Cough With a Cold:
Because most colds are accompanied by a cough, it's perfectly normal for your child to develop either a wet or dry cough when she has a cold. The cough usually lasts about a week, often after all other symptoms of the cold have disappeared.
Cough With a Fever:
If your child has a cough, mild fever, and runny nose, chances are she has a simple cold. But coughs with a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) or higher can mean pneumonia, particularly if your child is listless and breathing fast. In this case, call your child's doctor immediately.
Cough With Vomiting:
Children often cough so much that it triggers their gag reflex, making them throw up. Usually, this is not cause for alarm unless the vomiting persists. Also, if your child has a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up, she may throw up if lots of mucus drains into her stomach and causes nausea.
Persistant Cough:
Coughs caused by colds can last weeks, even up to 3 weeks, especially if your child has one cold right after another. Asthma, allergies, or a chronic infection in the sinuses or breathing passages might also be responsible for long-term coughs. If your child's cough lasts for more than a month, you should schedule a visit with your child's doctor.
Coughs in Young Infants:
Coughing can wear out babies younger than 6 months, so keep a close eye on any cough your infant develops. These infants are also the population that is most at risk for complications from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is most common in the winter.
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RSV causes colds and ear infections in older children and adults, but in young babies, it can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia and lead to severe respiratory problems. The disease starts out like a normal cold but becomes worse until the child has wheexing, a cough, and difficulty breathing. Some children may have to be admitted to the hospital to receive oxygen and fluids.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor:
Most childhood coughs are nothing to be concerned about. However, in some instances you should consult a doctor, just to be safe. Call your child's medical office if your child:
- has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
- has a blue or dusky color to the lips, face, or tongue
- as a high fever (particularly in a young infant or in the absence of congestion or a runny nose; contact your child's healthcare provider for any fever in an infant younger than 3 months of age)
- if an infant (3 months old or younger) who has been coughing for more than a few hours
- makes a "whooping" sound when they breathe after coughing
- is coughing up blood (if your child has had a nosebleed recently, this usually is not a problem)
- has stridor when inhaling
- has wheezing when exhaling (unless you already have home asthma management instructions from your child's medical advisor)
- is listless or cranky
Professional Development:
Your child's healthcare professional will determine how to treat your child based in part on what the cough sounds like.
Because the majority of respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not prescribed for many coughs. If bacterial pneumonia or another bacterial infection is suspected, your child's healthcare professional will probably prescribe antibiotics.
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Unless your child's cough is keeping them from getting adequate sleep, cough medicines are usually unnecessary. These medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), may have unpleasant side
effects and can even be dangerous for infants and young children. It's usually best to just let the illness run its course.
Pneumonia, pertussis, RSV, and serious cases of croup may require hospitalization. Usually this is just for close observation and to make sure your child gets enough fluids, but sometimes, if your child is having a hard time breathing, oxygen may be given.
Home Treatment:
Home treatments should never take the place of consulting your child's doctor for any of the conditions listed above, but there are several things you can do at home to make your child more comfortable.
- Monitor your child's progress carefully during an asthma flare-up and give medicines according to the doctor's instructions.
- For a "barking" or "croupy" cough during nighttime, close the bathroom door, and let the shower run on hot for several minutes. After the room steams up, sit on the bathroom floor with your child for about 20 minutes. The steam should help your child breathe more easily. Try reading a book together to keep your child occupied.
- Use a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room to help sleeping.
- Cool beverages like juice can be soothing; avoid carbonated or citrus drinks, however, because carbonation and citric acid can be painful on raw areas.
- Cough drops, which are fine for older children, but are a choking hazard for young children.
 If you have any questions about your child's condition, please feel free to call Laurel Gorham, CPNP at (231) 796-3200.
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