Allergic cough in an infant. How to recognize and treat an allergic cough in a child in time? How do symptoms of an allergic cough develop?

Allergic cough is one of the types of body reaction to the malfunctioning of the immune system. Most often, allergies are caused by various proteins. It can be the saliva of an animal, some kind of food product, saliva, pollen and much more. In addition to proteins, other substances that can bind to a protein and change its structure can also cause allergies. If the immune system is disturbed, then the bronchi begin to react to the allergen incorrectly. They do not narrow when air enters with the allergen, but try to push it out of the body. As a result, the person begins to cough.

For the first time, an allergic cough can appear at any age. Even if in childhood a person did not have an allergy to anything, it is not a fact that it cannot appear in adulthood.

The statistics conducted by doctors do not inspire joy. Every year the number of people with allergies is only increasing. In the course of many surveys, experts came up with several very significant conclusions:

1. Allergies most often occur in those children who had to take antibiotics in infancy.
2. If the family has pets, then the risk of allergies in children is reduced.
3. A perfectly clean home can contribute to allergies in children. As a result of the fact that the body does not see a real danger to the child in the form of dust and dirt, he begins to train, reacting to harmless substances.
4. Some experts are convinced that the increase in allergies is related to food. If you look at the composition of most products, it is full of chemical flavors, flavor enhancers and preservatives.

What could be the causes of an allergic cough?

Allergic cough occurs as a result of certain particles from the air entering the respiratory tract. As a result, the immune system is activated, swelling or irritation of the mucous membrane occurs, and a cough appears.

Allergic cough can occur due to:

1. household allergens. Most often they are any household aerosols (hairsprays, sprays, cleaners and air fresheners), cosmetics (powders, blush, highlighters and eye shadow), dust, house mites and cigarette smoke.
2. Pollen from certain flowers and trees.
3. Mushroom spore. Most often, mold can cause a reaction, but there are also types of allergies when a cough occurs as a result of spores from any outdoor mushrooms.
4. Particles of the epidermis of animals. Allergies can be caused by wool, skin particles, fluff, feathers, animal dander and insect bites.
5. Some drugs given intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally.
6. food products. This is especially true for chocolate, tropical fruits, honey, nuts and seafood.

There are also known cases of allergic reactions in workers at work.

What are the symptoms of allergic cough in adults?

Due to the fact that the allergen is not always known, allergic cough is easily confused with colds. This is typical during contact with the allergen and the appearance of a runny nose. If the cough is caused by an allergen, then the body temperature does not rise, but remains normal. Also, the patient does not have fever, chills and increased sweating at night. An allergic cough can be easily distinguished from a cold by the following features:

1. General weakness is possible with both allergic and cold coughs. But a striking difference in the allergic nature of the appearance is the absence of symptoms such as nausea and loss of appetite.
2. Allergic cough most often has a paroxysmal character. Most often, the exacerbation occurs at night.
3. In addition to the cough itself, if there was contact with the allergen, there is a high probability of a rash and itching on the skin.
4. During an allergic cough, there is a feeling that something tickles or tickles in the throat.
5. The cough can last more than seven days.
6. Allergic cough is most often dry. When the seizures end, sputum may come out. But it is transparent. If the sputum after coughing is purulent, then the patient's cough has a viral or infectious etiology.

Symptoms of allergic cough in children

In young children, most diseases proceed more rapidly. It has to do with the anatomy of the child. The airways are much shorter than those of an adult. And the blood supply of a young organism is somewhat stronger than that of middle-aged people. If an allergic reaction suddenly occurs, then the child’s airways suddenly swell. The mucous membrane of the baby increases in volume and suffocation may occur. This situation is critical and requires an ambulance. Many household and medicines, as well as food, can cause allergies in infants. To reduce the risk of allergies, all products are introduced to the baby gradually, first in small quantities. And only after making sure that there is no allergy to the product, you can give it in a normal amount. In children, allergic cough can be diagnosed by the following signs:

1. Clear snot may come out of the nose.
2. As with adults, children with an allergic cough may produce clear sputum.
3. Your baby may shed tears for no reason.
4. By night, the baby's condition worsens. During the day, coughing may be minimal or absent.
5. In addition to coughing, dermatitis or a rash can be diagnosed.
6. If a child takes antihistamines such as Erius, Suprastin or Fenistil, then his condition will improve dramatically.

