in this category are available in the form of tablets, suspensions and teas that have a pleasant taste.

Severe forms of viral pathologies require the prescription of centrally acting drugs. Medicines containing codeine are considered potent.

The principle of action is based on the ability of the drug to block the cough reflex by acting on the brain. Medicines containing dextromethorphan are considered safer.

They restore breathing after 10-15 minutes.

To choose an effective drug, you need to pay attention to some characteristics. The medicine should:

• act immediately after the first dose;
• remain active for a long time, relieving the child of coughing attacks for a long time;
• meet all safety standards (no age restrictions, minimal list of side effects and contraindications);
• be convenient to use (equipped with measuring cups, spoons, dropper dispensers);
• have the necessary organoleptic properties (sweet/neutral taste, consistency, pleasant smell).

The duration of use of cough syrups and tablets is 5-7 days. If necessary, the course can be repeated after a week. The dosage regimen is calculated based on the patient’s age and body weight.

Inhalations for the treatment of barking cough

At home, you can get rid of dry coughing attacks with steam inhalation. The procedure is also carried out using a special ultrasound device - a nebulizer, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.

Medicinal solutions poured into the device have anti-inflammatory, decongestant, bronchodilator, antibacterial and expectorant effects.

The main components penetrate not only into the upper respiratory tract, but also into the lower parts of the respiratory system.

Inhalations using the following drugs help with coughing attacks in children:

• antitussive medications (lidocaine solution);
• anti-inflammatory drugs (Rotokan);
• antibiotics (Fluimucil);
• expectorant and bronchodilator combination drugs (Broncholitin, Ascoril);
• anticholinergics (Atrovent, Truvent, Troventol);
• adrenomimetics (Ventolin, Fenoterol, Berotek);
• methylxanthines (Theotard, Euphylong, Retafil);
• mucolytics (Mukolvan, Lazolvan, Ambrobene).

For children of primary preschool age and infants, it is better to prepare solutions based on medicinal plants:

• calendula;
• pharmaceutical chamomile;
• sage.

If there is no device for inhalation, you can let the patient breathe over freshly boiled potato tubers. After the water has been drained from the pan and the vegetables have cooled slightly, they cover the child’s head with a towel and explain how to inhale and exhale correctly. The procedure lasts 5-7 minutes. To prevent the child from getting burned by the steam, the distance between the container and the face should be 20-25 cm .

Inhalations are performed for infants as follows:

• fill the bathtub with hot water (at this time the door should be tightly closed);
• add medicinal components to the liquid (vegetable oil, herbs);
• Bring your child into the bathroom for a few minutes.

It is important to pay attention to the temperature regime. It is determined depending on the age of the child:

• up to 3 years - no more than 30°C;
• 3-4 - no more than 42°C;
• 5-8 years - no more than 52°C.

It is recommended that children under 3 years old be allowed to inhale steam twice a day, children over 4 years old - three times a day.

How to treat with folk remedies

Folk remedies have a gentle effect on the children's body. Alternative medicine offers several effective recipes:

1. Lemon with honey and glycerin . The unpeeled fruit is boiled in boiling water for 5-7 minutes. Squeeze out the juice, mix it with glycerin (2 tsp) and any flower honey (2 tbsp), preheated. Take 2-3 times a day, 20 ml.
2. Cocoa with figs and interior fat . Melt pork or goose fat and mix with cocoa powder (5 tbsp.). Grind dried figs (100 g) in a blender. Mix all ingredients. Take 3-4 times a day, in between treatments, rubbing fat (without impurities) into the chest.
3. Pine nuts with milk . Bring 1 liter of low-fat milk to a boil, add 200 g of pre-peeled nuts into it. Boil for 15 minutes, remove from heat, strain. Drink 50 ml of the cooled broth twice a day (in the morning and before bed).
4. Honey and radish . It is necessary to cut off the top of the black radish fruit and make a depression in the pulp. Add honey, cover the hole with the previously cut top, place the root vegetable in a bowl of warm water. After a few hours, the honey will completely dissolve. The juice is given to the child 2 times a day.
5. Mineral water and milk . Bring the milk product (250 ml) to a boil and cool slightly. Pour mineral water (250 ml) and flower honey into it. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Take 30 ml twice a day.

steam your feet several times a day . Dissolve dry powder (2 tbsp) in hot water (temperature - no more than 40°C). The feet are lowered for 15-20 minutes, then they are wiped dry and the child is put on warm socks at night, after rubbing the feet with any warming ointment.

