Why does a child’s cough not go away for a long time and what should be done?

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07.01.2018

Children, unfortunately, get sick, and sometimes this happens quite often. This is explained by the fact that their immune system is not yet sufficiently developed, or the child has been fed artificial formula since birth. But any disease can be cured if done in time.

True, it happens that the baby has already recovered, but the cough continues to bother him.

It is clear that this is a residual pathology, but when a child’s cough does not go away, what to do in such a situation? This question worries many parents, since this phenomenon is common.

Causes of prolonged, childhood cough

If a child continues to cough for three weeks or more, parents need to find out why this is happening.

Often a lingering cough is the result of an untreated disease, but there are other reasons:

1. If the air in the nursery is not sufficiently humidified, this may cause the baby to cough. The cough reflex occurs if a child breathes through his mouth, and his airways dry out. This is the simplest reason, by eliminating which you can save children from unpleasant manifestations.
2. Low consumption of ordinary clean water leads to the fact that the trachea and bronchial tree are not moisturized. In addition, lack of water leads to an increase in pathogenic flora, which leads to coughing.
3. Rarely, the cause of pathology can be esophageal reflux in children - the contents of the stomach as a result of disturbances enter the esophagus, irritate its walls, and sometimes gastric juice is thrown even into the respiratory tract. No wonder the child is coughing.
4. A prolonged cough occurs against the background of previous diseases, such as inflammation of the larynx, tracheitis and bronchitis in an allergic form. The body's immunological response to these diseases may not always be adequate, and allergies manifest themselves in the form of a cough.
5. We may also be talking about a foreign object that has entered the child’s respiratory canals. If suspected, urgent examination and removal is required.
6. When a cough does not go away, it may be caused by an inflammatory process in the palatine or pharyngeal tonsils. Then, in addition to coughing, the baby will have a sore throat.

With diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, ARVI, whooping cough, cough is almost always a residual phenomenon.

Do not forget that a cough can be just a purely physiological process in which the airways are cleared of particles of sputum and dust. This type of cough is common in children and is not dangerous to their health.

Adults need to carefully monitor the child’s well-being - when a cough is accompanied by fever, intestinal upset, loss of appetite and other alarming signs, the help of a pediatrician is required.

Symptoms and types of cough in children

A child's prolonged cough can be dry or wet. A dry cough remains only with bronchitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane and lymph of the pharynx, and inflammation of the larynx. The phenomenon is caused by irritation of respiratory receptors.

With a wet cough, sputum is produced, which can partially determine the cause of the anomaly:

• mucus may have a greenish tint;
• sputum contains blood;
• the child has no appetite;
• respiratory function is impaired - breathing is difficult, shortness of breath is observed, the baby feels pain in the chest.

These symptoms may indicate dangerous diseases, such as active tuberculosis or pneumonia. If such a cough, moreover, does not go away for a long time, then you urgently need to show the baby to the doctor.

You can tell that a cough is the result of an allergic reaction by the fact that it is dry and usually occurs in the morning, but also in the evening and at night. Associated symptoms are a runny nose, urticaria - a rash in the form of small blisters, or redness of the skin in the form of nodules.

• As for obstruction of the respiratory tract, shortness of breath is observed, the child cannot breathe normally and deeply, his cough is wet and a large amount of mucus is discharged.
• When infected, the sputum is yellow in color, may smell unpleasant, and contains purulent discharge.
• In any case, if a child’s cough does not go away, only a specialist knows what to do - for various signs, a medical examination is needed and an accurate diagnosis is determined.

If a child’s cough does not go away, a medical examination is needed to determine an accurate diagnosis.

A child’s cough does not go away: what to do?

First of all, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. This issue is dealt with by a pulmonologist, but it is quite possible that consultation with doctors such as an otolaryngologist and an allergist will be required.

Main diagnostic activities:

• bronchoscopy, which examines the state of the respiratory system;
• X-ray – scans the lungs;
• diagnostics using magnetic resonance and computed tomography, which gives a complete picture of the pathology;
• laboratory blood tests - general and biochemical - can reveal the level of leukocytes and erythrocytes;
• testing for tuberculosis is done;
• Sputum is examined to identify pathogens.

Allergy and provocative (stress) tests are also performed.

Drug therapy may consist of drugs for different purposes, these are:

• antiallergic drugs (Cetrin);
• drugs that dilute sputum - Bromhexine, ACC, Ambroxol;
• mucolytics (expectorants) – Broncholitin, Pectusin, Mucalitin;
• Nise, Ketorolac are used as anti-inflammatory medications;
• Salbutamol, Berodual are prescribed to relieve respiratory spasms, swelling of the lungs and bronchi;
• Antibacterial drugs can be used, selected for a specific pathogen; their use is usually limited to several days.

Tusuprex is often used for dry coughs; it is usually used for bronchitis and inflammation of the larynx. The medicine treats the infectious, allergic cause of cough, and does not cause addiction.

If you have a wet cough, your doctor may recommend taking Lazolvan, an antitussive drug that is effective for removing phlegm. It is produced in the form of children's syrup, but can be used both internally and for inhalation. The medicine is also sold in the form of lozenges, convenient for use in children.

