How to quickly cure a cough in children? The most effective cough medicine. How to cure a cough in a child at home With a strong cough in a child, what to do

You feel the worst when your child is sick. But sometimes parents do frankly rash acts, hazardous to health and unnecessary for recovery. Yes, parents, even most pediatricians sin by using useless medicines.

In this article, we have prepared information guide for parents for cough related issues. We also consider the feasibility of using drugs, which is supported by scientific data.

How to cure a cough in a child

Let's figure out what a cough is and is it worth treating it at all? Observations on children aged 3 to 9 years show that healthy children cough up to 30 times a day! Each of us produces mucus (phlegm) in our airways. Its excess causes child coughing spells. Any mechanical or inflammatory irritation of the throat, trachea, larynx, bronchi - provokes a cough. It also occurs with problems with the nervous system, when the work of the cough center in the brain is disrupted.

Hence the conclusion - a cough can be a symptom of not only respiratory diseases. Cough is also accompanied by viral and bacterial inflammation of the respiratory tract (SARS, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough and others), allergic diseases (asthma), ENT diseases, chemical exposure to the environment, tumors of the respiratory tract.

1. Where does cough come from

   In pediatric practice 80% viral diseases accompanied by cough. These are rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis. Note that it is normal if a child has ARVI up to 10 times a year.

   Simultaneously with a cough, a child may notice such symptoms of a cold as nasal congestion, runny nose, high fever, chills, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, chest pain during a coughing fit, and the appearance of clear or yellowish-green sputum. This does not mean at all that “everything is lost, overlooked, sank lower”! These are the usual symptoms of SARS, which do not require drug intervention and additional treatment.

   

   Most acute respiratory viral infections, subject to the drinking regimen, temperature and humidity parameters, pass for 3 to 10 days.

   “By the tenth day after the onset of the disease, only 50% of children have a cold cough. In the rest of the children, the cough persists for another 3-4 weeks or longer. This phenomenon is called post-infectious, or post-viral, cough.

   No antiviral or homeopathic pills, syrups, suppositories increase the chances of recovery. All of them are medicines with unproven efficacy, in the world there is no scientific evidence regarding their therapeutic effect.

   

   From the entire list of pharmaceutical preparations that are offered to us for the treatment of children's cough, units can be used to treat cough. When considered under 3 years of age, most of these drugs are potentially life-threatening.

   First of all, this applies to cough syrups. All of them work on the principle of increasing sputum. Let's say a child is sick, coughing, you give him mucolytic syrup. The lungs and bronchi, which already suffer from an excess of sputum, begin to increase its production! The result is that the child coughs even more. And if we add here a warm room, a fireplace, hot batteries - hello complications.

   According to WHO recommendations, children under 2 years of age are strictly forbidden to give expectorants. The risk of side effects outweighs the possible benefits. This applies to such active substances: acetylcysteine, carbocysteine, ambroxol, bromhexine, sobrerol, neltenexin, erdosteine ​​and telmestein.

   Without risk, the best effect can be achieved by drinking plenty of water, rinsing the nose with saline and establishing optimal air parameters (room temperature up to 20 °, humidity from 40%).

   Separate discussion deserves drugs that depress the cough center, that is, the cough does not stop because the sputum is over, just the brains were ordered to stop producing it. Dry cough medicine appointed in extremely rare cases, only after confirmation of the diagnosis.

   Today, there are two groups of such drugs, some affect the cough center, others weaken the signals going to the brain from the bronchi. The use of narcotic antitussive drugs based on codeine is generally prohibited in relation to children.

   

   “Self-medication with antitussives can be very dangerous. Coughing is not just an unpleasant symptom, it is the body's most important way to clear the lungs. By turning off or suppressing cough, we contribute to the accumulation of sputum in the lungs, which with a high degree of probability can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, to impaired lung ventilation and other troubles.

   All kinds of "rubbing" with camphor and eucalyptus have a good effect only on sleep, but do not reduce the frequency and strength of coughing. But they manage to cause irritation of the skin and eyes perfectly.

   Excessive salivation during teething can cause coughing in young children. Saliva that flows down the back wall irritates the vocal cords and causes a reflex cough. Treatment is not required. This is another fact that confirms the unjustified use of expectorants.

   

2. Urgent measures

   Exists a number of diseases, which develop very quickly and pose an immediate threat to the life of the child. Among them: pneumonia, acute bronchiolitis, croup, bacterial tracheitis, whooping cough, exacerbation of asthma, foreign body in the respiratory tract.

