home Audience 3 The child has a very dry cough, what to treat. A competent approach to the treatment of dry cough in children. Specific bacterial infections

The child has a very dry cough, what to treat. A competent approach to the treatment of dry cough in children. Specific bacterial infections

Many parents have encountered coughing in children and know well how important it is to take timely measures to prevent the disease from developing into a more serious form. Cough is one of the first symptoms that children experience when they have a cold or flu. To avoid complications, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Absolutely every child has had a dry barking cough at least once, so parents must know how to treat it.

What is a barking cough?

Doctors call this form of barking cough, which is observed at the initial stage of some diseases. This name is due to the fact that the cough resembles the barking of a dog. The causative agents of the disease provoke swelling of the larynx, which, in turn, affects the change in voice. He becomes rough and hoarseness appears. The sputum practically does not come out, accumulating in the throat. The attacks are quite severe and painful, especially for young children.

When a dry barking cough begins, the child experiences lethargy, weakness, and loss of appetite. A barking cough is considered absolutely useless from a physiological point of view. It does not protect the throat, does not remove phlegm, but causes severe pain. It is much harder for children to bear than for adults. The barking cough is intrusive. Coughing attacks become a painful ordeal for a child, especially under the age of one year. Children often experience vomiting and sometimes respiratory arrest.

When the throat tissue swells, the airway narrows. At the same time, it is difficult for the child to speak and he breathes heavily. If the swelling increases, it can completely block the airway. In case of severe attacks of sudden dry cough, the child must be hospitalized. To prevent the disease from becoming severe, at the first sign of a barking cough, you should contact your pediatrician.

Causes

A dry cough in childhood can be a consequence of exposure to pathogenic bacteria, viruses or allergens. In most cases, a barking cough is a concomitant symptom with the progression of the following diseases:

laryngitis, pharyngitis, which contribute to the appearance of swelling of the throat;
acute stenosing larengotracheitis, which affects the vocal cords;
influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, respiratory infections affecting the respiratory tract;
whooping cough;
diphtheria.

A barking cough most often worsens at night and in the early morning. This is explained by a decrease in ventilation of the lungs, during which a large amount of bronchodilator secretion accumulates in the respiratory tract.

Types of barking cough and accompanying symptoms

Typically, a dry barking cough occurs in children under 5 years of age. At this age, the larynx is still very narrow and, due to swelling, is almost completely blocked. Air cannot penetrate into the lungs, and attacks of suffocation develop.

Often a dry barking cough is accompanied by an increase in body temperature

There are two types of dry barking cough:

accompanied by an increase in temperature;
at which the temperature remains normal.

In the first case, a barking cough is a symptom accompanying the underlying disease. As a rule, these are bacterial and viral infections that significantly reduce children's immunity, resulting in the rapid development of inflammatory processes in the body. The mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and larynx are particularly affected, as they become an ideal environment for the proliferation of microorganisms. An increase in temperature serves a protective function to combat inflammation.

One of the most serious diseases that provokes a barking cough is whooping cough. During the illness, continuous attacks occur, during which the child turns pale, breathes heavily, sticks out his tongue and makes whistling sounds when inhaling. In such cases, antibiotic therapy cannot be avoided.

Common symptoms of barking cough include the following:

labored breathing;
sore throat;
severe runny nose;
enlarged lymph nodes;
hoarseness of voice;
nausea and vomiting;
swelling and inflammation of the larynx.

Also, with a dry barking cough, the throat becomes very irritated and sore.

If the attacks are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, then there is a high probability that it was caused by an allergic reaction. The causative agent of allergies can be baby food products, plant flowers, pet hair, and substances included in household chemicals.

In order to finally make sure that the cough is allergic, you need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. For allergies, they will be as follows:

no runny nose;
cough is harsh and worsens when eating or being near an allergen;
The cough is hard and seasonal, that is, it appears and goes away periodically.

If you have an allergy, it is important to treat it in a timely manner, preventing it from becoming chronic or bronchitis. Allergies in children can have serious consequences for the entire body. The cause of a cough can be the air, which loses moisture when heating appliances operate in winter.

First aid for a child before a doctor’s visit

If a child’s barking cough begins suddenly and he does not have enough air to breathe, it is imperative to call the attending physician.