If you have a wet cough, your doctor may recommend taking Lazolvan, an antitussive drug that is effective for removing phlegm.

1. Of course, parents should not exceed the dosages established by the specialist and follow the prescribed instructions.
2. If the cough is residual, your child can get rid of it using simple folk methods, well known and proven:

• the use of inhalation based on plant components such as: chamomile, linden flowers, St. John's wort, pine, fir or spruce buds, sage;
• in addition to mustard plasters on the back and chest, you can apply rubbing with badger and bear fat; goat and lard are also suitable;
• Warm milk with a spoonful of soda, butter and natural honey helps a lot when coughing;
• Mineral water and figs are also added to the milk;
• You can make a drink based on honey by adding quail and chicken egg yolks and a little lemon juice;
• On the baby’s chest you can put boiled potatoes in the form of a flat cake, cabbage leaves, smeared with honey.

You can use hot steam treatment; such procedures are effective even for chronic cough. If the baby is not allergic to certain plants, add a few drops of eucalyptus, pine, juniper esters to boiling water, or brew wild rosemary or wild rosemary.

Video: Why does a child cough for a long time? — Dr. Komarovsky

How to prevent a child from coughing

Children need constant monitoring, and in order not to miss a dangerous disease, parents need to do everything possible to prevent it.

For these purposes it is necessary:

• try to protect the child from contact with sick people;
• carry out vaccinations on time;
• do not pollute the room with tobacco smoke;
• keep the apartment well ventilated and humidified;
• fulfill basic personal hygiene requirements;
• a sick child should receive the necessary medical care in a timely manner and drink enough water per day.

If your child’s cough does not go away for a long time, what to do, you can ask the doctor and strictly follow his instructions. Perhaps there is nothing serious in this phenomenon, but it is better to be safe than to start a disease that can be extremely dangerous for the baby.

What to do if a child’s cough does not go away? Link to main publication

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The child’s cough does not go away for a long time, and nothing helps: what to do if the process is protracted?

Coughing is a protective reflex of the body, with the help of which the respiratory tract is cleared of viruses, mucus, and dust. Occurs due to mechanical, chemical, viral and inflammatory effects.

A child’s long cough is divided into two types – dry and wet, which are formed for various reasons. Rare morning coughing after sleep is considered normal.

This symptom may be rudimentary - due to a recent or untreated cold. Many parents stop the course of therapy or reduce the dosage of medication (including antibiotics) when the main symptoms of the disease disappear. As a result, a long, lingering cough appears, which can last 2-3 months.

A persistent cough in a child is divided into the following forms:

• barking (croaking) – often accompanied by wheezing, a typical sign of viral pathologies that are localized in the trachea and larynx;
• hoarse – formed during bronchial asthma / penetration of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
• nocturnal - usually observed in a baby sleeping on his back, since mucus accumulated in the nasopharynx flows down the back wall and causes irritation, characteristic of bronchial asthma;
• emetic - appears during acute pathologies of the respiratory system (for example, in acute bronchitis), sputum accumulates, enters the throat, and then into the stomach, which additionally provokes vomiting.

Type of cough	Reason for development	Peculiarities
Dry	Unfavorable microclimate	The mucous membrane of a child's respiratory tract is especially sensitive, so dry air, smoke, dust, and stuffy rooms can cause irritation.
Acute bronchitis	This pathology is accompanied by bouts of barking cough that does not go away at night, and an increase in body temperature to 39 degrees.
Laryngitis/pharyngitis	Severe swelling of the larynx forms, this causes a constant sore throat, the voice becomes hoarse, and little physical activity leads to shortness of breath.
Whooping cough	Even vaccinated children can get the disease (in a mild form). Initial symptoms are similar to a common cold or allergy. Initially, a dry cough occurs, gradually the frequency and duration of attacks increases.
Croup (oropharyngeal diphtheria)	This is a dangerous disease, and if it is not treated in time, it becomes chronic, and sometimes pneumonia additionally develops.
Tuberculosis	Secondary symptoms are rarely present, the disease is detected only with a comprehensive examination.
Allergy	The cough is sudden and intensifies during prolonged contact with the irritant.
Presence of helminths in the body	Some types of worms actively move through the internal organs of a person, thereby causing coughing attacks.
Gastrointestinal pathologies (reflux, swallowing abnormalities, bronchoesophageal fistula)	Attacks are often accompanied by vomiting.
Constant psycho-emotional stress	The pathological condition develops against the background of loneliness, frequent family quarrels, and prolonged depression. Rare coughing persists throughout the day; it goes away during sleep and eating.
Wet	Bronchial asthma	The disease is formed as a result of the entry of a pathological agent into the respiratory tract. During attacks, severe suffocation occurs, which provokes bronchospasm, and clear sputum is released in small quantities.
Sinusitis/sinusitis	With purulent inflammation of the sinuses, accumulated mucus enters the throat, causing a reflex cough. The lower respiratory tract is absolutely healthy.
Bronchitis	After therapy, cough can be observed for 2 weeks. In this way, the respiratory organs are naturally cleansed of remaining mucus.
Acute bronchotracheitis	This pathology provokes an increase in mucus production in the bronchi.