   Remember the symptoms that should alert you: rapid breathing and pulse; noisy or wheezing breathing (not to be confused with "gurgling", which is audible to the naked ear); difficulty breathing and discoloration of the lips, skin; retraction of the intercostal spaces during breathing; sudden onset of a severe cough without other symptoms of a cold (inhalation of a foreign body); sharp pains in the chest or back, lower abdomen, which increase with a deep breath; attacks of barking cough that end in vomiting; reappearance of temperature in 24 hours - 48 hours after its normalization.

   

3. Chronic and bacterial diseases
   If the cough lasts longer than 4–8 weeks, and the child has a normal or subfebrile temperature (37.1–37.7°), most likely there is a complex bacterial infection or an exacerbation of a chronic disease.

   Rarely, but cases of such diseases are possible: whooping cough, pulmonary tuberculosis, infection with worms, wax plug in ear, ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis, congenital lung diseases, protracted bacterial bronchitis.

   Symptoms that are most often found in tuberculosis: prolonged subfebrile temperature; dry or wet cough that does not change for 8 weeks; significant weight loss; the appearance of blood in the sputum. The presence of at least two symptoms from this list is a mandatory reason to go to the hospital!

   

   The likelihood that the child has asthma shows a short-term cough that often recurs and worsens at night or in the morning, regardless of cold episodes. It intensifies during physical exertion, active games, during laughter, crying or strong emotions.

   It also appears after contact with a potential allergen - pets, by inhalation of cold or humid air, smoke, plant pollen, strong odors, polluted air. An important role is played by the genetic predisposition of the child's parents to allergies.

4. Algorithm of actions for viral and bacterial cough

   If a child suddenly falls ill with all the symptoms of SARS (fever, runny nose, general weakness), the appearance of a cough does not mean that a complication has begun. Cough may be present with completely clear lungs.

   And this happens because the mucus from the sinuses (snot) flows down the throat. This is especially common in young children. It is snot that is the most common cause of coughing, if no problems are found when listening to the lungs. How to treat such a cough?

   The answer is simple - no way. Your actions: drink plenty of water, moisten the inhaled air. If the runny nose is viral, the cough will go away on its own in 7-14 days. If bacterial, an oral antibiotic will be needed (the use of antibiotics is a topic for a separate article). If allergic - specific therapy with blocking symptoms and elimination of the allergen.

   

   Bronchitis, a disease that is one of the five most common in the world, deserves special attention. 90-95% of bronchitis is caused by viruses. Bacterial bronchitis does not occur in the first couple of days of illness, it usually appears later as a complication.

   The main symptom is cough with or without sputum, shortness of breath. Sometimes the doctor mentions the words "obstruction" or "obstructive bronchitis", this is when the cough is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, wheezing or wheezing. The tendency to obstruction persists in children up to 3–5 years of age, then disappears without intervention.

   Acute viral bronchitis passes by itself in 10-14 days without syrups and tablets. Sometimes a cough can persist for up to a month and a half, and this is normal, as the airways should return to normal.

   Acute bacterial bronchitis requires antibiotics. Therefore, the first thing the doctor should do, if there is no improvement within 5 days from the onset of the disease, is to send for a blood test. If it shows the bacterial nature of the disease, an antibacterial drug should be taken in a convenient form.

   No inhalations of Dekasan, herbs and tons of Biseptol can replace a properly selected antibiotic. Up to 5 years of inhalation with any substances with a pungent odor can cause reflex laryngospasm.

   Very often, viral infections are accompanied by a spasm of the larynx (croup, false croup), when the larynx or trachea narrows and it is difficult for the child to breathe. This condition is also called stenosis, it is very dangerous for children at any age, as it can cause respiratory arrest.

   

   If the stenosis happened suddenly, reassure the child as much as possible and do not panic. If there is an increase in temperature, albeit slight, up to 38 ° and above, give Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

   In extreme cases, moist and warm air, which can be created in the bathroom by turning on hot water, helps to remove the spasm. You can also breathe in cold steam from a humidifier or cool air from the street.

   If you have a nebulizer at home, use it with salbutamol-based drugs or anti-inflammatory steroid hormones, it is better to check the dosage with your doctor.

   If the condition does not improve or even worse, there is a change in the skin, hands and lips turn blue, wheezing becomes loud, immediately call an ambulance, you may need to use hormonal agents to relieve swelling of the larynx.

   Frequent recurrences of laryngospasm in a child may be a sign of narrowing of the airways that is not associated with an infection. You will need to consult a pulmonologist and an ENT doctor.