Without wasting time, parents can help their child stop the attack. In this situation, the actions should be as follows:

It is necessary to remove the child's clothing if it is compressing the chest.
Try to distract and calm him down. In an excited state, attacks may intensify.
In order to avoid dehydration during prolonged coughing, you need your child to drink as much fluid as possible. In this case, warm boiled milk, juice, compote or water is best. Before giving your child something to drink, you need to wait until the attack is over so that he does not choke.
Coughing attacks are stopped by exposure to moist air. If you suspect false croup in a child, it is important to let him breathe hot, moist air. Such conditions can be created in the bathroom by running hot water into the bath. After inhaling air, the attack should stop.
If a child coughs, but the temperature is not elevated, you can wrap his calves in mustard plasters and warm his feet in hot water.

Features of the treatment of barking cough in children

A child's barking cough should be treated by a pediatrician (we recommend reading:). To prescribe medications and therapeutic measures, it is necessary to determine which disease led to the unpleasant symptom. The main goal of treatment is to reduce swelling and increase mucus discharge from the throat.

One of the main rules when treating a cough is to ensure that the child drinks plenty of fluids and prevents dehydration.

In addition to taking medications, parents must provide the baby with a calm environment, surround him with love and care. You should also give your child plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. You need to exclude hot and spicy foods from your diet, which can irritate the inflamed walls of the larynx.

Drug therapy

For treatment, drugs should be used that will help turn a dry cough into a wet one, as well as suppress the development of infection. The following groups of drugs are indicated:

Antibiotics. They should be used only after an accurate diagnosis of the disease, since each of them has different activity against individual pathogens. Thus, with laryngitis and pharyngitis, the causative agent is a virus, and the use of antibiotics will not have the desired effect, but will only harm the beneficial microflora of the stomach and intestines. The course of antibiotics should not be stopped prematurely.
Antitussive drugs. They reduce the cough reflex, but do not have a therapeutic effect. The use of these medications is dangerous because mucus with pathogenic microorganisms will no longer come out. This drug can be prescribed if necessary. For example, with a prolonged dry cough accompanied by vomiting, or pleurisy.
Mucolytics. Drugs in this group are good at liquefying accumulated mucus. They are used in the treatment of coughs accompanying infectious diseases, when the sputum is thick and difficult to separate. Good results are observed with treatment with Bromhexine, Ambroxol, ACC, Fluimucil. Taking mucolytics and antitussive medications at the same time is contraindicated.
Medicines with expectorant action. Promote the release of sputum, increasing the activity of tissue epithelium in the respiratory tract. At the same time, the amount of sputum does not increase. When using such drugs, you need to be prepared for the release of all the mucus that has stagnated in the respiratory tract. For maximum effectiveness they should be applied every 3 hours.

Children are usually prescribed herbal expectorants. A good expectorant effect was noted when taking Mucaltin, Pertusin, Gedelix. It is easier for children to give medicines in the form of syrups (for example, licorice or marshmallow root syrup).

Inhalations

If a child has a hard cough, then inhalations can be used as treatment. It should be remembered that if you have a barking cough, steam inhalations are prohibited. They can burn inflamed vocal cords. For inhalation, it is better to use medications that promote bronchodilation.

Drugs that will help quickly clear the airways:

Berodual. Belongs to the category of bronchodilators. Children under 6 years of age are prescribed inhalations in the form of drops, which are diluted in saline in the following proportion: 10 drops of medicine per 2 ml of solution.
Berotek. Used in the treatment of children from 6 years of age. Inhalations are done 3 times a day until complete relief.
Pulmicort. Can be prescribed from 6 months of age. Has a good analgesic effect. Cope with cough in a short time.

You can do inhalations with mineral water. Having an alkaline effect on the walls of the respiratory tract, it gives an anti-inflammatory effect.

Folk remedies

For the effective treatment of barking cough, which is also called barking cough, there are many folk remedies.

Syrup made from radish and honey has proven itself to be beneficial for dry, barking coughs.