When the baby coughs for the second month, this provokes a weakening of the immune system and thermoregulation functions, which in the future will lead to frequent colds and infectious-inflammatory diseases. If a child attends kindergarten or school, the risk of infection with various bacterial infections increases greatly.

In addition, the nervous system suffers, performance and concentration decrease. As a result, fatigue appears, constant fatigue, nervousness and irritability.

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What to do if a persistent cough does not go away for a long time and lasts for several weeks? Parents buy all kinds of mucolytic drugs, but there is no effect from their use.

When a child has been coughing for more than a month, hospital treatment is often required, for example, for acute bronchitis or whooping cough. Such diseases occur with an increase in body temperature and develop rapidly, which can lead to serious complications.

For therapy to bring quick results, taking medication alone is not enough; you need to carry out complex treatment, which includes physical therapy, daily inhalations, warming compresses, and massage. How long the disease will last will depend on all these manipulations.

The course of drug therapy depends on the cause of the prolonged cough. For example, if the pathological condition has developed against the background of an allergic reaction, the doctor will additionally prescribe antihistamines, and in case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics. The course of therapy usually lasts from a week to 10 days.

Any medications for cough treatment can be given only after consultation with a doctor.

Group of drugs	Therapeutic effect	Name of medications
Antibiotics	They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Destroy viruses and bacteria and prevent their reproduction.	Kipferon; Augmentin; Azithromycin; Ceftriaxone.
Antihistamines	Inhibits the development of an allergic reaction, relieves swelling of the respiratory tract.
Hormonal	Hormones are indicated for complicated disease (acute or obstructive bronchitis); such medications are prescribed for inhalation. Restores breathing and eliminates shortness of breath.
Mucolytics	Recommended for the transition of a dry cough to a productive one. Expectorants thin the mucus and promote its rapid elimination.	For dry cough: Libexin; Glaucine; Tusuprex. For a wet cough:
Multivitamins	Increases immunity and body resistance.	Complivit; Sana-Sol; Vitrum Kids.

Inhalations help accelerate the discharge of sputum and dilute it. After the procedure, breathing becomes much easier, coughing attacks occur less frequently.

Inhalations have a positive effect on the healing process, allowing you to get rid of cough much faster

The medicine is sprayed using a special device - a nebulizer. When you inhale, it enters the bronchi and begins to actively act, inhibiting inflammatory processes. For inhalation, saline solution and medicine, for example, Ambrobene, are used.

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Massage

To improve mucus discharge and prevent the development of complications, young children need to have a drainage massage. It is better if it is carried out by a qualified doctor, but when this is not possible, you can handle it yourself.

For the procedure, use special oil or baby cream. The child lies on his stomach, after which massaging movements are performed:

• light stroking;
• rubbing/kneading;
• vibration pat.

To improve mucus discharge, doctors recommend drainage massage procedures.

Folk remedies

If a long cough does not go away and nothing helps, you can treat your baby using traditional medicine recipes. Before using them, consult your doctor to prevent complications. Popular folk remedies:

• rubbing with honey, goat or badger fat (more details in the article: how to give a child badger fat when coughing?);
• wheat bran boiled with calcined sugar - taken orally hot several times a day;
• make an infusion of raisins (50 g per 1 liter of water), add 60 ml of onion juice to it, take orally throughout the day;
• Boil chopped onions with honey and sugar, consume the mixture internally, 1 tbsp. 3 times a day.

According to O.E. Komarovsky, a famous pediatrician, a dry cough should turn into a wet cough after 2-3 days. If this does not happen, then the prescribed treatment is incorrect. You should consult your doctor again, as a dry cough without fever may be caused by a bacterial infection.

Komarovsky does not advise frequently giving a child mucolytic drugs, even if he has been coughing for more than a week. In children under 2-3 years of age, they provoke a prolonged cough. To normalize the condition, it is enough to ensure plenty of drinking and a constant flow of fresh air, daily walks and physical activity.

Diagnostic methods

A lingering cough in a child should be diagnosed by specialists (more details in the article: how and how to quickly stop an allergic cough in a child?). Where and how can you examine your baby? When this symptom persists for 2-3 weeks, the first thing you should do is see a pediatrician.

• x-ray;
• computed tomography;
• bronchoscopy – detailed study of the bronchial mucosa;
• sputum analysis - allows you to identify the causative agent of the pathology;
• spirography - the examination consists of measuring lung volume;
• UAC.

make daughter cough pass

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A child’s cough does not go away: what to do, how to treat it, reasons

If your child’s cough does not go away, this is a reason to consult a doctor. There may be several reasons for this condition, ranging from residual effects after ARVI and ending with tuberculosis.

Why does a child's cough not go away?

A persistent cough persists for 3 weeks or more. It often occurs as a consequence of an infection and does not pose a danger to the body. But sometimes dangerous diseases lie behind a prolonged cough: tuberculosis, ascariasis, pneumonia, whooping cough.