Herbal teas will help soothe irritated mucous membranes. Decoctions of thyme, linden blossom, violet and anise relieve coughing attacks and restore breathing.

And high temperature

Before choosing a drug or folk remedy for cough, you need to measure your child’s temperature. There are several ways to reduce a fever:

1. Rub with apple cider vinegar . The essence must be diluted with warm water (in equal parts). Rub the resulting solution onto the neck, armpits and groin area.
2. Drink plenty of fluids . The child should be given tea with cranberries or raspberries. The berries are considered a natural antipyretic that can reduce fever.

Medicines will help normalize the temperature. The patient should not be given medications without consulting a pediatrician.

Antipyretic medications:

• with ibuprofen (Ibuprofen, Nurofen in the form of syrup or suppositories);
• with paracetamol (Cefekon, Efferalgan, Kalpol, Panadol).

The course of use of medications in this category should not exceed 5 days. Medicines are given to the child 2-3 times a day. If febrile fever persists for 3 days, the patient requires hospital treatment.

We recommend reading Radish with honey for coughs. Figs for cough. Inhalation at home.

If you have a little time, please write what else you would like to know about and do not forget to rate the article, we thank you in advance and wish you and your loved ones health.

Barking cough in a child Link to main publication

Source: https://RuPulmonolog.ru/kashel-simptomy-lechenie/layushhij-kashel-u-rebenka

Dry barking cough in children: causes, signs, treatment methods and possible consequences

After hypothermia, being exposed to a thunderstorm, or eating very cold food, a disease occurs that is accompanied by a dry cough.

The same unpleasant symptom can accompany more dangerous diseases - whooping cough, scarlet fever, diphtheria, croup (false and true). In these cases, the cough becomes not just dry, but also acquires a characteristic sound, reminiscent of barking.

This is a jerky, irritating, non-productive cough that causes many unpleasant minutes for the patient, especially if it is a small child.

Despite the fact that a cough is just a symptom of an underlying disease, it must be treated, since constant irritation of the throat mucosa is fraught with the development of various accompanying diseases and the spread of infection throughout the body. In addition, this type of cough is very exhausting for the patient.

Dry barking cough: causes

Features of the development of dry barking cough in children

In most cases, a dry barking cough appears as an accompaniment of the following diseases:

A barking cough is of a non-productive type, that is, when the body produces too little mucus for expectoration or it is extremely thick, so attempts to cough do not allow the mucus to separate, but only aggravate the patient’s condition.

Symptoms

A dry barking cough is accompanied by a number of additional symptoms

The individual picture of symptoms depends on what disease caused the cough. But we can also name a number of symptoms that are common to all cases of the appearance of such a condition as a dry barking cough.

These are the following signs:

• Sore throat, mainly occurring when swallowing, but sometimes it can be diffuse, constant or sharp, stabbing.
• Changes in the timbre of the voice, the appearance of hoarseness, hoarseness up to the complete disappearance of the voice.
• Breathing problems, expressed as difficulty passing air due to swelling and inflammation of the larynx.
• Temperature increase. In some diseases, the temperature can be very high and the patient literally “burns” from the heat, but in most cases of dry cough with a cold, the temperature is subfebrile, staying at 37 - 38 degrees.
• Headache caused by lack of oxygen.
• Severe weakness, increased fatigue, lethargy and drowsiness.
• The cough is often accompanied by a severe runny nose.
• Lymph nodes may become enlarged, especially in the submandibular and neck areas.
• Between attacks, the patient’s skin is usually pale, and during them it turns sharply red from suffocation.
• During severe coughing attacks, the patient may vomit, especially in young children.
• Diseases of this type are very often accompanied by manifestations of dyspepsia, again especially common in children and weakened patients.

Drug treatment

Only a doctor can prescribe effective drug treatment for a child.

Since any cough is just a symptom of a disease, it is not actually it that is treated, but the cause that caused this condition. That is why the treatment of dry barking cough is always specialized, aimed at combating a specific type of disease.

If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics are used; for a viral infection, antiviral drugs are used; and for a fungal infection, specialized agents are used.