All of the above signs are indirect. Only a doctor can diagnose an allergic reaction of the body by conducting the following examinations:

1. When donating venous blood, an increase in the level of immunoglobulin E is detected.
2. In a clinical blood test, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be within the normal range. The number of eosinophils also increases sharply. Its rate is above the 5% mark.
3. After examining the patient's throat, the therapist or pediatrician will not see a plaque on the tonsils, thick flowing snot along the back of the throat and redness.

Allergic cough treatment

If a doctor makes a diagnosis - allergic rhinitis, then the treatment is prescribed in two directions. They are the same in children and adults. First of all, it is necessary to determine what causes an allergic reaction in a person. Further, it is necessary, if possible, to protect the patient from contact with the allergen. If you cannot identify the product that causes the allergen, then you must perform the following steps:

1. Eliminate all allergens from your diet. Most allergens include foods that have a bright yellow, orange or red color. The patient should not eat citrus fruits, nuts, honey, seafood. In addition, it is necessary to reduce the amount of spices consumed as much as possible. Ideally, you should try not to add even salt, sugar and pepper to food.
2. If there is an animal at home, then it may have to be given away. If the allergy is caused by particles of the epithelium or the saliva of a domestic dog or cat, then in order to keep it at home, the patient will have to constantly take antihistamines. It is also necessary to remove animal feed as far as possible.
3. It is necessary to carry out a general cleaning. Remove carpets from the room, replace the feather pillow and blanket with synthetic winterizers, which are considered hypoallergenic.
4. All items must be washed with either laundry soap or baby powder. Allergic reactions to these household products are very rare.
5. All decorative cosmetics will have to be removed until the cough is completely gone.

In addition to all the above actions, the patient will have to undergo drug therapy in order to cure the cough and prevent complications in the form of bronchospasm or asthma. Perhaps the allergy manifests itself at certain times of the year. This type of allergy is called hay fever. It occurs more often if the immune system reacts incorrectly to seasonal phenomena. For example, if a person is allergic to pollen, then in winter he is unlikely to cough, but in the spring the allergy may sharply worsen, and the patient will cough, sneeze and feel stuffy in the nose until he starts taking medication.

Among the drugs, there are two types of antihistamines: long-acting and short-acting. The first includes "Suprastin", "Zirtek" and "Diazolin". And experts refer to the second type as "Erius", "Tsetrin" and "Zodak".

It is necessary to take the sorbent in between meals. The most famous drugs that can accelerate the elimination of the allergen from the body are Atoxil, Enterosgel, Activated Carbon or White Coal.

As far as possible, it is necessary to wash the nose and inhale with saline.

If, as a result of an allergic reaction, the patient complains of difficulty breathing, then doctors may prescribe inhalations with drugs such as Berodual, Euphyllin or Pulmicort. To relieve a cough, "Sinekod" may be prescribed by a pediatrician. It is easier for small children to give drops than to force them to breathe in a nebulizer.

In critical situations, emergency physicians can inject an allergy sufferer with Prednisol or Dexamethasone to normalize breathing.

After the doctors have stopped the disease, the process of determining the allergen and conducting specific immunotherapy begins. In order for the body to begin to behave correctly, specialists will first intradermally, and later subcutaneously, inject the allergen, constantly increasing the dosage.

Symptoms and signs of children's allergic cough

More often, a cough appears due to a typical allergy to flowering plants, dust, animal hair, or in connection with the body's reaction to the appearance of a foreign protein that has entered the body due to the administration of a vaccine, serum or plasma. Usually, such manifestations of a cough last from two to three weeks, sometimes they are accompanied by a runny nose, itching in the throat and nose.

No increase in temperature is observed. Seizures usually occur at night and are absent during the day. More often, the cough is dry, but sometimes a small sputum of a transparent color appears, there are no impurities of pus in it.

How to understand that a child has an allergic cough

Recognizing an allergic cough can be difficult, as it is very similar to the typical one that occurs with a cold. Unexpected coughing fits, in which there may be a spasm of the larynx, sometimes even convulsions, should alert parents. At the same time, the kid complains that it hurts to breathe and there is not enough air.

Noticing a child with persistent coughing attacks, you need to contact an allergist. It is almost impossible to distinguish this type of cough without special studies. You should not delay such a visit to the doctor and not torment the child.

The doctor will conduct a set of diagnostic tests and direct you to the necessary tests. It is possible that he can diagnose - bronchial asthma. It can appear due to frequent viral infections, hereditary predisposition, adverse environmental factors or constant contact with the allergen.