5. Treatment for a prolonged cough

   Treatment of a cough that lasts more than 8 weeks should begin with the exclusion of tuberculosis, asthma. If they are not confirmed, long-term rhinosinusitis or gastroesophageal reflux disease is treated.

   Children whose only symptom is prolonged dry cough(more than 2 weeks), it is recommended to be tested for whooping cough. If confirmed, mandatory antibiotic therapy, cool, moist air, antitussives, but not codeine-based, are indicated. Cough provokers (cold, hard food, dust, cigarette smoke, physical exertion) should be avoided.

   

   Sometimes wax plug in ear could be the reason persistent dry cough, along with which there is a decrease in hearing acuity, noise in the ear, congestion or itching in the ear canal. In such cases, you should show the child to the doctor.

   If a wet cough continues for more than 4 weeks without visible improvement and all the reasons described above are excluded, antibiotic therapy is recommended, the duration of which is determined by the doctor. The drugs of first choice are Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid or Azithromycin.

   There may be cases of an individual reaction of the child in the form of a cough, which are caused by psychosomatic problems or sensitivity to tobacco smoke (passive smoking).

6. Cough and inhalation

   Treatment of cough with inhalers is acceptable in rare cases. Firstly, steam inhalations are prohibited for children at any age, they are of no use, but the risk of mucosal burns is very high.

   Application ultrasonic nebulizers, in which cold steam is produced, is acceptable to alleviate the general condition. Rules to be followed: the solution for inhalation must be sterile, no Borjomi and Esentuki! Only sterile saline should be filled into the nebulizer, only with a sterile disposable syringe. For each inhalation - a new syringe.

   

   If the child has an obstruction, the use of special anti-asthma drugs is allowed. These are bronchodilators based on fenoterol, drugs that relax the muscles of the bronchi, based on salbutamol, or anti-inflammatory steroid hormones.

   I emphasize once again that inhalation through a nebulizer is symptomatic treatment which is shown on rare occasions. Using it at the first cough or sneeze is not justified, drinking plenty of water and cool, moist air are no less effective than any inhalation.

   In case of complex bronchial obstruction, the use of drugs through a spacer (balloon) is recommended, but only after the age of 4–6 years. Until this age, the use of any aerosols is prohibited due to the risk of developing laryngospasm. For the same reason, children under one year old are not recommended to use saline solutions for the nose in a spray, only drops.

   Essential oil categorically impossible put in a nebulizer! It breaks into small particles under the influence of air flow. These particles evenly settle on the small bronchi and cause mechanical blockage, which can lead to pulmonary edema and death of the child before the arrival of the ambulance!

   It is especially important to monitor the hygiene of the inhaler, which can cause bacterial or fungal infections in the respiratory tract of a child if used incorrectly. After each use, the glass and mask should be soaked in a disinfectant solution for several minutes, after which they should be rinsed with boiled water.

   

I would like to summarize all of the above and recommend the main thing - do not self-medicate, even when the disease begins with

Often occurs in childhood. It is a sign of many diseases, and can also be a reflex to various stimuli.

Such a symptom requires mandatory treatment, since it can provoke the development of complications. To eliminate it in children, in addition to pharmaceuticals, alternative therapy is used.In addition, parents need to know for which symptoms they should immediately contact a specialist.

The main causes of cough and possible diseases

How to quickly relieve a coughing fit

To eliminate a paroxysmal cough at home, you must first quickly moisten the room in which the child is located. To do this, use a special humidifier.

You can also put a container of water or lay a damp cloth on the pipes, it is better to hang towels. To remove the attack, you can bathe the child.

• Phyto-based syrups.
• Lozenges or lozenges for sucking.
• Combined medicines.

Syrup helps with a sudden cough. It is an herbal remedy made from psyllium extract. You can use the drug from the licorice root.

You can eliminate a cough attack using some means of alternative therapy. In this case, inhalations on decoctions of medicinal plants, compresses, rubbing and internal use of herbal infusions or medicines in milk are considered effective.

Medical treatment

It is important to remember that only an experienced pediatrician can choose medications for children. It takes into account the severity of a certain disease, the type of cough, the individual characteristics of the organism.

Usually, after the examination, the doctor prescribes the following groups of drugs for the treatment of the child:

• Medicines that improve expectoration. Effectively remove sputum from the respiratory tract,.
• Mucolytics. Often, from the drugs of this group, Abrol, Sinekod, a dry cough mixture are prescribed. The substances contained in such products help to thin the sputum and remove it.
• Antitussives. Used to alleviate coughing attacks. This group includes , .

These medicines can relieve cough. However, in the treatment of various diseases that cause it, complex therapy is usually used.