In addition to specialized medications, supportive medications, painkillers, antihistamines, vitamins and, of course, cough suppressants are used. They must be directed against a specific type of cough, since it can be dry (non-productive) or wet (productive).

 A productive cough is characterized by the formation of a large amount of sputum, so medications are designed to help block attacks and simplify expectoration. A dry cough is accompanied by scanty mucus production, which is also very thick and difficult to clear.

In this case, it is necessary to increase the formation of sputum and make it more liquid.

Then it will be much easier for the patient to cough, the cough will go into the productive stage, and the disease will be cured faster.

In addition to medications, inhalations, rinses and physiotherapeutic procedures are used to treat cough. In addition, you can use foot baths, mustard plasters, local treatment with lubrication, compresses, antiallergic medications, even aromatherapy. All these procedures are prescribed by a doctor depending on what disease caused the bouts of barking cough.

Inhalation with a nebulizer

A dry barking cough, especially in young children, responds well to treatment with inhalations. It is best to do this with a nebulizer.

This convenient device sprays the active substance very finely, creating a literal fog. In this form, the medicine easily gets to the right place, is quickly absorbed and begins to act actively.

Even if ordinary alkaline mineral water is used, the action of the nebulizer helps to cope with tiring, exhausting attacks much faster.

Moisture with soda softens irritated and dry mucous membranes, relieves inflammation and reduces swelling, helping to cope with suffocation and establish normal breathing.

In combination with drug treatment, drinking plenty of warm liquids and bed rest, the use of a nebulizer quickly improves the patient's condition. Infants and small children, as well as bedridden patients, respond especially well to the use of this device.

Source: https://TvojLor.com/lor/respiratory/kashel/suhoj-layushhij-kashel.html

Treatment methods for cough in a child, causes, tips and recommendations

All materials on the site are published under the authorship or editorship of medical professionals, but are not a prescription for treatment. Contact the specialists!

Frequent colds diagnosed in childhood develop for many reasons. A decrease in the status of immune defense increases the risk of viruses and bacteria entering the child’s body, which provokes the development of acute respiratory viral infections and other infections. Very often, this illness occurs suddenly, against the background of complete well-being, which is why parents should have enough information about how to treat a dry cough in a child, so that he recovers quickly and avoids consequences.

Causes of cough

A dry (non-productive) cough must be understood as a cough impulse caused by irritation of receptors located along the entire respiratory tract, which is not accompanied by sputum production.

Therapeutic treatment should begin with establishing the cause that led to the protective-adaptive reaction.

Most often, a nonproductive cough in a child develops due to:

• ARVI, acute respiratory infections (colds) are factors that cause a dry cough in a child in most cases. Due to weakened immunity, viral agents easily penetrate the respiratory tract and begin to multiply. Among the first symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections are a sore throat, sneezing, and watery eyes. Against the background of ARVI, as a rule, a dry cough always turns into a wet cough - sputum appears.

• The influenza virus also entails the development of such a reaction. A child with the flu feels worse than with a cold. The cough is usually dry, suffocating, accompanied by prolonged low-grade fever.
• External stimuli. The child's body is very susceptible to: cigarette smoke, chemical irritants, dry air.
• Attacks of dry cough may be signs indicating the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The pathology is characterized by the backflow of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, which leads to irritation of the respiratory tract and is accompanied by a specific coughing sound.
• A suffocating, nonproductive cough is a clear symptom of whooping cough. It causes tears, bluishness of the face, and during coughing the tongue may protrude out of the mouth. No sputum production is observed.

Clinical picture

The protective-adaptive reflex leads to traumatization of the respiratory system; the production of sputum is not observed; during a cough impulse, air is coughed up.
If the disease lasts more than two months, this pathology becomes chronic.

Warning signs of a cough:

• barking and paroxysmal character;
• not passing for a long time and arising unexpectedly;
• causing an attack of vomiting;
• with an allergic reaction; with a high fever.

The above symptoms indicate that there is an inflammatory process in the child’s body, which can also be accompanied by headaches, insomnia and increased irritability.

Treatment methods for dry cough

Treatment for cough should not begin until the exact cause of the reaction has been determined. Any therapy involves the initial elimination of the cause of cough. However, it is not always possible to establish a diagnosis instantly, which is why a pediatrician selects a treatment method based on the most likely causes of cough.