Types of allergic cough

Dry cough is the most important symptom of an allergic cough. Its exacerbation occurs more often in winter and summer. In winter - due to the fact that the child spends a lot of time in a confined space, and in summer - due to the flowering of plants and unforeseen contacts.

video application

As a video supplement to the article, we suggest you watch the whole program about coughing. What it is? How to distinguish coughs from each other and how to be treated? Happy viewing!

The child is perceived as a cold.

What is known about allergic cough in a child?

It is worthwhile to carefully analyze what kind of symptoms the baby has: a dry cough or a wet one, he constantly coughs or has a cough, this happens more often during the day or at night. After all, it may turn out that this is not a cold, but an allergic cough in a child.

Cough with allergies in children is not a disease, as the body reacts to certain stimuli. Allergens can be:

• household;
• hay;
• plants;
• medicinal and synthetic preparations;
• and much more.

The smallest content of the allergen in food or air, on clothing causes an attack of coughing, sometimes with suffocation and difficulty breathing.

The likelihood of an allergic cough increases if the baby suffered from diathesis.

Causes of allergic cough in children

Allergy is naturally the cause of allergic cough and associated symptoms.

With age, sensitization to allergens in children changes:

• food allergens cause irritation in young children;
• plant pollen causes cough more often in schoolchildren.

When one of the parents has allergies or the child often catches a cold, if they use chemical aerosols or smoke in the house, when medicines, vaccines, etc. contain allergens, or food contains artificial spices and seasonings, the risk of allergic cough increases significantly.

Signs of an allergic cough in a child

Cough with allergies is always dry, sometimes with clear and scanty sputum, it starts unexpectedly, only in the presence of an allergen (for example, plant pollen). Whereas a cold cough is in no way associated with such irritants and appears along with a runny nose, low fever and sore throat.

You can also independently determine the symptoms in a child before going to the doctor:

• occurs more often with a runny nose, but without fever;
• without treatment, it can last 2-3 weeks, and after taking anti-allergic drugs, the child's condition improves rapidly;
• sometimes the child complains of a lack of air, which is caused by swelling of the larynx;
• cough comes on at night and subsides during the day;
• there is swelling of the sinuses, discomfort in the throat.

But even if you correctly identified the source of the baby's cough, this is not a reason to refuse a visit to the doctor. Indeed, with incorrect and untimely treatment of allergic cough, it can turn into bronchitis, and subsequently into bronchial asthma, since allergens in this case affect the respiratory system.

The manifestation of an allergy is always purely individual. Symptoms in a child depend on the type of allergy, since when in contact with an allergen, a reaction develops in the human body that is specific in nature, for example, rashes or watery eyes (an immediate type reaction, manifests itself 15-20 minutes after exposure to the allergen).

Delayed-type reactions are manifested in the form of nervous, skin, pulmonary and other diseases. For the recurrence of this disease, sometimes one molecule of the allergen is enough. A huge role here is played by heredity and the state of the endocrine system and nervous systems.

Allergic cough treatment

How to cure an allergic cough is decided by the doctor, having previously determined the causes of its occurrence. Eliminate dry allergic cough in children, and other antihistamines. However, often the doctor is not limited to prescribing one medicine and prescribes more medicines to ease breathing and remove sputum from the respiratory tract. These drugs are included in the group of vasodilators and antispasmodics.

Treatment of allergic cough in children requires a comprehensive approach and parents should carefully ensure that the child does not come into contact with the irritant: exclude allergens from the diet (if any), bypass places where unsuitable plants grow, avoid animals whose hair causes a dry allergic cough the child and so on.

This symptom can be alleviated in every way possible: with a bucket of water and a rag. Mankind has not yet come up with a better way to maintain cleanliness in the house than daily wet cleaning and airing the child's room.

When a child develops a cough, parents most often think that these are signs of a cold. Not everyone knows that a barking cough that appears suddenly, with seizures, blocking breathing, may be the result of an allergy. It is important to remember that allergic cough is very common as a symptom of an allergic disease.

A cough in a child is not always the result of a cold.

Responsible parents should take care and find out information about why a child has an allergic cough, what methods of help are available for this, what medications will help relieve symptoms (see also:). It would be useful to learn about folk remedies for the treatment of allergic cough.

General characteristics of allergic cough

One of the most striking manifestations of an allergy is a cough, but it is not always easy to recognize its nature. It can often be confused with a cold. They are similar, but you can still tell them apart. With colds, coughing is complemented by fever, reddened throat and nasal discharge. An allergic cough in a child is not a disease, it is either a sign of an allergy, or this is how bronchial asthma manifests itself. Allergens have a negative effect on the upper respiratory tract. Perspiration, as an indicator of allergies, appears due to an inflammatory reaction in the mucous membrane of the throat, bronchi or trachea.