Some of them are not inferior in effectiveness to modern medicines:

A decoction of milk with pine buds. You need to boil the milk and add the kidneys to it. For half a liter of milk, 2 tbsp is enough. kidney After an hour, the resulting infusion can be given to the child to drink.
A decoction of calamus root. Add dry calamus root to boiling water and cook for 15 minutes, then filter and cool. The child can be given the decoction 30 minutes before meals, half a glass at each time. Promotes coughing and mucus drainage. Drink the decoction 3 times a day.
Radish and honey syrup. You need to take a radish fruit and cut off the top. Inside the root vegetable, cut a hollow into which you need to pour a couple of tablespoons of honey. Then the fruit is covered with a cut cap and left for 10 hours. The resulting syrup is given to children 30 minutes before meals.

Possible complications of barking cough in children

After an illness, children may experience complications, since a barking cough poses a particular threat to the child’s body and in some cases can be fatal. If left untreated, serious complications can occur:

asthmatic diseases;
occlusion;
the appearance of respiratory failure.

Colds in children of all ages are almost always accompanied by a cough, which clears the airways of accumulated bacteria. With a mild disease of the respiratory system, the cough in the first days is very frequent and dry, but as the disease progresses it becomes more moist and sputum appears. In this article we will look at How to treat dry cough in a child.

Feverish syndrome is not uncommon during a cold; the body temperature rises. However, you should not worry or be scared, because this is a sign that the body has activated its protective function. Parents may have cause for concern if there is no increase in temperature. After all, the cause of this condition can be not only a viral, but also a more serious disease.

How to treat dry cough? To do this, you need to use medications prescribed by a specialist. It follows from this that at the first symptoms of a cold you need to visit a doctor. Remember, when you have a cold, you should not resist the cough reflex. This will prevent the body from getting rid of bacteria accumulated in the lungs. We recommend taking other measures to relieve dry cough:

It is recommended to give the child alkaline solutions. Milk with soda or warm mineral water. Hot milk with honey or butter will also help.
Excessive cough without fever can be moistened with steam inhalation. For breathing, you can use boiled potatoes or herbal infusions.
You can use heat compresses. They help improve blood circulation in the chest and create mucus in the lungs. They need to be applied to the breast and left for several hours, after which they should be removed and the baby should be wrapped in a warm blanket.
The air in the room should be slightly humid, smoking, or using perfume, etc. is strictly prohibited. Any irritating substances should be excluded.
Make your child drink more fluids. Not just water, but compote, rosehip, lemon, lingonberry tea or cranberry juice. Decoctions of plantain, nettle, thermopsis, coltsfoot, oregano and sea buckthorn also help greatly. These herbs should be taken with caution, as an allergic reaction to one of them may occur.
Honey and lemon juice in the same amount fights cough very well if it doesn't last long.

This method is very effective; it can be used to treat children with both dry and wet cough. Today, inhalations are done already at the very last stages of inflammation of the respiratory tract simultaneously with therapeutic treatment. With the help of such procedures, you can greatly facilitate the release of sputum, moisten the cough, and reduce the period of the disease.

Today, pharmacies offer nebulizer inhalation, of which there are two types:

Ultrasonic. Small in size, quiet operation, the device is very convenient when treating small children. But it has the ability to destroy the active substances of medicinal drugs, so antibiotics are not used with it.
Compression. Large size, very noisy, but produces even the smallest particles.

When choosing a camera, you need to pay attention to the child’s age and disease. We recommend purchasing a device with a particle diameter of no more than 10 microns.

Inhalation nebulizer recipes for children, what to do at home?

With Berodual dosage for one inhalation for children over 12 years old, 40 drops are needed, for children under 6 years old - 10 drops. The product must be diluted in saline solution in an amount of 3 ml.
With Mukaltin– take 4 ml 3 times a day.
With Propolis– for one inhalation you need approximately 3 ml of a solution made from 1 ml of propolis and 20 ml of saline solution. Take 3 times a day. If you have an individual intolerance to beekeeping products, this method is prohibited.
With Eucalyptus– for one procedure you need 3 ml of solution, also take 3 times a day. To obtain a solution, you need to mix 12 drops of eucalyptus and 200 ml of saline solution. Do not use if you have bronchial asthma.

You can buy these products at a pharmacy and easily inhale them at home.