Use of drug therapy

How to treat dry cough with medications?
The main method of treating nonproductive cough in pediatric practice is the use of medications aimed at transferring the cough from dry to wet or the use of antitussives (for allergies, whooping cough). For the youngest patients, doctors advise giving children under two years of age drugs in syrup form (although they also provoke allergic reactions in some cases.

As mentioned above, two types of drugs can be used to treat dry cough:

• Medicines for converting a dry cough into a wet one;
• Antitussives.

Means for converting a non-productive cough into a productive one.
Drugs are classified as follows:

• Mucolytic action. The drugs have an expectorant effect, aimed at thinning mucus and helping the child cough it up. These include Ambrobene, Ascoril, Flavamed, ACC, Bromhexine.
• Secretomotor action. Herbal preparations. Their action is aimed at stimulating sputum production and absorption of the drug through the stomach. For example: Herbion with plantain extract, Althea syrup, Licorice root, breast mixture.

Antitussives that act on the central nervous system by suppressing the cough reflex:

In cases where a dry cough in children is accompanied by fever, the treatment complex is supplemented with antibiotic therapy.

Antibiotics

How to cure a dry cough if there is a bacterial infection?

The main goal of antibiotic therapy is to eliminate the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Parents should know that such drugs not only treat coughs, but also disrupt the intestinal microflora. Therefore, in combination with antibiotics, pediatricians advise giving the child probiotics that restore the intestinal microflora. Antibacterial drugs are given when a child:

• pneumonia occurs;
• signs of tuberculosis are expressed;
• bronchitis or pleurisy has developed.

In pediatric practice, the following antibacterial agents are widely used for the treatment of cough:

• Group of penicillins (including protected ones);
• Cephalosporins;
• Macrolides. Drugs of choice if penicillins are ineffective (the child continues to cough or has an allergic reaction).

The type of antibiotic is prescribed exclusively by the treating specialist; you cannot select medications yourself.

Antibiotics from the group of protected penicillins that you should pay attention to during treatment:

• Augmentin;
• Flemoxin Solutab;
• Amoxiclav.

Drugs from the cephalosporin group are prescribed in cases where treatment with antibacterial agents has already been carried out.
This group of antibiotics is prescribed in cases where it is not practical to treat a cough with drugs from the penicillin group. The most effective drugs are:

Macrolides best eliminate inflammation in the respiratory system. The pathology is cured with the following antibacterial drugs:

• Sumamed;
• Macropen;
• Fromilid.

Note! It is possible to take antibacterial drugs in childhood strictly as prescribed by the doctor; the dose for children is selected individually.

Inhalations for cough

In pediatric practice, inhalations for the treatment of severe dry cough are almost irreplaceable. The procedure helps to soften a child’s dry, frequent cough and eliminate the disease at an early age.

This is also a good method to avoid taking medicines and pills that cause negative effects on the body.

Today, a nebulizer is used for inhalation; it helps deliver the medicine directly to the site of inflammation.

What to do to improve the condition? The first task for stopping a dry cough in a child:

• soothe a sore throat;
• reduce mucus viscosity;
• remove mucus from the respiratory system.

How to treat a child’s cough with folk remedies

Children's age involves inhalation using the following medications:

• Berotek;
• Berodual;
• Ambrobene.

If a child has a dry cough caused by bronchitis, then inhalation is carried out with the following additive:

• Dioxidine;
• Furacilina;
• Gentamicin.

Inhalations based on mineral water are carried out to moisturize the mucous membranes of the respiratory system.

Prevention of the disease

To date, the only method that would guarantee complete protection against cough has not been developed.

Treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician, only he knows how to treat a wet or dry cough in a child based on the individual characteristics and type of disease.

Timely treatment will not only allow you to quickly get rid of the disease, but also prevent the development of complications.

Video: advice from Dr. Komarovsky

Attention! We are not a “clinic” and have no interest in providing medical services to readers. We also remind you that it is impossible to prescribe safe treatment “on the Internet” without an in-person appointment! All recommendations are indicative only. Contact specialists.

Source: https://sukhoikashel.ru/kashel-u-rebenka/metody-lecheniya-kashlya-u-rebenka

Barking cough: how to treat, causes and associated symptoms

How to treat barking cough in adults and children depends on the cause of the development of the pathology, existing signs, contraindications, the age of the patient and a number of other factors. A dry cough can be a reflex reaction of the human body in response to irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. It can also develop in certain diseases.