Combined with a runny nose of an allergic nature, a cough makes it very difficult for children to breathe. Such signs appear only if an irritating allergen is present in the immediate environment. The task of first aid is to eliminate the pathogen itself, provided that you have found out the root cause of the allergy in the little one.

Symptoms

Signs of an allergic cough in a child are as follows:

• sudden onset of paroxysmal barking cough;
• persistent cough for 2-3 weeks, dry, combined runny nose with discharge from the nose;
• no increase in body temperature;
• the main time for the appearance of an allergic cough is night, and during the day the manifestations are not so pronounced;
• nocturnal dry cough with possible clear-colored sputum without purulent impurities;
• itchy sensations in the nasal cavity, dryness and sore throat, the appearance of tears, sneezing, coughing does not give a feeling of comfort;
• the attacks stop when the baby takes the antihistamine "Tavegil", "Suprastin" or "Diazolin".

The reasons

The reason for an allergy can be absolutely any object or substance:

• food, this pathogen is especially characteristic for babies of the first three years;
• household allergens (animal hair, dust, feathers or down in pillows, blankets, etc.);
• pollen of flowers, plants;
• powders for washing on phosphates, an aerosol of a chemical composition;

• frequent infectious diseases that damage the respiratory system;
• passive smoking (if adults smoke in the house where the child lives);
• medicinal syrups, vaccinations, medications that contain an allergen;
• helminthiases.

One thing can be said with certainty that the sooner you determine the non-cold nature of a cough in a baby, the faster you will be able to cure the disease. The danger of an allergic cough is that it can cause the development of bronchitis, and on its basis asthmatic bronchitis, which ultimately is fraught with the appearance of bronchial asthma.

Diagnostics

A painful cough in infants up to a year requires a thorough and detailed diagnosis. The reasons for this phenomenon can lie in a variety of problems: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, infections and other diseases.

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to pass a series of tests:

• a biochemical and general blood test, an x-ray of the sternum, in the presence of a wet cough and sputum, it should also be taken for analysis;
• clarification of hereditary factors to determine the degree of risk;
• analysis of the function of external respiration, performing tests on the skin with histamine.

Such a detailed diagnosis will allow the doctor to collect the most complete information about the disease. All information will help to prescribe high-quality and effective treatment.

Treatment

Having determined the allergic nature of a cough in an infant, the doctor in most cases prescribes medication to alleviate the general condition and relieve symptoms. Having understood that food causes an unpleasant phenomenon, you should be even more careful in choosing products for babies and remove strong allergens from the diet.

Baby food should not include chocolate, red berries and fruits, citrus fruits and seafood. As soon as the first allergy reactions appear, treatment should be started immediately. Even during pregnancy, expectant mothers should refuse products that are likely to cause allergies, as a result, the baby born will be less susceptible to them.

Anti-allergic pills, inhalations and other modern methods can stop a paroxysmal cough. Do not engage in self-selection of medication. Entrust this choice to a professional - a doctor.

Inhalation can help relieve an attack, but a doctor should prescribe it

The most basic way to alleviate the condition is to remove the allergen from the area where the child is staying. The second thing to do is to give an antihistamine.

Antihistamines

To relieve unpleasant manifestations that worsen in spring and autumn, you can take the following antiallergic drugs: Cetrin, Zodak, Zirtek, Suprastin. All of these drugs are fast acting. The positive effect will be noticeable within 20 minutes after their application.

After identifying that the root cause of allergy symptoms was such pathogens as dust, wool or pollen, you can use an antihistamine nasal spray to relieve discomfort. This type of medication will relieve swelling, moisturize the mucous membranes and improve the general condition. After a walk in the fresh air, it is recommended to thoroughly rinse the nose and mouth with running water. Use the following sprays as antihistamines: Cromohexal, Allergodil and Levocabastin.

Remember - not all drugs are suitable for use in infants, so be sure to consult your doctor first. To alleviate the condition in an infant, use a pipette.

Preventive measures to help get rid of allergic cough will only be effective in an integrated approach to treatment. The use of antiallergic drugs will not completely solve the problem. The main therapy should be combined with the use of traditional medicine methods.