It is important to remember that antitussive and mucolytic drugs are not allowed to be combined.

If the cause of the cough is a viral infection, it is also necessary to use antiviral drugs. When a child's disease is provoked by pathogenic bacteria, then antibiotic therapy is used. Usually, in this case, antibiotics of the macrolide, penicillin and cephalosporin series are prescribed.

It is possible to use anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended to bring down a high temperature with antipyretic drugs such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

Useful video - How to relieve a coughing fit in a child:

Nozzle pump for newborns: types and rules of use

With swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx and cough as a result of allergic reactions, antihistamines are used.It is also recommended to use mineral-vitamin complexes and restorative agents.If the child's body temperature is normal, then physiotherapy may be prescribed. In this case, magnetotherapy and electrophoresis are considered effective methods.

Means of alternative medicine

For the treatment of cough in children, various methods of alternative therapy are used. These funds include:

• Inhalations
• Internal use of folk medicines

Inhalation is considered effective for coughing in children. They can be performed over a container with medicinal decoctions. However, in childhood, inhalations are best suited with a nebulizer - a special device for the procedure.

Inhalations can be done using the following means:

• Saline.
• Mineral water (better - Borjomi).
• Soda solution with the addition of a few drops of iodine.
• Potato decoction.
• Essential oils (lavender, mint, ginger, cedar).
• Herbal infusions (St. John's wort, chamomile, eucalyptus, violet, coltsfoot)

The procedure should be performed no more than fifteen minutes. It is desirable that after inhalation the child does not go out into the fresh air, especially during the cold season.

Recipes for oral administration

Many medicinal plants improve sputum discharge by thinning it. Therefore, it is good to drink a child with a cough with decoctions of such herbs:

• Coltsfoot
• Altey
• Nettle
• Plantain
• Ivy
• Raspberry
• Licorice (root)
• tricolor violet
• Linden

To prepare such a medicine, you need to pour vegetable raw materials with boiling water (250 ml of liquid per tablespoon). After that, the tea is infused for 10-15 minutes. If the child is not allergic to bee products, this decoction can be used with honey.

Effective cough recipes for children:

• Milk products are also used for oral administration. To a warm liquid, you can add butter, honey, a little soda, whipped yolks.
• Another effective method is considered to be a decoction in milk. Such a remedy can be made with pine nuts or figs.
• A good cough remedy is black radish with sugar or honey. To do this, cut out the middle of the vegetable, and add the second ingredient to the resulting cup. After that, leave until the morning to extract the juice. It is recommended to drink one spoon three times a day.

Effective compresses

Cough can be treated with compresses that are applied to the child's chest.

The following products are used for compresses:

• crushed ginger
• goose fat
• corn oil and flour tortilla
• a mixture of garlic and butter
• nutria fat

Good in the treatment of cough helps a mixture prepared on the basis of mustard powder, vegetable fat and diluted alcohol.

Compresses are recommended to be applied for several hours. After this, the child must be wrapped up and put to bed.It is important to remember that the use of alternative therapies in the treatment of cough in pediatric patients is possible only after approval by a pediatrician.

When children get a cold or SARS, their main symptoms are a runny nose and cough. This is quite normal, since this is how the body reacts to an infection.

If the baby's cough is observed for a long time and is accompanied by strong sputum production, treatment is started in order to rid the child of this problem as soon as possible. Medicines and folk remedies, as well as other methods, can help with this.

How do children get cough?

The child begins to cough strongly for various reasons - a foreign body in the throat, an allergic reaction, irritation, any disease. It is difficult for children to know what is bothering them (especially if they are 1 or 2 years old), so in such conditions, mothers should help their babies and give the right medicine.

Cough is a physiological reaction. So the body tries to quickly get rid of a foreign body that makes breathing difficult. During SARS, mucus accumulates in the airways, which irritates the throat and causes a dry cough. It is real to recover from it, getting rid of the underlying disease. Also, drugs are used, thanks to which the child stops coughing.

Varieties of cough

Before you start treating cough in children, you need to understand what you are dealing with. There are 3 types of cough:

1. Dry (or unproductive). In such conditions, sputum does not go away. With a dry cough, there is a sore throat, pain, sometimes the voice is lost. The symptom occurs in response to viral diseases as one of the initial signs, sometimes due to irritation of the mucous membrane.
2. Wet (or productive) cough. Its characteristic feature is the presence of sputum. Cough in children and adults is accompanied by wheezing, chest pain, a feeling of heaviness.
3. Strong paroxysmal. A strong cough in a child indicates bronchitis, tracheitis, or an allergic reaction (more in the article:). Breathing is difficult.