Most often, a lingering cough is residual in nature, but sometimes it can be a sign of a serious illness.

Residual cough

Residual cough occurs due to airway hyperresponsiveness. When the respiratory tract becomes inflamed, the mucous membrane is damaged; complete recovery takes about a month. At this time, the child may still cough, although other signs of the disease have disappeared.

This cough is a reflex and occurs in response to various irritants: cold air, cigarette smoke. The reaction can occur even in response to weak stimuli.

The residual process is characterized by:

• there are no other symptoms of the disease;
• there is a positive trend;
• does not affect the general condition of the child;
• There is no or little sputum production.

Incorrect treatment

Incorrect treatment can also lead to a child coughing for a long time.

When treating, you need to consider several points:

• nature of cough (wet, dry);
• nature (viral, bacterial);
• safety of the drug combination.

If you suppress a dry cough, phlegm will accumulate. Stagnation of sputum can lead to the addition of bacterial flora. This happens if the child is treated with antitussive drugs when sputum is produced. The wrong combination of drugs - the simultaneous use of expectorants and antitussives - can also lead to stagnation of sputum.

Chronic diseases

Chronic diseases are much more difficult to cure than acute ones. Even after long-term therapy, symptoms of the disease may persist. In children, prolonged cough can be caused by the following chronic diseases:

• adenoids and adenoiditis;
• rhinitis;
• tonsillitis;
• pharyngitis;
• bronchitis.

Especially often the cause is chronic pathology of the upper respiratory tract - the nasal cavity, palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsils. Mucus, which is produced in the upper respiratory tract, flows down the throat and irritates the cough receptors. The cough appears again and again, and it is very difficult to get rid of it.

Allergy

A prolonged dry cough may be a symptom of an allergy. The child often develops allergies to house dust, plant pollen, animal hair, and some medications.

The disease is not manifested by fever or weakness, which distinguishes allergies from ARVI and colds.

Rare causes

Much less often, a prolonged cough is a symptom of pulmonary tuberculosis or intrathoracic lymph nodes, ascariasis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), whooping cough, or a foreign body in the bronchi.

In these diseases, cough does not respond to conventional treatment and persists for a long time. There are also other disease-specific symptoms. For example:

• heartburn and sour belching - with GERD;
• low-grade fever and increased sweating – with tuberculosis;
• paroxysmal cough, vomiting after an attack - with whooping cough;
• rashes, itching - with ascariasis.

What symptoms to look out for

If the child does not stop coughing, you need to pay attention to whether there are other symptoms of the disease:

1. Increased body temperature.
2. Sputum production, especially mucopurulent or bloody.
3. Violation of general health: weakness, fatigue, lethargy.
4. Difficulty breathing: shortness of breath, attacks of suffocation, pale or blue discoloration of the skin.
5. Other signs: increased sweating, heartburn, nasal congestion.

These symptoms are an indication for examination of the child. If no additional symptoms are detected, the child feels well, we are most likely talking about a residual reaction of the body.

Survey

If your child's cough does not go away for a long time, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct a physical examination: general examination, examination of the oral cavity, auscultation of the lungs, palpation of the lymphatic vessels. If necessary, additional examination is prescribed:

Not in all cases, additional examination is indicated for the child; a doctor must refer the tests.

Treatment

Treatment for a persistent cough largely depends on its cause. In addition to etiotropic treatment (aimed at getting rid of the cause), inhalations, air humidification, and folk remedies are used. For viscous, difficult to separate sputum, drugs from the group of mucolytics can be used.

It is possible to suppress a cough only in rare, most extreme cases, when it significantly interferes with the child’s life.

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Etiotropic treatment

Cough is not a separate disease, so treating only the symptom is ineffective in most cases. Once the cause is identified, treatment should be aimed at getting rid of the underlying disease.

For residual effects, etiotropic treatment is not used; it is enough to follow general recommendations and do inhalations.

Inhalations

An effective and simple method of treatment is inhalation. Steam and warm inhalations are carried out at home; you can also use a nebulizer. The essence of the method is that medicinal substances are delivered to the site of inflammation.

For diseases of the lower respiratory tract, inhalation with a nebulizer is indicated

Steam inhalations are easy to use, but have contraindications: increased body temperature, nosebleeds, and a child under 7 years of age. In addition, when performing steam inhalations, there is a risk of developing burns to the skin and mucous membranes, so you need to be careful. It is recommended to adhere to the following safety rules:

• do not inhale over boiling water (water temperature should not exceed 50°C);
• the frequency of the procedure is no more than 3 times a day;
• The duration of the procedure is 3–5 minutes.

For steam inhalations, decoctions of medicinal herbs, water with soda, and slightly alkaline solutions are used.

Warm inhalations are safer for children. There are no contraindications to their implementation, there is no risk of burning the mucous membranes and skin. For the procedure, warm water (approximately 40 °C) and essential oils are used, if the child does not have a tendency to allergies (not used in young children).

Nebulizer inhalations are indicated for diseases of the lower respiratory tract; they can be used at any age and at elevated body temperature.