A barking cough requires seeing a doctor; self-medication is unacceptable

To make a diagnosis you need:

• collection of complaints and medical history;
• physical diagnosis;
• laboratory tests;
• X-ray examination;
• computer or magnetic resonance imaging, etc.

The choice of medications and methods of therapy for barking cough should be made by a qualified specialist.

Self-medication with the development of this clinical sign is not recommended, as it can lead to progression of the pathology, suffocation or other complications, and in especially severe cases, even death.

How to treat barking cough

In some cases, if a patient develops an illness in which this type of cough is observed, hospitalization in a hospital may be required, as there is a risk of developing laryngeal edema and asphyxia.

If a foreign body is inhaled, seek immediate medical attention. Removal of the object usually requires bronchoscopy, but surgery may also be necessary.

The use of certain medications for barking cough primarily depends on the cause of its development. For the treatment of children, drugs in the form of syrup are most convenient.

With a painful, debilitating, unproductive barking cough and the absence of mucus accumulations in the respiratory tract, patients may be prescribed antitussives.

In the presence of infection, depending on the type of pathogen, the following can be used:

• antibiotics (for bacterial infections);
• antifungal agents (if the infectious agent is microscopic fungi).

Whooping cough

For whooping cough, the patient may be prescribed anti-infective, antispasmodic, antihistamine drugs, and vitamin complexes. Oxygen therapy may be required. Patients are prescribed a diet aimed at compensating for the loss of nutrients due to vomiting against the background of a severe cough.

Laryngitis

Source: https://www.neboleem.net/lajushhij-kashel.php

Treatment for barking cough

A very loud, painful barking cough in adults requires prompt action to treat it in order to prevent the development of serious complications.

Key reasons

Identifying the causes that provoke the appearance of a barking cough allows you to prescribe objective treatment.

Often such a rough cough becomes evidence of the development of a number of serious diseases. The list of pathologies that provoke a barking dry cough includes laryngitis and acute pharyngitis that is not treated in a timely manner. Diphtheria is considered the most dangerous and requires immediate medical intervention, as well as whooping cough, scarlet fever and measles.

An emerging barking cough is, as a rule, the dominant sign of narrowing of the lumen of the larynx due to swelling, which can be provoked by various allergens.

The free flow of air into the lungs is blocked, causing suffocation. One of the reflex actions of the body is a strong barking cough, aimed at expanding the narrowed lumens. At the same time, a runny nose, conjunctivitis, and skin rashes may occur.

Irritation of the larynx accompanied by itching can be caused by the ingress of foreign objects - sand, lint, dust, etc. Toxic substances, exhaust gases, smoke, and various chemical compounds have a provoking effect. The result is a barking cough without fever, which requires immediate elimination of the irritant.

•   Non-infectious inflammation

A specific barking cough appears when the larynx is inflamed, which is provoked by overexertion from strong screaming or illiterate singing. The consequence is also a sore throat, a sore throat, a hoarse voice, and a feeling of dryness.

Associated symptoms and possible complications

A debilitating barking cough in an adult is accompanied by other characteristic symptoms:

•       weakness;
•       wheezing when breathing;
•       frequent headaches;
•       pain when swallowing;
•       labored breathing;
•       possible increase in temperature;
•       hoarse voice (sometimes there is a complete loss of the ability to speak);
•       dyspnea.

Another important symptom is prolonged coughing attacks, which are debilitating, since the sputum does not come out and there is no relief.

The severity of symptoms indicates the complexity of the disease, which is often the root cause of a barking cough. You should seek medical help immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

•       prolonged increase in temperature;
•       severe swelling of the larynx, causing difficulty breathing and suffocation;
•       convulsions;
•       inspiratory dyspnea, which occurs due to lack of air during inspiration;
•       loss of consciousness.

If barking cough is not treated promptly, complications in the form of stenosis (sharp narrowing) of the larynx and even complete cessation of breathing are possible.

Drug treatment

Before treating a barking cough, the doctor prescribes a diagnostic examination to determine the cause of this condition. The primary diagnosis is established after examining the patient. If infection is suspected, a laboratory test is taken. When an allergy or a specific disease is identified, drug therapy is carried out using various dosage forms. Depending on the stage of development and severity of the disease, the doctor will recommend an injection, rinse, tablet, powder or capsule. If the cough is caused by an allergy, then antihistamines are prescribed - Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadine. They quickly eliminate swelling of the airways. For the same purpose, it is recommended to take Clemastine, Diazolin, Fenistil, etc.