Dry

When a child coughs heavily, and sputum is not secreted from the lungs, this is a dry type. It is caused by viral and bacterial infections. It is impossible to cure them instantly, so the patient is given drugs, thanks to which the symptom goes away. The condition occurs as a result of the following diseases:

• bronchitis;
• pharyngitis, laryngitis;
• whooping cough (more in the article:);
• measles;
• false croup;
• SARS;
• chronic sinusitis, etc.

Wet

With a wet cough, mucus is intensively secreted. It cleanses the lungs and other organs of the respiratory system. The phenomenon is typical for pneumonia, runny nose, acute and chronic respiratory diseases, bronchitis. It cannot be left without treatment, as the disease progresses rapidly and develops into serious forms.

Be especially vigilant when children show the following symptoms:

• persistent high temperature;
• wheezing during coughing;
• the presence of blood in the sputum;
• shortness of breath, trouble breathing;
• green sputum;
• prolonged nocturnal coughing spells.

Violent cough with attacks

If a strong cough began during a meal, there is a suspicion that it is of an allergic nature. Allergens are dust, food, animal hair, chemicals, etc.

Particularly susceptible to this pathology are those who had diathesis in childhood. Unlike colds and infectious diseases, there is no fever and other symptoms. The reaction of the body develops as follows:

• sharp bouts of barking cough appear (we recommend reading:);
• cough becomes chronic and lasts 2-3 weeks;
• in parallel, a runny nose appears;
• characteristic sputum of a mucous type without pus is secreted from the bronchi;
• the patient is additionally worried about itching in the nose, frequent sneezing;
• an allergic reaction is accompanied by respiratory failure due to swelling of the respiratory organs;
• at night the baby does not sleep well, becomes irritable.

Allergies need to be recognized in a timely manner, so you need to carefully monitor the condition of the child. As soon as the first signs appear, they consult a doctor and begin treatment. If you miss the time, allergies can turn into bronchial asthma or asthmatic bronchitis, and these diseases are almost never cured.

Treatment of cough with medicines

For a cough to be productive, active work of the respiratory muscles is necessary. It is smooth muscles that help mucus move up and out of the body. In children under 5 years of age, this function is still poorly developed.

If a child is 3 years old, his body cannot physically cope with the accumulated mucus in the airways. He needs help with medicines. To do this, they take syrups and tablets at home (children from 1 to 4 years old are given syrups, because they do not know how to swallow tablets, and those who are already 6-7 years old are also prescribed tablet forms).

They also practice folk recipes and physiotherapy procedures. Knowing how to quickly cure a cough in a child at home, you can alleviate the condition of the baby and help him recover. Consider all the ways to treat cough in children in more detail.

Pills of different action

Demanded drugs that eliminate cough can be divided into groups:

• mucolytic agents (thinn sputum, making it easier to remove) - Ambroxol, ACC, Flavamed, Fluditec (we recommend reading:);
• expectorant drugs (stimulate the removal of sputum from the bronchi) - Mukaltin, Codelac Broncho, Thermopsol, Bromhexine (we recommend reading:);
• enveloping agents - Sodium and potassium iodides, soda;
• antitussive drugs that depress the cough center - Tusuprex, Butamirat, Bitiodin;
• combined agents - Carbocysteine, Tussin-plus, etc.

Of all the drugs, 4 are distinguished, which are most in demand in home therapy for cough in children:

1. Mukaltin. A cheap mucolytic agent that children tolerate with little or no adverse reactions. Can be taken by patients older than 3 years, but a doctor's consultation is necessary.
2. Thermopsol. The drug perfectly eliminates dry cough, easy to use.
3. Bromhexine. The remedy is prescribed to combat wet cough, as it enhances the removal of sputum.
4. Geromyrtol. The drug is designed specifically for patients suffering from severe coughing attacks in chronic bronchitis. Before using it, you must obtain approval from a doctor.

syrups

Syrup is the mildest form for combating children's coughs. It is best used when the causes of the disease are unknown. The remedy is recommended for children who, due to their age, cannot yet take pills. This is exactly the option that you can choose for self-treatment until the child gets to see a doctor. The syrup will eliminate the symptoms of coughing, improve breathing, and will fight other signs of the disease:

• with a dry cough, Prospan, Ambroxol, Glycodin, Bronholitin, Gerbion with plantain, Sinekod are prescribed;
• with a wet cough, use Linkas, Althea syrup, Ascoril, Ambrobene, Dr. Mom (we recommend reading:).