Using a nebulizer, medications are delivered directly to the bronchi and bronchioles. For inhalation with a nebulizer, saline solution, bronchodilators or antibiotics are used.

General recommendations

Treatment at home will not be effective without following general recommendations:

1. Air humidification.
2. Drink plenty of warm drinks.
3. Diet with the exclusion of irritating foods: hot, spicy, salty.
4. Ventilate the room in which the child is located.
5. Do breathing exercises.
6. Avoiding hypothermia and inhaling cold air.

Following general recommendations will help your baby recover faster and get rid of the symptom.

Folk remedies

For treatment, folk remedies that have anti-inflammatory, mucolytic and moisturizing effects can be used. The most commonly used medicinal plants are:

• marshmallow root;
• chamomile and calendula flowers;
• mint leaves;
• dog-rose fruit;
• pine and fir needles.

Decoctions and infusions are prepared from medicinal plants. Use 1 tbsp. l. dry herbs to 1 glass of water. Most often, decoctions and infusions are used for inhalation, but oral use is also possible.

In addition to medicinal plants, essential oils are also used: eucalyptus, sea buckthorn, pine, tea tree.

It is not recommended to limit yourself to traditional recipes. They are used only as an adjunct to the main treatment.

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Persistent cough in a child without fever

If a dry cough without fever in a child does not go away for a long time, it is urgent to find an explanation for this pathological condition.

Often the cause of a prolonged dry cough in the summer is an allergy, and in the cold season - an untreated respiratory disease.

Sometimes, based on the results of laboratory tests and an external examination of a small patient, the pediatrician is unable to identify the cause of a lingering cough. In this case, the baby is sent for a neurological examination.

Why does a child’s cough not go away for a long time?

It is impossible to understand why a child has been coughing for more than a month and nothing helps.

If the baby does not have a fever, then first of all he will be sent for a Mantoux test to rule out tuberculosis. Then they will check for a number of other pathological conditions.

Allergies and bronchial asthma

Persistent discomfort in the throat may be a manifestation of allergies, which, in turn, is a symptom of exacerbation or development of bronchial asthma.

Allergic coughing is paroxysmal in nature. Usually appears at night when the baby takes a horizontal position.

The condition is accompanied by suffocation, sore throat, lacrimation, and the release of a small amount of sputum.

Infections and inflammation of the respiratory system

In addition to pneumonia and bronchitis, a parasitic infection can cause a dry and wet cough in a child. Worms live not only in the intestines, they can affect the lungs and even the mucous membrane of the larynx.

The larvae, moving along the walls of the respiratory organs, act as an irritant. The child develops a strong, dry cough or with copious sputum production.

In this way, the body tries to clear the respiratory tract of worms.

If there is no treatment for a long time, the child’s body’s resistance to pathogenic bacteria and viruses decreases. The baby's respiratory mucosa becomes inflamed, a runny nose appears, and the body temperature rises. The cough becomes wet.

Cystic fibrosis

A situation where a child has been coughing for 2 months should alert parents, especially if there is a history of a diagnosis such as cystic fibrosis. Another name for the disease is cystic fibrosis.

This systemic hereditary pathology is caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for the functioning of the exocrine glands that produce mucus.

Cystic fibrosis affects the functioning of the liver, pancreas, intestines and lungs.

Pathological neoplasms are cavities filled with air or liquid.

Symptoms of a hereditary disease may appear in a child immediately after birth with frequent coughing, wheezing, abnormal chest shape, lack of oxygen, etc.

Tuberculosis

If you have a dry, debilitating cough for 3 weeks, but no fever, this may be a sign of tuberculosis. The disease is caused by Koch's bacillus.

The initial stage of an infectious disease is often practically asymptomatic. The patient is bothered by a dry, hysterical cough, which causes pain in the lungs.

The temperature can be either normal (36.6°C), slightly low (35.5°C) or low-grade (37.5°C).

Bronchiectasis

A condition in which a child’s cough with sputum does not go away can provoke deformation of the bronchi. Bronchiectasis can be congenital or acquired. The disease affects people most often in childhood, mainly boys. Acquired (congenital) pathology may be the result of tuberculosis/lung abscess or chronic bronchitis.

A sign of bronchiectasis is coughing with purulent sputum, which is released after a night's sleep. The pathology worsens in spring and autumn. Coughing with sputum may be accompanied by fever and impotence. When listening in the lung area, moist wheezing of varying volumes is observed, which temporarily subside after expectoration of mucus.

Malignant and benign tumors of the chest

If a child’s cough lasts for more than a month, his chest should be examined for the presence of malignant and benign neoplasms.

A tumor in the chest area does not manifest itself in any way at an early stage. Having increased in size, it begins to squeeze neighboring organs, as a result the patient develops a chronic dry cough.

His voice becomes hoarse. Whistling sounds are heard while breathing.

A persistent cough, especially in the absence of additional symptoms (runny nose, elevated body temperature), should not be ignored. This condition may indicate serious pathological processes in the body.

Similar symptoms are observed in bronchial asthma. But in this case, a person feels pain in the chest both when inhaling and exhaling.