A strong attack of coughing can be calmed and stopped by administering a dose of Suprastin. The injection procedure is more effective and will give results in 7-10 minutes, while Suprastin tablets will act more slowly. Visible improvement will come in 20 minutes. The average duration of the drug is 12 hours, then the substance is excreted from the body along with urine.

Before you buy Suprastin, read the instructions for use, find out the correct way to use, the recommended dose. Be sure to read the list of contraindications and side effects.

Enterosorbents

The use of enterosorbents will be very effective, but they should not be taken for more than two weeks, since the sorbents that make up them reduce the ability to absorb minerals and vitamins. Do not combine them with other drugs. For use, choose the following medicines: Polysorb, Enterosgel, Filtrum STI.

Plasmapheresis

The use of plasmapheresis is a mechanical purification of the blood from contained allergic substances, existing toxins and other harmful components. With therapeutic plasmapheresis, the blood is removed from the body, and then the purified blood is returned to the body. The effect of such a cleansing will be good, but will be only temporary. This procedure has a number of contraindications. For clarity, you can watch a video that tells how this method looks like.

Inhalations

In the form of inhalations, the following medications are used: Berodual, Pulmicort. Nebulizer inhalation treatments provide very good support for allergic coughs, bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. With an allergic cough, inhalation is also appropriate to do:

• with saline;
• with an anti-inflammatory drug;
• with hypertonic saline;
• with mineral water.

Saline will make the mucous membranes more moist and cleansed. Having made only one inhalation with a nebulizer for a child, you will see that there is less coughing. Regular procedures will alleviate the general condition of allergies.

Berodual

In the presence of a dry cough, as well as a cough with viscous sputum, it is recommended to inhale with Berodual. For this, the drug is added to saline with a volume of about 3 ml. Inhalation procedures through a nebulizer should be carried out 4 times a day. In no case should children be treated by diluting Berodual with distilled water.

The action of Berodual involves relieving tension from the bronchial muscles, as well as normalizing the process of mucus production in the lower respiratory tract. Berodual is a non-hormonal medication with a temporary effect. It is allowed to use Berodual for children over 6 years old (more details in the article:). Be sure to consult your doctor before starting inhalation.

This hormonal agent is actively used in the treatment of bronchial asthma, as well as other diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which lead to shortness of breath. Pulmicort is a safe medicine for children, even when taking into account long-term use. The action of Pulmicort includes the removal of puffiness from the bronchi, the prevention of bronchospasm and anti-inflammatory activity.

Indications for the use of Pulmicort: allergic dry cough with sputum difficult to separate. Inhalations are carried out through a nebulizer. Only a doctor has the right to calculate an individual dosage for each child. Medication Pulmicort before use is diluted in saline.

Any type of inhalation through a nebulizer will be effective and reduce the effects of allergies. 10 minutes after the procedure, a positive therapeutic effect is observed. In addition, anti-allergic medications can be added to inhalation solutions, which will reduce symptoms.

Folk remedies

To relieve the consequences and improve the general condition of the child, traditional medicine methods are often used. Garlic syrup gives a good effect with an allergic cough. It is very easy to prepare. You should cut 2-3 cloves of garlic and combine them with sugar or honey. The syrup will be obtained by infusing the mixture for two weeks. Daily you need to take 1 tablespoon of syrup in the morning. It can also be taken during a coughing fit.

Folk remedies are able to carry out a preventive effect, but the priority, of course, will be drug treatments, which should be carried out as directed by a doctor. Any folk way of helping may have contraindications, so carefully weigh the pros and cons so as not to aggravate the situation.

Allergy Cough Diet

As soon as the child's allergic cough worsens, the children's diet is strictly limited in the following products:

• orange fruits and vegetables;
• almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and peanuts;
• natural cow's milk;
• mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup;
• smoked and sausages;
• honey and all its products;
• chocolate and sweet pastries;
• mushrooms;
• sea ​​fish;
• products with preservatives.

If allergic reactions occur, the child should not be given goose and duck. With extreme caution, you can feed the baby turkey or chicken. It is advisable to replace these types of meat with rabbit meat or beef. Cow's milk should be replaced with goat's, but given in small amounts.

When dieting, you can eat green vegetables: cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli, white cabbage, eggplant. It is allowed to eat cereals, cottage cheese, bananas, prunes, green apples, boiled potatoes, black bread.

Having eliminated unpleasant consequences, it is allowed to begin the gradual introduction of excluded products. "Dangerous" vegetables and fruits are introduced gradually. For example, a pumpkin or a red apple is given in a volume of 30 g in the form of puree. With good perception, the dose is slightly increased.