Regarding age restrictions:

• Prospan and Ambroxol are used from birth;
• Linkas - from six months;
• Ascoril, Ambrobene, Gerbion - from 2 years old;
• Dr. Mom, Sinekod, Bronholitin - from 3 years.

Treatment of cough with traditional medicine

The methods offered by official medicine are not enough to defeat the disease in its advanced form. Then it is recommended to supplement the treatment of cough in children with folk remedies. In this case, care must be taken, because the reaction to unknown components of herbs is sometimes unpredictable.

Compresses

Hot compresses warm up the bronchial area well and effectively fight phlegm. Collect them from three layers:

• cotton fabric that is lined on the skin;
• tracing paper or oilcloth - prevents the next layer from soaking with liquid;
• terry towel - keeps the heat of the compress.

The compress is strictly forbidden to use in the region of the heart. The simplest recipe is based on hot salt. It is sewn into a cotton bag and steamed. A three-layer compress is collected and applied to the bronchial area. 2-3 sessions are enough to defeat the disease.

You can practice honey compress. To do this, the lower tissue layer is impregnated with heated honey. Honey can give allergies, so you should be careful with this recipe.

Inhalations

Another procedure that does a good job of eliminating a cough in a child is inhalation. It has been practiced for a long time, and it is effective if precautions are taken. It must be remembered that a child can get burned by steam.

The most popular inhalation is performed using potatoes. It is boiled in a uniform, slightly pounded, after which the child is allowed to breathe in warm vapors. So that you can control the process, and the baby was not scared, you can hide with a blanket with him.

The second most effective remedy is with essential oils. Heat the water to boiling water and add a few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree to it. Before this, you need to make sure that the child is not allergic to the substances used.

Herbal infusions and decoctions

Experienced pediatricians sometimes prescribe sick babies not pills, but decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs. Highly effective means based on plantain. Take a pinch of dry leaves and insist 2 hours in a glass of boiling water. The drink is filtered, after which the baby takes it in a tablespoon before each meal.

Licorice root, marshmallow, propolis, breast elixir, ivy extract, primrose - these components are widely used in the treatment of cough in children (more in the article:). Thyme and thyme, which are included in the preparations Eukabal, Bronipret, Stoptussin, Pertussin, have a strong therapeutic effect (we recommend reading:).

Other oral medications

There are other folk remedies, besides those mentioned above, that successfully treat cough:

• Grind an ordinary onion, mixing it with an equal amount of honey. The child needs to use such a remedy three times a day for a tablespoon after meals. The minimum age of the patient is 1 year.
• You can cook radish with honey. To do this, a hole is made inside the root crop, into which 2 tsp are placed. honey and insist 4 hours. As a result, juice is formed, which is taken 3 times a day for a teaspoon.
• Another remedy is a mixture of the juice of one lemon, 2 tbsp. l. glycerin and a glass of honey. This drug is taken in 1 tsp. 6 times a day.

Drainage massage

Cough is also fought with the help of physiotherapy procedures. One of these is drainage massage. It can be carried out even for babies, if the mother owns the necessary equipment. If there is no experience, it is better to call a professional massage therapist.

The procedure is as follows:

• The baby is laid with the buttocks above the head. You can put a pillow under your stomach.
• Stroke the back, moving upwards.
• The next step is tapping with the fingertips. At the same time, zones near the spine are selected, but they do not touch it itself.
• 30 minutes give the child a rest. At this time, he is covered with a blanket. Phlegm begins to stand out and move away.
• They give an expectorant that increases sputum production.

Drainage is forbidden to do at a child's temperature. Movements should be gentle, without the use of force. This is especially true for breast massage.

What can't be done?

When coughing in babies, certain foods must be excluded. You can not eat hot food and drinks, so as not to damage the irritated mucous membrane. It is forbidden to take fresh honey - it must be boiled before use. Exclude chocolate, spicy dishes, pickles from the diet. At elevated temperatures, inhalations, compresses and warming are not done.

When a child falls ill, we experience doubly. And such a symptom as a cough is very exhausting for a child, regardless of his age, whether it is a two-month-old baby or a ten-year-old child. To start treating a cough, you first need to find out the cause of its occurrence.

Causes of cough

• Cough, as one of the symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection, is the most common cause in childhood;
• The presence of adenoids and inflammation of the ENT organs;
• Cough as a clinical sign of bronchial asthma;
• Inhalation of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
• Reaction to dry and cold air;
• Cough as a manifestation of allergy.

Types of cough

The cough may be barking, dry, paroxysmal, importunate, wet.