For children aged up to 1 year Doctors often prescribe syrups for coughs. Because they have a pleasant taste and smell, but tablets are the opposite. Let's consider the most inexpensive options for syrups for these purposes, which are now sold in pharmacies:

Expectorants for dry coughs for children

Thermopsis

You need to be very careful when using herbal infusions from thermopsis. With a minimal overdose, the child may simply vomit. Moreover, cytisine, which is part of the composition, in large doses, has a very detrimental effect on the child’s respiratory system. Recommended for children from 6-7 years, Not earlier.

Codelac Phyto

The drug is a combination drug. It copes well with coughs and helps with expectoration. Do not use during pregnancy or asthma. Not suitable for children up to 1 year, on the advice of doctors, it is better to give it to children only at age from 2 years. The composition contains plant substances that can cause an allergic reaction.

Stoptussin

Shows itself very well in the treatment of dry cough in children aged from 3 years old, is an excellent expectorant. Due to the active components in the composition, it helps to reduce the viscosity of sputum.

Alteyka

We have already talked about it, but it has an excellent expectorant effect. Taken after meals, children are allowed to take it before 12 years. One teaspoon 4 times a day should be diluted in ¼ glass of one tablespoon of syrup. Treatment time is 14 days.

Libexin

The drug has a triple effect, helps reduce sensitive nerve endings. Helps relax the bronchi and reduce irritable reactions. Prescribed for severe cough, the effect of the drug is noticeable within 3 hours after administration. The product can be found both in the form of tablets and syrup. Allowed for children from 1 year. The average cost is 300 rubles.

Lorraine

An excellent remedy for dry cough, available in many forms, including tablets. Quickly relieves cold symptoms and reduces fever. Allowed for children aged from 6 years. There are side effects: agitation, dizziness. The average cost is 200 rubles.

Omnitus

Produced in tablets. Relieves inflammation, fights infectious diseases, and has a positive effect on a person’s overall well-being. It has some undesirable effects: vomiting, loose stools and makes you sleepy. Prohibited for pregnant women and children under age 7 years.

Falimint

These tablets are used for irritable cough, in case of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The drug is absorbed fairly quickly, can be used up to 10 times a day, treatment should not exceed several days. Do not take to children under 4 years, lactating and pregnant women.

How to treat dry cough in a child Komarovsky

What is a cough and what causes it? how to treat? What do parents demand from doctors when their child gets a cold? Existing cough medications, what are they? How can you help a coughing child? Will answer all these and many other questions Doctor Komarovsky in his video.

Have you encountered a dry cough in a child? How to treat it is the same opinion? Leave your opinion or feedback for everyone on the forum

Cough is a fairly common symptom that accompanies a cold in a child. When the virus enters a child’s body, the respiratory organs are damaged. Because of this, the baby’s throat begins to feel sore, a feeling of mild irritation develops, and a natural desire to clear his throat appears. The symptom cannot be ignored so as not to aggravate the problem.

When a child develops a cold, the body produces phlegm, which softens the throat. However, after some time, when the manifestations of the disease disappear, there will be a slowdown in the removal of sputum, the larynx dries out, resulting in a dry cough.

What is the danger of a dry cough in a child?

A dry cough is a child’s body’s reaction to an infection that has settled in it. You should know that, oddly enough, a cough is considered useful because it helps the patient so that he can get rid of harmful substances - germs, viruses, mucus. However, when breathing is harsh, the airways cannot clear, and the baby is unable to clear his throat. In the body of a child with a weakened immune system due to the disease, all metabolic processes occur with difficulty, in particular protection against infectious diseases.

A dry cough causes the child to recover much more slowly, since the mucus is not removed from the lungs, but rather dries out and is absorbed into the child’s body. This is the danger of a dry cough. Therefore, it must be treated as quickly as possible.

What diseases can cause a dry cough?

During attacks of a dry and debilitating cough, the first thing parents begin to think about is that they have caught a cold or contracted the flu. However, this type of cough is also dangerous because it can signal the appearance of diseases that are not directly related to the respiratory organs, but, for example, to the heart or gastrointestinal tract. The body can react in a similar way to the following phenomena:

acute rotavirus infections;
pleurisy;
tracheitis;
laryngitis;
whooping cough;
bronchitis;
bronchial asthma;
tumor in the respiratory system;
the presence of a foreign object in the lungs or respiratory tract.