Foods that can cause an allergic cough are left in the diet in small quantities. This is necessary in order for the body to get used to dangerous foods and stop producing antibodies.

Prevention

• Watch your baby's skin. At the first suspicion of diathesis, you should immediately contact your pediatrician.
• Clean your house daily. Ventilate the room well.
• Keep animals away from your baby's area. It is desirable that they should not be where the baby eats, sleeps or plays.
• There should be a minimum of soft toys in the baby's room. It is advisable to choose alternative materials, such as rubber.
• Choose hypoallergenic baby care products.
• Down pillows and blankets are best replaced with synthetic ones.

Parents should not build personal speculation about the causes of coughing. All diagnostic procedures must be performed by a doctor. All methods of treatment begin only after their appointment by a specialist. Based on the results of the tests and other information received, the doctor will draw a conclusion about the causes of the allergy and help rid the baby of unpleasant symptoms as soon as possible. The child will recover faster if adults do not self-medicate him.

Komarovsky's opinion

Information taken from Dr. Komarovsky's book "The Beginning of Your Child's Life":

• In no case do not use antitussive tablets (Libexin, Broncholitin, Glaucin, Tusuprex) without a doctor's prescription!
• From excessive love for a child, a cough is born. Mucus from drying out and various irritants unpleasantly tickle the mucous surface of the bronchi. This happens often from an abundance of soft toys and carpets (dust), from allergies to pets, chocolate or citrus fruits, and also to excessively dry and warm air. In this case, you must first remove the primary sources of allergic cough, and only after that engage in treatment.
• In the case when the baby woke up at night from a choking feeling, has a hoarse voice and a barking cough, then most likely such consequences are of a viral nature. With croup, and this is it, you need to let the child breathe in moist cool air before the ambulance arrives, bringing / bringing him to the window or balcony. At the same time, dress the baby warmly and give something warm to drink.

Allergic cough paroxysmal and dry. Accompanied by itching in the throat and nose. Sometimes clear sputum is secreted, in which there are no purulent inclusions. Symptoms of an allergic cough in a child worsen in the evening and closer to night. Some attacks begin suddenly and last 1 to 2 hours. Only antihistamines can stop them. An allergic cough can turn into bronchitis or asthma if its cause is not eliminated in a timely manner.

Home diagnostics

Treatment of any disease begins with diagnosis. Allergic cough can be provoked by:

• dust and mites living in down pillows;
• hair or saliva of a pet;
• bird feathers;
• household chemicals;
• cosmetics;
• pollen of indoor and wild plants;
• Food.

Mom, in order to determine the cause of pharyngitis, starts a child's diary. In it, she writes down what plants the baby came into contact with during a walk, what he ate, what he played with and washed his hands. In the diary, you need to indicate the composition of the dishes, as well as the brand of powder, baby shower gel and other detergents. If cats or dogs live in the house, the mother records the time when the child was in contact with the animal, and then the baby's reaction to the wool.

The most common food allergens to watch out for include:

• citruses;
• smoked meats;
• canned food;
• sausages;
• mushrooms;
• eggs;
• exotic vegetables.

If it was not possible to independently determine the cause of the cough, the child is shown to a pediatrician and an allergist. Specialists give directions for biochemical and general blood tests, X-rays of the lungs and bronchi. For children from 3 years old, skin tests are done: several common allergens are applied to the forearm and the reaction is monitored. After identifying the cause, the doctor selects antihistamines that remove the cough and other symptoms.

Cleanliness and fresh air

The house where the allergic child lives should be clean. Parents dust daily, wash floors, regularly vacuum upholstered furniture and refuse carpets. Down pillows and blankets are replaced with options with synthetic fillers. Dirt, dust, sweat and mites do not accumulate in polyester and ecofiber. Pillows filled with buckwheat husks are also suitable for children.

An ordinary soft toy can provoke an allergy. The child is bought plastic cars, dolls and dishes, designers and various board games. But no teddy bears, bunnies and other animals.

Parents are forbidden to smoke in the house and even on the balcony. The smoke and smell of tobacco that remains on clothes and seeps into rooms can cause bronchial spasms and an allergic dry cough.

Pets are regularly bathed, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms. A child may perceive cat hair and saliva normally, but a dirty animal is a source of ticks, helminths and infections that weaken the immune system and make it susceptible to allergens.