Depending on the type of cough and its cause, treatment is prescribed. It should be noted that the treatment of cough in children should be prescribed by a pediatrician after a complete examination and examination. Self-treatment can lead to adverse consequences.

Types of cough medicines

• Mucolytics- means that dilute sputum and contribute to its excretion (Ambrobene, Halixol, Lazolvan);
• Antitussives- drugs that suppress a painful cough (Bronchicum, Sedotussin);
• Expectorants- means that accelerate the process of sputum excretion (Gedelix, Mukaltin, Pertussin, Licorice Root).
• Read more in the article "Inexpensive cough medicines".

All about the treatment of children's cough

If a child develops a cough, it is necessary to immediately show it to the doctor. This is dictated by the fact that in young children in the respiratory tract, the inflammatory process spreads very quickly and can threaten the life of the baby.

Dry cough treatment provides for its rapid transformation into a productive wet cough. To do this, use a plentiful warm alkaline drink in the absence of temperature, warming compresses and medications (for example, bronchodilators prescribed by a doctor).

Wet cough treatment consists in taking mucolytics and expectorant drugs.

In the absence of temperature, a variety of physiotherapeutic procedures are widely used to treat various types of cough: electrophoresis with drugs, inhalations, magnetotherapy. Banks, mustard plasters, rubbing, and, of course, massage also help well.

After the examination, the doctor may prescribe the following medicines:

• Antiviral or antibacterial drugs to suppress pathogens.
• Antitussives ( with dry cough): broncholithin, glaucine, libexin, butamirate, paxeladin, herbion with Icelandic moss.
• expectorants ( wet cough): syrups of licorice root and marshmallow root, sodium bicarbonate, herbion with primrose, gedelix.
• Mucolytics: acetylcysteine, ambroxol, carbocysteine.
• Lozenges for sucking: septolete, Dr. Mom, Dr. Theiss with sage.
• Antihistamines to relieve swelling of the larynx: fenkarol, diazolin, cetirizine.
• Bronchodilators: salbutamol.
• Drops in the nose (if the cough is caused by rhinitis): naphazoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline.
• To prevent recurrence of respiratory tract infections: broncho-munal, broncho-vaxom.
• Rubbing: turpentine ointment, Pulmex baby, eucabal.
• Other anti-inflammatory drugs: fenspiride (erespal).
• Additional methods: compresses, massage, inhalations, physiotherapy exercises.
• It is necessary to take a large amount of fluid to facilitate the removal of sputum; medicinal herbs are brewed: linden, mint, thyme.

It should be remembered that the dosage of drugs for children is different from the adult dosage. Only a doctor can prescribe a medicine, taking into account the condition of the child, his age, weight and individual intolerance to the drugs.

If the cause of the cough is allergic, an examination by an allergist is prescribed.

Psychogenic cough in children requires a psychiatric consultation.

Sometimes, to eliminate a cough in a child, it is enough to adjust the humidity in the room, since dry air dries out the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and cough occurs reflexively.

Treatment of cough in children with folk remedies

Many folk recipes are well suited for both adults and children. To treat a cough in a child, you need to reduce the dosage by about half. Below we provide several folk recipes specifically for the treatment of children's cough.