Parents should definitely pay attention and immediately show their baby to the doctor if he develops a hacking, barking cough after eating. This is a sign of food particles entering the respiratory tract. If nothing is done, it will reach the pathways in the respiratory organs or the branches of the bronchi and block them. In addition, if stuck in any area, such a piece will not undergo the chemical breakdown process, as a result of which it will begin to rot.

A dry cough that occurs in children during sleep can be a manifestation of sinusitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, heart failure, while attacks in the morning usually signal a chronic form of bronchitis, a disturbance in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis must be made by a doctor.

Signs of a dry cough

It is usually quite easy to detect a dry cough in a baby. The attacks occur several times a day, they can be obsessive, and then it is impossible to control them. Moreover, it is similar to a dog’s bark, which is why it is called barking in another way.

Basically, attacks begin abruptly, unexpectedly, and are accompanied by spasms. Sometimes they don't go away for a long time.

Such a cough disturbs the child’s nighttime sleep and may be accompanied by an increase in temperature, but this does not always happen. In some cases, vomiting occurs due to a severe attack.

How to treat dry cough?

If a child develops a dry cough, it is necessary to take him to the pediatrician as soon as possible so that he can prescribe the appropriate treatment. In this case, you cannot select medications yourself, otherwise you can provoke dangerous consequences. The treatment method should be selected only by a doctor. Below are the most effective and most commonly used treatment methods.

Medicines
Pharmacies sell many remedies for dry cough.

One of the most effective of them is Bronholitin syrup. It contains plant components, so it does not pose a danger to the baby. The drug begins to act approximately on the third day. For this reason, experts advise starting use immediately after the first manifestations of a dry cough are detected.
Another effective remedy is Paxeladin syrup. It eliminates spasms in a short time and helps soften the throat. Suitable for the treatment of wet cough.
Biocalyptol. The release form of this antitussive is syrup, which is intended for children, therefore it has a pleasant sweet taste.
If a coughing baby’s body temperature is not elevated, when choosing a cough medicine, preference should be given to a medicine whose action will be aimed at reducing spasms, removing phlegm from the lungs, and softening the throat. Similar drugs of combined action include Codelac, Codterpine. They can be used to treat cough in children over two years of age.

Inhalations
A method of treating dry cough that has been tested for generations is the use of inhalations. They are considered a very effective procedure, during which attacks are reduced and the throat is softened. You can use a nebulizer for these purposes, or simply breathe in the steam.

In order to carry out the procedure, you need to make a healing decoction using medicinal plants. Sage, chamomile, and eucalyptus are well suited for these purposes. You need to take the dried herb, add boiling water and cover with a lid. After infusion (after about half an hour), pour 500 ml of the broth into a saucepan, add a small amount of boiling water and carry out a procedure during which the child must breathe in the steam. At the same time, he needs to cover his head. You need to explain to the baby so that he breathes as deeply as possible.

Compresses
This method of treating a long-lasting dry cough is suitable if the child does not have a fever. But we must remember that the procedure is allowed only after agreeing on this issue with the doctor, who, after listening to the baby, will tell him whether he can be warmed up or not.

A compress for dry cough is made from potatoes, which must first be crushed, honey and vegetable oil. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed, after which the composition is applied to the chest. Wrap the top with cling film and a warm scarf. The compress should be left for at least four hours. You are allowed to leave it on all night. Mustard plasters have a similar warming effect.

Phytotherapy
Medicines can help get rid of a cough in the shortest possible time. However, they are not suitable for some children. This usually happens when a child has an individual intolerance to the components of certain medications. In this case, medicinal herbs will come to the rescue, which are sometimes no less effective.

Plants that have an expectorant and mucolytic effect are thyme, coltsfoot, and licorice. They help remove mucus from the lungs. Infusions and decoctions are made from these herbs. For effective treatment, just pour boiling water and wait for it to brew, a couple of tablespoons of one of the specified plants. In a similar way, you can cure a child’s dry cough. During therapy at home, not only herbal remedies, but also other traditional medicine can be used.

Folk remedies for cough

It is necessary that the means with which the child will be treated are absolutely natural, then they will not harm the sensitive child’s body. This requirement is met by time-tested traditional methods of treating dry cough.

But still, before starting such treatment, you need to consult a doctor. In addition, you must first make sure that the baby is not allergic to the product that you plan to use.