Children who have a dry spasmodic cough should not walk near highways. Exhaust fumes and dust irritate the nasal mucosa and cause itching. In winter and autumn, you can go to the park and breathe fresh air. In spring and summer, during the period of active flowering, you should avoid alleys planted with shrubs, trees and ornamental plants.

Diet for cough

With an exacerbation of an allergic cough, all dangerous foods are removed from the child's diet:

• orange vegetables and fruits;
• almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and peanuts;
• natural cow's milk;
• mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup;
• smoked meats and sausages;
• bee products;
• chocolate and sweet pastries;
• mushrooms;
• sea ​​fish;
• products containing preservatives.

Contraindicated in duck and goose allergy symptoms. With caution, the child is given chicken and turkey breast. Poultry meat is replaced with beef or rabbit. Instead of cow's milk, they give goat's milk, but in small quantities.

Green vegetables are allowed: zucchini, broccoli, cucumbers, white cabbage, eggplant, and cereals. Useful cottage cheese, prunes, bananas and black bread. You can green apples and boiled potatoes.

Prohibited foods are introduced into the children's diet after successful cough treatment. First, they give 30 g of pumpkin or red apple puree, then increase the portion if the body reacts normally to new components.

Products that cause an allergic cough are left on the menu. But they give the child literally 10-15 g of strawberries, mushrooms or milk. Gradually, the body gets used to the component and stops producing antibodies.

Cough preparations

An injection of "Suprastin" helps to quickly stop a coughing fit. The medicine is released in the form of tablets, but they act after 20 minutes. An injection removes allergy symptoms in 5-10 minutes.

Antihistamines are prescribed to children from the age of one month. Infants are prescribed "Fenistil" or "Suprastin". Patients from 6 months are given drops of "Ketotifen" and "Zyrtec". Children who are 1 year old are prescribed Zodak in liquid form and Erius.

Cetrin syrup is prescribed from the age of two, and Ketotifen tablets from the age of three. With an allergic cough, children are given Diazolin, Loratadin and Tavegil.

Between doses of antihistamines, it is recommended to cleanse the body with sorbents. Suitable "Polysorb", activated carbon, "Enterosgel" and "Polifepan". Means facilitate coughing fits, reducing the concentration of allergens in the blood.

Pharmacy sorbents are supplemented with seeds or milk thistle oil. The plant cleanses the body of toxins and allergens, soothes sore throat and bronchial tubes, has wound healing and hepatoprotective properties. Dried seeds are ground into powder and given to the child 5 g twice a day. Milk thistle oil is used in a similar way. It is impossible to abuse the plant, otherwise the allergic cough will not disappear, but will intensify.

Irritation and perspiration in the larynx are removed by Glycodin. The syrup softens the mucous membrane of the throat and bronchi, relieves attacks of dry cough. Children under 7 years old are given 5 ml of the drug 4 times a day. For allergies in a schoolchild, the portion is increased to half a teaspoon.

A cough that occurs due to plant pollen or dust is stopped with Levocabastin, Kromoheksal or Allergodil sprays. Drugs are prescribed from the age of 6. The medicine is injected into the nasal passages. It removes swelling, inflammation and perspiration. Washes out particles of pollen and dust.

Allergic coughs are treated with antihistamine syrups, tablets, and sprays. But with a complication of the disease, corticosteroids can be prescribed. Hormone therapy restores the functioning of the bronchi and lungs, protects against asthma.

Immunotherapy

Children from 3-4 years of age are given specific immunotherapy. Doctors identify the allergen and then inject it into the body by injection or by mouth. The method makes the body get used to the product that causes cough, runny nose and swelling.

• household chemicals;
• wool, saliva and dander of domestic animals;
• mold and fungi living on the walls of the apartment;
• dairy products;
• citrus;
• pollen of ambrosia and other plants;
• dust.

Immunotherapy is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. Sometimes the course of treatment is delayed for 3-5 years. But the child gets rid of not only cough, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and other symptoms, but also allergies. The body gradually gets used to citrus or pollen and begins to perceive them as neutral.

Treatment takes place at home. The doctor selects drugs and doses. The first procedure is carried out in a hospital to monitor the reaction of the child's body to the allergen, and then they are allowed to take medications on their own.

Inhalations

Dry cough is relieved by a nebulizer. The device is intended for inhalation for colds, bronchitis, tracheitis and pharyngitis. The nebulizer is filled with mineral water or saline. The device turns the liquid into steam, which cleanses the airways of allergens and moisturizes the mucous membrane, removing tickling.