Other reasons

A prolonged, severe cough in a child can be caused by a nerve problem. As a result of nervous tension, a spasm occurs in the bronchi, leading to coughing. Seizures never bother the child at night. The risk group includes hyperactive children over 3 years of age and adolescents. During puberty, the urge to cough appears more often, but disappears over time.

Frequent coughing can be caused by too dry air in a room heated by electrical appliances. The pathological condition occurs against the background of dehydration of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

The cough is accompanied by a sore and itchy throat. The cooling unit can also lead to respiratory problems.

Severe hypothermia provokes spasm of the respiratory muscles, which leads to difficulty breathing and attempts to cough.

Diagnostic methods

A persistent cough in a child without fever is a reason to consult a pediatrician. The doctor will listen to the bronchi and lungs for wheezing and other pathological sounds, and assess the hardness of breathing. An equally loud, clear inhalation and exhalation usually indicates an accumulation of mucus in the lungs and bronchi. The diagnosis is clarified using the following methods:

• X-ray - confirms or excludes pneumonia.
• Bronchoscopy - shows the condition of the bronchial mucosa.
• Laboratory examination of sputum - if the cough is caused by an infection.
• Spirography - determines lung volume (increases with inflammation).

What to do if your child coughs for a long time

Only a doctor can decide how to treat a child’s persistent cough. Complex therapy can bring quick results. Therefore, a cough treatment regimen should include, in addition to taking medications, regular rubbing, chest and back massage, and inhalations.

Drug therapy

The problem of how to cure a cough that does not go away for 2 weeks is solved by eliminating the cause of its occurrence. The treatment regimen includes:

• Antihistamines - the child is prescribed Suprastin, Tavegil or Zyrtec to relieve swelling from the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Antitussive drugs Sinekod, Intussin or Glauvent are needed to relieve physiologically unjustified cough attacks (when the respiratory organs are clean).
• Antibiotics - used for pneumonia, to treat cough caused by a bacterial infection. Effective tablets Augmentin, Ceftriaxone, Kipferon suppress the activity of bacteria, relieve inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane.
• Hormonal drugs - prescribed for blockage of the bronchi (obstructive bronchitis). Pulmicort, Berodual - these medications are used for dry cough for inhalation. They eliminate shortness of breath and restore breathing.
• Mucolytic agents. To make a dry cough moist, Tusuprex and Libexin are prescribed. For wet cough with difficult to separate sputum, ACC, Lazolvan, Prospan are prescribed.
• Multivitamin complexes. To strengthen the immune system and increase the body's resistance to bacteria, Complivit, Univit, Vitrum Kids are recommended.

Drainage massage

A condition in which a child’s cough does not go away for a week requires drainage massage:

• The child is placed on his stomach and a pillow is placed under the chest.
• The massage begins with a 5-minute warm-up of the back. Use your palms to perform various stroking, rubbing, and light pats. For better hand glide, use baby oil or cream.
• Over the next 5 minutes, lightly tap the ribs of both palms in the direction from the ridge to the sides, from the lower back to the shoulder blades.
• Finish the massage with soothing stroking.

Folk remedies

If a child’s cough does not go away for a long time, then, with the permission of the doctor, drug therapy can be supplemented with folk remedies.

Treatment of cough with folk remedies gives a milder effect. As a rule, all these techniques help not only fight the underlying infection, but also strengthen the immune system.

For example, this will help a lot:

• Onion syrup. Peel the onion, wash it, chop it, and squeeze out the juice using gauze. Add to it as much natural honey as you get juice. Take the medicine 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l. Has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect.
• Honey warming compress. Honey is applied to the back. Compress paper is applied on top. The body is tied with a simple cloth to keep the compress in place. The procedure is carried out overnight until in the morning honey remains on the skin of the back instead of droplets of water. The compress helps remove mucus.

To quickly stop an attack of dry cough, you can give your child a little warm water or milk with honey.

Dangerous consequences of prolonged coughing

Cough makes breathing difficult, which leads to oxygen starvation of the body and decreased immunity. These two factors contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Cough itself is not a disease.

This is only a symptom that is caused by pathological changes in other organs. If you do not respond to prolonged coughing, the disease that provoked it will take a chronic form and will remind itself several times a year.

Source: https://kashelproch.ru/rebenok/suhoy-kashel-u-rebenkabez-temperatury-ne-prohodit

A child’s cough does not go away for a long time: causes and methods of treatment

When a child’s cough does not go away for a long time, the situation begins to seriously worry parents. Finding an effective way to alleviate the baby’s condition is becoming a priority for moms and dads. The reasons for the corresponding development of events are heterogeneous. In each case, an individual approach to the treatment of a small patient is required.

Why doesn't my child's cough go away?

Cough is a natural protective reaction of the human body, ensuring the elimination of foreign bodies from the respiratory tract. Reflex contraction of the muscles of the bronchi, abdominals and chest removes particles of dust, mucus, and microorganisms from the respiratory system.

A lingering cough in a child that worries the patient for too long is a sign that requires attention from parents and doctors.