To get rid of a barking cough provoked by the development of an infection, the necessary remedy is selected in each specific case.

•       Antitussive, relieving attacks. This could be Codelac, Bronchicum, Robitussin. Included in the therapeutic complex to get rid of dry cough Sinecod, Tusuprex, Libexin. Promotes expectoration and removal of sputum Gedelix, Ascoril.
•       Antispasmodic, helping to improve breathing by relieving spasms and expanding the lumen of the pharynx.
•       Antipyretic, necessary for body temperatures above 38°. Such types of drugs as Coldrex, Efferalgan, Panadol act quickly. Tylenol and Theraflu have good effectiveness.
•       Antiviral, necessary for the viral nature of the cough. Medicine - Amizon, Novirin, Amiksin must be taken at the first sign.
•       Anti-inflammatory, aimed at treating inflammation and reducing pain. Most often, Mucaltin, Ibuprofen, and Seratta are recommended for barking cough.

The drug therapy is complemented by a vitamin complex designed to strengthen the immune system. Decamevit has a beneficial complex effect.

Use of antibiotics

Despite the widespread popularity of antibiotics, only a doctor can prescribe them as a cure for barking cough. This is due to the risk of negative consequences if taken incorrectly. There are different groups of antibiotics.

•       Penicillins. Represented by such drugs as Amoxicillin, Flemoxin, Amosin. If a dry cough resembles barking, then Augmentin, Ecobol, Amoxiclav will also help.
•       Macrolides. According to indications, Azitsin, Erythromycin, Sumamed are recommended. Azithromycin, Rovamycin, Vilprafen have a beneficial effect in the treatment of debilitating dry cough.
•       Cephalosporins. Among the many varieties, popular antibiotics of this group include Ceftriaxone, Suprax, Cephabol.

When deciding how to treat a dry barking cough, medications of the penicillin group are often included in medical prescriptions. If intolerance to them occurs, then cephalosporins or macrolides are prescribed.

Physiotherapy

Among the treatment procedures that prescribe how to get rid of a rough cough, one of the important places is occupied by physiotherapeutic measures prescribed by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease:

•       UHF is a procedure that helps reduce inflammation;
•       massage performed in the chest area to improve local blood circulation, which leads to successful removal of inflammatory foci;
•       electrophoresis, aimed at eliminating inflammation due to prolonged heating of the diseased area with heat rays;
•       quartzization is a process that uses ultraviolet radiation, which effectively fights infections and eliminates non-infectious foci of inflammation;
•       Darsonvalization is an electrical procedure that stimulates the immune system, relieves swelling, increases blood circulation, and eliminates spasms.

Often, inhalations are used to combat barking that occurs during painful attacks of dry cough. They can be done not only in a medical facility, but also independently at home. For steam inhalation, pour a healing hot solution into a container, cover your head with a large towel or scarf and breathe until the liquid cools down. A special device, a nebulizer, will help make the inhalation procedure safer.

They use saline solution for inhalation, mucolytics, produced in the form of ready-made solutions - Mucomist, Acestin, Fluimucil, etc. Relief occurs if a few drops of essential oils - eucalyptus, pine, mint - are added to hot water.

Inhalations should not be done if the temperature is elevated, and cardiovascular pathologies are also a contraindication.

Folk remedies

Knowing what a barking cough is and how it can be dangerous, it is useful, after consultation with a doctor, to introduce remedies from folk wisdom into the therapeutic complex.

By drinking a quarter glass of warm milk with honey dissolved in it (a teaspoon) during the day (3-4 times), you can get relief from a barking cough, as this remedy softens dry throat and eliminates soreness.

To prepare medicinal infusions, herbs with expectorant properties are selected. This is a popular coltsfoot, sage, thyme. You can collect and dry plantain and ivy. Use herbs independently or make collections in equal proportions. Infuse two tablespoons of raw materials in two glasses of boiling water for 15–20 minutes. Drink 100 ml on average 4 times a day.

Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/59f9a0235a104fe1e0d6eaf6/5aa549f5c8901097a24b1592