Mineral water is replaced with special preparations designed to stabilize the mast cell membrane. Children from 6 months of age are prescribed the hormonal remedy "Pulmicort". The medicine prevents spasms in the bronchi, removes inflammation and swelling of the airways. The drug "Pulmicort" is diluted with saline. The dosage is selected depending on the age of the child and the neglect of the disease.

Means "Berodual" is prescribed to patients with dry allergic cough and too viscous sputum. The drug expands the lumen of the bronchi, facilitating breathing, and reduces spasms. Berodual, like Pulmicort, is mixed with saline.

Allergic pharyngitis is treated with "Eufillin" and "Ventolin". The drugs relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi, expanding their lumen. They moisturize the mucosa, thin the sputum and gradually reduce the frequency and duration of coughing fits.

Spasms in the bronchi and lungs are removed by Berotek. A 1% solution is poured into the nebulizer, which is prepared from 10 drops of the drug and 1 liter of liquid. Steam inhalations are carried out 4 times a day. The procedure can be combined with antihistamine drugs and a special diet that will speed up the recovery of the child.

Massage and breathing exercises

With frequent and prolonged bouts of coughing, parents are advised to conduct a finger massage. The child lies on his stomach on a bed or sofa, hanging his chest down. Mom holds the baby's legs with one hand, and the second taps on the back in the region of the bronchi and lungs. The fingers move quickly but gently. Lightly “run” along the child’s chest, kneading it and removing spasms. Massage liquefies sputum and facilitates expectoration, relaxes the smooth muscles of the respiratory system.

Children from 5-6 years old are recommended to do special exercises for allergic cough. Mom can work with the child. Breathing exercises develop the muscles of the chest and bronchi, protect against asthma and calm the nerves.

The execution technique is simple:

1. Mom and baby sit on a mat or just on the floor, close their eyes and listen to their own breathing. Feel how the lungs fill with air and push it out.
2. They take a long breath. Breathe in through the nose until there is no room left in the lungs. It is necessary to involve both the chest and the stomach. Then exhale sharply and quickly through the mouth. Repeat 3-4 times.
3. Then the mother and child take three short breaths, gradually filling the lungs with oxygen. On the count of “4”, all carbon dioxide is exhaled sharply. Three repetitions are enough.
4. Mom and baby mentally count from 1 to 4 and at this time take one continuous breath. The air is taken in slowly, working only with the nose. They imagine that oxygen descends to the lungs, and then flows down to the navel. They hold their breath while counting to eight. If the baby does not succeed, you can reduce to 6 or 4, and then gradually increase the figure. The air is exhaled in eight counts in short bursts.

Gymnastics can be combined with moderate physical activity. Suitable for swimming, rollerblading or cycling. Skates and skis are contraindicated. A child should drink 150–200 ml of mineral or distilled water before training. The fluid prevents the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and protects against coughing fits.

Folk methods

Allergic pharyngitis caused by dust or animal hair is treated with a decoction of bay leaves:

1. Boil 20 g of spice in 500 ml. The drink is brought to a boil, and after 5 minutes it is removed.
2. 25 g of baking soda is added to the filtered medicine.
3. The medicine is filled with 30 ml of linden honey.

The child drinks 50-60 ml of medication daily until the attacks stop.

With an allergic cough, it is advised to strengthen the immune system with a lemon-honey drink:

1. A medium-sized citrus is washed, doused with boiling water and passed through a meat grinder without peeling.
2. For 100 g of lemon gruel, you will need a glass of linden honey.
3. The products are mixed and diluted with 400 ml of distilled water.
4. The drink is placed in a water bath and heated to 40–50 degrees.

The heat-treated medicine is cooled to room temperature and divided into 3-4 portions. The child drinks the remedy for the day, it is possible both before and after meals.

Important: Lemon-honey drink should not be brought to a boil. At a temperature of +60 degrees and above, the vitamins evaporate, and the medicine loses its beneficial properties.

Viscous sputum with an allergic cough is diluted with camphor oil. The product is heated to 37–39 degrees and rubbed into the chest. Mustard plasters are applied to the right side, wrapped with cling film and a thick scarf on top. Camphor compress is kept for 20-30 minutes.

Allergic cough in children is treated with folk and pharmacy remedies, a nebulizer and a diet. To prevent pharyngitis, it is advised to do breathing exercises, swim a lot, keep the house clean and strengthen the child's immunity with outdoor walks and vitamin complexes.

Video: how to distinguish an allergic cough from an infectious one