Typical reasons:

• Residual manifestations of pathologies of the respiratory system. Acute respiratory diseases (ARI), bacterial processes in the lungs often cause the child to cough for another month after the fever and other symptoms have disappeared;
• Incorrectly selected medications, inadequate treatment of the disease. Ignoring doctor’s advice and stopping medications on your own are factors that increase the risk of not achieving the desired result in a child’s recovery with the disease becoming chronic, which occurs with a lingering cough;
• Parallel development of allergies. The constant exposure of the baby’s body to antigens provokes the formation of thick and viscous sputum, which causes the patient to cough;
• Features of the course of individual diseases (whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, acute respiratory infections). The pathology of the respiratory system is heterogeneous. Depending on the mechanism of cough progression in a patient, the nature of the disease and the selection of appropriate treatment methods differ.

Should I panic if my child’s cough doesn’t go away? No, but it is necessary to establish the reason why the disease is prolonged. Diagnosis of respiratory disorders is a key factor in selecting adequate treatment.

Fact! Self-control of a child’s persistent cough is 80% ineffective. The disease can be cured completely only after a comprehensive examination of the patient with an assessment of organic and functional disorders of the respiratory system. Appropriate diagnostics are carried out in medical institutions. To maintain your baby’s health and eliminate coughing, you must seek help from a doctor.

What to do if a child’s cough with sputum does not go away?

A wet or productive cough characterizes the normal function of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract with the formation of liquid sputum, which is expelled. In 65-75% of all respiratory disorders, doctors try to convert a dry cough into a wet one to speed up the clearance of the bronchi.

This goal is achieved through the use of mucolytic and expectorant agents. If a child’s wet cough does not go away for a long time, then it is necessary to use methods and drugs to increase the discharge of sputum.

General tips:

• Taking mucolytic drugs lasts up to 7 days (the doctor may increase this period). Exceeding the norm leads to hypersecretion of the bronchial glands, which is accompanied by persistence of the problem;
• Carrying out chest drainage massage while taking specialized medications. The essence of the technique is that the movement of the cilia of the ciliated epithelium is mechanically stimulated to accelerate the cleaning of the bronchi;
• Exclusion of centrally acting antitussive medications. Blocking the corresponding reflex in conditions of mucus hypersecretion leads to stagnation of sputum with the risk of progression of inflammation.

The parallel addition of pus or impurities that are unclear to parents, released with sputum when coughing, is a signal to immediately seek help. The cause of the corresponding development of events may be a serious purulent infection requiring the prescription of antibiotics. In addition to cough, the disease is accompanied by fever, weakness, and weight loss.

Interesting! A long productive (wet) cough in a child - in most cases remains the result of excessive use of mucolytics. Using medications as prescribed with additional massage is an effective measure to stabilize the baby’s condition.

What to do if a child’s dry or wet cough does not go away?

A child's persistent cough is often dry rather than wet. It is necessary to treat a symptom only after establishing the cause of the corresponding pathology.

Diseases that may cause symptoms to prolong in a child:

1. whooping cough;
2. laryngotracheitis (false croup);
3. viral pharyngitis;
4. bronchial asthma;
5. other pathologies.

Whooping cough is a bacterial disease characterized by the progression of a dry, hysterical, debilitating cough.

The pathogen affects the corresponding center in the child’s brain, which is accompanied by the appearance of a symptom at the slightest irritant (change in air temperature, sharp sound or light).

To correct the condition, the use of centrally acting drugs (codeine, butamirate, glaucine) is required as prescribed by a doctor.

Laryngotracheitis is another potential cause of this problem. The disease occurs against the background of swelling of the mucous membrane, followed by stenosis (narrowing of the lumen) of the upper respiratory tract. The pathology is dangerous and requires hospitalization of the child.

The swelling progresses against the background of a local inflammatory process or an allergic reaction. The cough is dry, barking, and occurs sporadically, often at night or in the early morning.

Important! First aid for stenosing laryngotracheitis (before the ambulance arrives) is to ensure an influx of fresh, moist air. The main thing is not to panic. The child's fear increases the severity of the symptom.

The best course of action is to stay with the baby in the bathroom with the tap open and do steam inhalation. The result is a decrease in the severity of edema.

A prolonged cough in a child due to bronchial asthma is characterized by paroxysmal attacks.

Episodes of difficulty breathing are associated with the influence of the allergic component. Bronchospasm progresses with additional formation of thick mucus.

It is difficult for the child to exhale; the symptom is dry and unproductive. The best way out of this situation is to take bronchial dilators (salbutamol). This group of drugs is effective in relieving an asthma attack. Complex treatment involves individual selection of a therapeutic program.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that accompanies a child almost his entire life. Compliance with the doctor’s recommendations helps to minimize episodes of coughing and breathing problems and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Tuberculosis, mycoplasmosis, and oncological pathology are potential causes of a lingering cough that also need to be taken into account.

A child has a prolonged cough without fever - what to do?

A child’s prolonged cough without fever is one of the most common reasons why parents contact a pediatrician. On the one hand, the baby feels well, plays with his peers, eats normally, but on the other hand, he coughs and cannot sleep at night.