Milk
This remedy certainly occupies a leading position among all that help get rid of a debilitating cough. Important - only warm milk can be used. The following treatment options are possible:

Gogol-mogol
Gogol-mogol is an effective and harmless remedy that helps to quickly get rid of attacks of dry cough. To prepare, you will need a yolk, a small amount of honey and granulated sugar. Before you start cooking, you need to make sure the product is fresh. The yolk is beaten with granulated sugar until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The baby should drink this tasty medicine up to four times a day, a dessert spoon. The product helps to soothe the throat and relieve irritation. The recommended dose is diluted in 100 ml of warmed milk for the child to drink. If he does not have allergic reactions to bee products, you can add honey. Children over three years old are allowed to add a spoonful of cocoa powder to the medicine. This remedy helps improve sleep and speed up the healing process.

Massage for dry cough

Using cocoa butter, a coughing baby is given a massage, gently rubbing it in the chest and back area. If the child is more than two years old, you can melt lard, add a few drops of camphor oil and honey, and massage with this mixture. Usually, after using such a remedy, the condition quickly improves. The chest and back are massaged, cloth napkins are placed on top and left for three hours. After this time, the remaining composition is removed using cotton swabs, and the skin is thoroughly wiped.

Compresses with potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese, as well as massage of the chest, feet, and hands have a calming effect on the respiratory system.

Cough lozenges

To help your child overcome a severe dry cough, you can prepare him a tasty treat that will help cope with this problem. To prepare such candies, you need to take a little granulated sugar, put it in a tablespoon and hold it over the stove with the heat on. The sugar will melt, and when cooled it will harden, and its appearance and taste will resemble candy. The child should suck on such lozenges during coughing attacks.

For babies who do not know how to suck candy, you can dissolve this sugar in boiling water in a ratio of 1:20. The resulting syrup is offered to the baby in the amount of one tablespoon after meals. If desired, you can add berry juice or honey to the lollipops.

Temperature rises with dry cough

Not in all cases, if a child coughs dryly, he or she develops a fever. It is allowed to treat such a cough at home only until it increases. If such a symptom occurs, you should immediately call a doctor. A high temperature indicates that the process of mucus absorption into the child’s blood has begun, which can cause it to affect internal organs. In such a situation, the doctor will definitely prescribe antibacterial drugs to the baby. When choosing an antibiotic, factors such as possible individual intolerance, age, body weight of the small patient, and the cause that provoked the deterioration of the condition are taken into account.

If your baby continues to have a dry cough for a week, if there are no signs of recovery, you should visit a doctor. Children's health is the most precious thing that parents have, so it is necessary to take care of it and treat it with all responsibility and care.

Video: cough medicine for children

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 cough. And the reasons for the same dry cough are different.

If the cough is dry, then it does not bring any benefit, it only causes anxiety and pain. The cause of this cough is an infection entering the upper respiratory tract, which causes irritation of the wall of the trachea or bronchi.

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
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:

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

When treating cough it is necessary:

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

Factors influencing the effectiveness of cough:

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

Effective effect on phlegm:

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!

Drink plenty of fluids.
Ventilation of the room. The air temperature is about 20 degrees.
Warmth on the chest.
(steam inhalations). Air humidity should be about 70%.
Distracting procedures (mustard plasters, for example) - be careful!!

Medicines for the treatment of dry cough

Medicines may:

Affect sputum rheology
Improve the functioning of the ciliated epithelium
Activate bronchial contractility
Reduce the excitability of the cough center
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, 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.

But it should be remembered that the peculiarity of a child’s body is that the respiratory muscles of children are much weaker than the muscles of adults, so it is more difficult for a child to cough up sputum. Often the child is unable to cough up the extra mucus produced by expectorants.

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 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 the onset of cough. It is useful for parents to know what to do in such a situation.

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.
You can steam your feet if your child does not have a fever.
Let your child drink more to moisturize the mucous membranes.
Use baby syrups. It is better to use natural ones, but it is necessary that the child is not allergic to their components.
or with another drug that the doctor recommends.

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.

Frequent dry cough in a child - many parents experience this symptom. Due to irritating throat syndrome, the baby sleeps poorly, becomes moody and restless. Why does a dry cough develop - is it a symptom of a disease or a residual phenomenon after a cold? How can I help my child?

