BABY CARE: Baby Coughs: treating common childhood illnesses

This is the 6th serial article about Treating common childhood illnesses, this time is about COLD and COUGH, early article is about colds, now is about coughs

Coughs

A cough is a pretective reflex, which tries to rid the windpipe or the bronchial tube of anything that is blocking or irritating them. Inhaled dust-or an object such as a fruit pip or a peanut – causes a bout of coughing. More often mucus from the lungs or from the nasal passages irritates the windpipe and produces coughing.

When nothing is coughed up and the cough is persistent, its cause may be difficult to determine. Going out in cold weather may bring on a short, dry cough. It may also be caused by influenza, or accompany inflammation of the larynx, tonsils or windpipe.

When children cough, it is most often the sign of common cold or influenza. But it could indicate bronchitis, croup, sore throat, tonsillitis or even earache. In addition, a cough may be early warning sign of measles, whooping cough or an allergy. A child with a persistent cough should see a doctor.

There are two types of cough: a productive cough and a non-productive cough. In a productive cough, phlegm is produced, and in a non-productive one there is no phlegm. The first type has a "wet" sound, while the second is dry and hacking, and both will prevent sleep.

One cause of cough in children is croup. This is an acute resporatory infection. It is most common in winter and the start of summer, and usually occurs first at night. Most cases of croup result from infection by a virus, but a bacterium may also be responsible. The most typical symptom is the sound of croup. The voice becomes hoarse and raspy, and a harsh cough develops. Since the larynx is swollen, there is difficulty in breathing, and for a child this is often territying. Fever might be slight or high, depending on the type of croup. In severe cases there may be blueness of the lips. Sticky mucus tends to clog the throat, and the larynx, windpipe and bronchial tubes are infected.

If you suspect that your child has croup or asthma, you must seek medical help at once. If the cough is due to a chronic infection like sinusitis or tonsillitis, they should be treated with mediceines prescribed by the doctor. Most other coughs can be treated at home so long as the cough does not disturb your child's sleep.

Your child needs to rest, so discourage him from running around, as this may make him breathless and bring on a coughing fit. Make him lie on his side or stomach at night to prevent mucus running down the throat. To relieve his cough - which is a symptom and not a diseases – plenty of hot drinks may be helpful. Do not dose your child wit a strong cough medicine; instead, give him an expectorant medicine.