The diseases described above can serve as a trigger for the current situation. However, in most cases, the problem develops as a residual phenomenon after seasonal respiratory infections.

Viral damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is accompanied by dysfunction of the ciliated epithelium. The result is a long-term residual secretion of excess mucus, with the appearance of a corresponding reflex. Without fever, weakness and other secondary symptoms, a child’s cough may not go away for a month, or even more.

To eliminate the residual effects of acute respiratory infections, it is worth providing the baby with adequate nutrition and drinking plenty of fluids (up to 2.5 liters per day). Parents should ensure that the room where the child sleeps is regularly ventilated.

It is recommended to artificially humidify the air using special devices or home methods (a pan of hot water near the baby’s bed).

Additionally, you need to consult a doctor to rule out a more serious pathology.

Another common cause of this problem is chronic obstructive bronchitis. The mechanism of development of the disease resembles bronchial asthma.

Due to the viscosity of sputum, the child cannot cough it up on his own, which further aggravates the course of the disease.

Stabilization of the patient's condition is carried out using mucolytic agents. Gradual thinning of mucus makes coughing easier. To speed up the cleaning of the bronchi, expectorants are prescribed after 4-5 days of using mucolytics.

An increase in shortness of breath during treatment for a prolonged cough in obstructive bronchitis is an indication for hospitalization of a child. Self-treatment in this case is inappropriate due to the risk of worsening the baby’s condition.

Tips for treating a persistent cough

How to treat a persistent cough in a child? To eliminate a persistent symptom, you first need to establish the cause of its occurrence, and only then select the appropriate therapy.

Recommendations and tips:

• Adequate fluid intake by the child. Moisture helps thin the mucus in the respiratory tract, which speeds up recovery;
• Minimizing contact with allergens. If a child suffers from hypersensitivity to pollen, certain fruits or products, interaction with them must be avoided;
• Air humidification. Dryness in the room against a background of dust is a provoking factor that causes reflex contraction of the bronchi even in healthy adults;
• Regular examination by a doctor. Long-term persistence of the corresponding pathology is a reason to undergo a comprehensive examination of the respiratory system;
• The use of distracting procedures - contrast showers, leg parks, etc.

Among medications, three groups of drugs are used:

1. Mucolytic medications. The mechanism of action is based on the dilution of sputum. Examples - Ambrobene, Gerbion, ACC;
2. Expectorants. The drugs stimulate the epithelium, accelerating the discharge of sputum. Examples – Lazolvan, Ambrohexal, Bromhexine;
3. Antitussives. Medicines affect the central nervous system, inhibiting the corresponding reflex. Examples - Codelac, Sinekod, Tusidil.

The most popular are combination products that simultaneously combine mucolytic and expectorant effects. The selection of appropriate medications and doses is carried out on an individual basis.

Solving the problem using folk remedies

It is sometimes quite difficult to cure a persistent cough in a child. To improve the condition of a small patient, parents are interested in effective folk remedies. Traditional medicine insists on the secondary approach to healing due to the lack of evidence base confirming the advisability of prescribing natural medicines.

Important! There are plenty of options for alternative treatment for persistent cough. The main thing is to be careful when treating a child. Before using any method, you should consult your doctor.

The following folk remedies are popular among patients:

• Milk with honey. It is recommended to drink a warm drink before bed. The problem will go away due to the warming effect and additional calming of the receptors of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
• Garlic and onion tincture. An effective anti-cold folk remedy. 5-6 crushed cloves of garlic and 1 onion are poured with 200 ml of vodka. After 2 weeks of aging, drink the liquid 1 teaspoon three times a day after meals;
• Mustard plasters. The essence of the technique is local heating of the child’s respiratory tract with an increase in blood supply.

Which doctors should I go to and what tests should I take?

Long-lasting pathology forces parents to traditionally turn to a pediatrician. If the root cause of the problem is discovered, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment. However, in 50-60% of cases, it is not so easy to understand why the baby coughs for a long time.

For differential diagnosis and verification of the cause of the symptom, the doctor conducts the following examinations:

• General blood analysis. The presence of an inflammatory process in the patient’s body is excluded or confirmed;
• X-ray examination of the chest organs;
• Fluorography;
• Spirometry is a method for diagnosing the respiratory system, allowing to assess the respiratory function of a child;
• Blood chemistry.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional procedures (ECG, computed tomography, ultrasound of the abdominal organs).

Important! In addition to the pediatrician, a pulmonologist, phthisiatrician, infectious disease specialist and other specialists are invited to exclude or confirm the diagnosis if necessary. A lingering symptom is often a manifestation of a pathology not associated with dysfunction of the respiratory system.

Conclusion

Prolonged persistence of cough in children always makes parents worry. If a cough bothers a child for more than two weeks, then you should consult a doctor for advice. To eliminate a symptom, you need to understand why it occurs. It is necessary to undergo comprehensive treatment using all available means, but after consulting a doctor.

Source: https://MyKashel.ru/rebenok/ne-prohodit-kashel.html