Determining dry cough

Cough syndrome is a normal physiological phenomenon. With the help of coughing, the body clears the lungs, bronchi, and respiratory tract of accumulated mucus and small foreign objects. Pediatricians divide the cough reflex into two main types:

Wet (productive). When you cough, you expectorate sputum - mucus consisting of toxins, pathogenic microorganisms and dust.
Dry (unproductive). Cough without expectoration of mucus. A dry cough is excruciating and painful, bringing no relief.

Dry cough syndrome develops due to irritation of receptors, which are located in large numbers in the pharynx, trachea, sinuses, stomach and bronchi. When something affects the receptors, a cough reflex occurs. Doctors divide children's dry cough into five types:

Easy. Cough syndrome is observed in a child 2-3 times a day. It passes without fever or discomfort.
Paroxysmal. A longer-lasting symptom that provokes strengthening of the respiratory muscles. The baby feels tired after the attack, there is lacrimation and soreness in the sternum.
Paroxysmal. Cough syndrome is frequent and very strong. The attacks cannot be calmed; they occur 10-20 times daily, completely exhausting the child.
Barking. During an attack of such a cough, the child suffocates, shortness of breath appears, and breathing becomes whistling and hoarse. The cough reflex itself is loud, rough, similar to a dog barking.
Chronic. If a dry cough is observed for 2-2.5 weeks, it becomes “chronic”. Prolonged cough is divided into two types: pulmonary (deep) and superficial (shallow). Attacks of pulmonary cough last 8-10 minutes; with this syndrome, the baby bends in half, facilitating coughing (the chest is involved in coughing). With superficial, hoarseness is noted (the larynx is involved in the coughing process), attacks last for 3-4 minutes.

A persistent dry cough is very dangerous for a baby. Nonproductive cough syndrome causes swelling of the larynx and serious breathing problems. You should find out the true cause of the illness and treat the baby!

Causes of dry cough in children

In 10% of cases, the baby has a mild, natural cough. This syndrome resembles coughing and is more often observed sporadically in the morning. The body is cleansed of accumulated dust and mucus. But in 90% of cases, dry cough becomes a symptom of dangerous diseases:

ARVI and acute respiratory infections. The first signal of a viral infection and a cold is a rise in temperature and the development of a headache. The larynx becomes dry and irritated, a runny nose appears, and then a dry cough occurs. At first it is short-lived, weak, and with treatment it quickly becomes wet and disappears. If a child's cold is not treated, the condition worsens and the infection develops into tracheitis or bronchitis.

Bronchitis, tracheitis and laryngitis. When inflammation flows into the lower respiratory sections and affects the larynx, bronchi and trachea, the type of dry cough also changes. It intensifies, becoming barking and debilitating. Cough syndrome causes pain in the throat and chest. Attacks occur at night and in the morning, disturbing the child 3-4 times during the day.

Flu. This disease is much more severe than other viral infections. Flu is signaled by a rapid rise in high temperature (up to +40⁰ C) and aching muscles. Soon the symptoms are joined by redness of the eyes, a severe runny nose and a frequent dry cough, causing the child to become hoarse.

Cough syndrome causes pain in the sternum, muscles and fatigue after attacks. The cough of the flu is loud, barking, accompanied by difficulty breathing (it becomes shallow) and blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle.

In children, influenza conditions are much more severe - children's airways are narrow. Severe inflammation provokes the development of swelling that blocks the lumen into the lungs. Flu is especially dangerous in children of the first years of life.

Whooping cough. Cough syndrome with whooping cough is paroxysmal and barking. A cough of a paroxysmal type is also observed. This symptom is a hallmark of whooping cough. As the disease progresses, coughing attacks become frequent. The cough does not stop at night, preventing the baby from getting enough sleep and rest. Whooping cough is a dangerous disease in children and must be treated in a hospital setting.

Allergy. A dry cough is a sure companion of allergic reactions. It develops due to the action of allergens that enter the respiratory tract. Allergic coughing often occurs in the morning and intensifies under the influence of an irritant (food, household chemicals, flowering plants, house dust, animals). In children, allergies (if not detected and treated) quickly develop into severe complications: bronchial asthma and obstructive bronchitis.

Children can cough for reasons independent of illness. A dry cough develops when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract. This syndrome may accompany the child when adapting to attending kindergarten. Dry cough syndrome develops in babies when teething, or when there are problems at school or in the family.

Treatment of dry cough

There are many reasons for the development of this pathology. What to do if your baby has this disease? Parents need to seek help from a pediatrician - the doctor will determine the exact culprit of the cough and prescribe adequate treatment measures.

Drug therapy

When treating a cough, it should be remembered that it indicates the presence and development of a pathological process in the body. Therefore, the efforts of doctors are aimed at curing the main culprit of the disease - a specific disease.

To alleviate coughing attacks, pediatricians prescribe medications. Medicines aimed at combating dry cough are divided into two types:

Mucolytics. Medicines aimed at quickly converting a non-productive cough into a productive one, causing coughing. For children, mucolytics are prescribed on a plant basis. The action of such drugs is based on stimulating the accumulation of sputum and activating its removal from the body through expectoration. Such drugs include:

Antitussives. Medicines that have a suppressive effect on the cough center. They cannot be taken simultaneously with mucolytics. Most often, pediatricians prescribe the following antitussives:

In cases where the dry cough reflex goes away with fever and increased temperature, doctors prescribe antibiotics that suppress the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.

Attention! Medicines, even herbal ones, should absolutely not be prescribed to a child on their own! A careless attitude puts the child's health at risk! Only a pediatrician will explain how to treat your baby.

Inhalations - first aid for coughs

Inhalation is the introduction of active substances and medications into the respiratory tract using steam. Inhalation well moisturizes the mucous membranes of the bronchi and lungs, instantly “delivering” medicinal substances to the source of infection. Helps the body produce and remove mucus.

For inhalations, you can use nebulizers or use a container in which a healing hot solution is placed (the child breathes the steam, covered with a thick cloth). For inhalation use:

Medicinal pharmaceutical preparations (ambrobene, berodual, lazolvan).
Soda, mineral water, saline solution to soften and moisturize dry mucous membranes.
Herbal infusions (they cannot be used in a nebulizer due to the impossibility of accurately determining the dosage). The herb is recommended for inhalation in children over 2 years of age. Sage, eucalyptus, linden, mint, chamomile, fir and cedar are ideal for treating dry cough.

Inhalation should be given to children at the first signs of a cold (sore throat, sore throat, scratching in the throat, cough). Inhalation is an affordable and simple way to combat cough at home.

Folk remedies

The most powerful remedy that helps quickly cure a dry cough is pork fat. Ancient healers used it to help patients with pneumonia and tuberculosis get back on their feet. For children's treatment, you need to take only fresh fat (preferably village fat). The fat is cut into pieces and heated in a water bath. It is stored in the refrigerator in a glass container. How to use it?

For rubbing (for colds). Room temperature fat is rubbed onto the baby's back, chest and heels. For greater effect, add 2-3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the fat.
Egg cocktail (for pneumonia, whooping cough, asthma). Heat the fat and mix in equal parts with warm milk. Add a chicken egg to the mixture. Mix the mixture thoroughly and drink in one gulp.
With bread (for bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis). Fat is spread on a piece of bread, lightly sprinkled with salt and crushed garlic. The product softens irritated mucous membranes well and helps produce sputum.

If your baby does not like the taste of this medicine, use a more pleasant treatment. Take 2-3 potatoes and boil them. Mash hot and add vegetable oil (2 tbsp), honey (20 ml) and eucalyptus essential oil (3 drops) to the puree.

Form a thick cake from the mixture and apply it as a compress on the baby’s back and chest. Wrap the baby's body in a warm scarf and keep the compress for 1-1.5 hours. It is better to do the procedure in the evening, before bedtime.

Preventive measures

To avoid the development of a painful dry cough and malaise in the child, parents should follow a number of simple recommendations:

Do not overcool the baby.
Ventilate the nursery regularly.
Humidify the air using humidifiers.
Spend time with your child in the fresh air every day.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet, not forgetting about vitamins.
Temper the body, gradually accustoming the baby to cool water.
Engage in active sports with your child and do exercises daily.

And at the first sign of discomfort, do not postpone a visit to the pediatrician! After all, a dry cough can be not only the cause of a common cold, but also a sign of a serious illness.

Health to your child!