• Carrot juice with honey. When a child coughs, carrot juice with honey is recommended. Carrot juice should be freshly prepared. Take a tablespoon of the mixture 4-5 times a day.
• Radish with sugar. Cut the black radish into small cubes, put in a saucepan and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in the oven for 2 hours. Strain, discard the pieces of baked vegetable, and drain the liquid into a bottle. Give 2 teaspoons 3-4 times daily before meals and at night before bed.
• Lemon with honey. Boil 1 lemon over low heat for 10 minutes so that it becomes soft and more juice can be squeezed out of it. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice (preferably with a juicer). Pour the juice into a glass, add 2 tablespoons of glycerin, mix thoroughly and top up the glass with honey. With a rare cough, take the resulting syrup, 1 teaspoon several times a day. Shake before use. If the cough bothers you at night, take 1 teaspoon of syrup at night and another at night. With a strong cough, drink syrup 1 teaspoon 6 times a day - in the morning (on an empty stomach), before lunch and after it, in the evening, after dinner and at night. As the cough decreases, reduce the number of doses. The tool is recommended for both adults and children. It is effective in cases where other medicines do not help. You can use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon.
• Milk with mineral water. A strong cough is well treated with ordinary milk. Drink hot milk with alkaline mineral water (1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup Borjomi) or honey (1 teaspoon of honey per cup of hot milk). And for babies, it is best to add figs to warm milk.
• Honey with anise. To 1 teaspoon of honey, add 2 tablespoons of anise seeds and a pinch of salt. All this pour 250 ml of water and bring to a boil, and then strain. Adults take 2 tablespoons every 2 hours. Halve the dose for the child.
• Honey with butter. Take 100 g of honey, 100 g of fresh butter, vanillin powder. Mix everything well. Take one teaspoon three times a day.
• Figs. Figs (or figs) boiled in milk (2-3 fruits per glass of milk) have long been used for coughs, whooping cough, colds, especially in children. The decoction should be taken warm at night. An infusion of fig leaves was recommended for bronchial asthma.
• One of the popular folk remedies for treating cough is badger fat. It is used externally in children up to three years old, rubbing the back, feet and chest, and then warmly covered. For older children, badger fat is given orally, usually dissolved in warm milk with the addition of honey.
• radish. Often a syrup is used, made by cutting the pulp out of the middle and filling this indentation with honey. The resulting syrup is taken orally.
• Compress of honey-mustard cake. An equal amount of honey, flour, mustard powder, vegetable oil and vodka is taken. A cake is made and divided into two parts. They are laid out on the fabric and applied to the breast and / or back. Now fix, wrap and leave overnight.
• Lemon- twist in a meat grinder and add one tablespoon of honey, leave for three hours and give a teaspoon twice a day.
• Salt heating. We heat the salt in a pan, wrap it in a sock. Thus, we warm up the chest and back.

One of the symptoms of colds and upper respiratory tract infections is a cough. Well, if it's just a cough. But what if the cough becomes hysterical, constant and does not give rest, especially at night, preventing sleep not only for the patient himself, but for his loved ones? In the season of rising incidence of SARS and influenza, the question of how to quickly cure a cough is quite relevant. And today for you, dear readers, I give a selection of the simplest and most effective folk remedies. And today we will focus on cough remedies for children, since for them the use and dosages differ from medicines for adults.

Cough is a protective reaction of the body, which is given by nature to man in order to clear the airways. At the same time, it is a signal that the body has been exposed to pathogens and pathogens and it begins to fight them. Cough can be a symptom of more than 50 diseases or allergic manifestations.
What is a cough like?

• Physiological, pathological and allergic;
• dry and wet;
• night, evening, day;
• deaf and voiced;
• intermittent or permanent;
• at rest and sleep;
• exhausting, sometimes leading to vomiting, dizziness or petechiae (small hemorrhages on the neck or face).

Depending on where the inflammatory or allergic process has developed, the cough can be dry if the large bronchi or trachea are affected, where the secret (sputum) is practically not produced. Or wet if small bronchi or alveoli are affected.

Causes of cough in children

Coughing or coughing in children can occur for a number of physiological reasons, eliminating which an unpleasant symptom disappears without any treatment. The reasons may be:

1. Dry air and climate. In a room where it is stuffy and dusty, it is difficult to breathe not only for adults, but also for children.
2. Insufficient amount of liquid consumed by children, especially babies pump. It is known that the lack of fluid in the child's body can become an excellent environment for pathogenic bacteria.
3. The presence of smokers in the room. Nicotine irritates the respiratory tract and causes a defensive reaction.
4. Allergy - as a protective reaction to allergens from pet hair, plants or dust.
5. Psychological reaction to stress, causing nervous tension in the child and experience.

A foreign body in the airways can also cause coughing, but this condition must be taken seriously, as it can sometimes cost a child's life.

And another reason for the appearance of a cough in a child is colds and viral infections, in which coughing is one of the signs of the disease. Let's dwell on this more specifically and analyze how to cure a cough at home, what pharmacy remedies or folk methods can get rid of it.

A dry cough usually occurs when the airways are unable to clear sputum on their own, which irritates the lining of the bronchi or trachea. Such a cough is a symptom of SARS, tracheitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pleurisy and pneumonia, and can also be with whooping cough, measles, diphtheria and pulmonary tuberculosis.

The goal of treatment for dry cough is to free the airways from stagnant sputum and eliminate unproductive cough. In this case, expectorant drugs are prescribed. They are divided into 3 types:

• Mukalitiki well dilute sputum and help to remove too viscous sputum from the respiratory tract.
• Secretomotor drugs stimulate an increase in the volume of sputum.
• Reflex cough medicines that suppress the cough reflex.

Wet cough is otherwise called productive. This suggests that the body is coping with the disease and excess sputum is excreted from the body. The cause of its occurrence is a violation of the outflow, an immune reaction or an allergy. The appearance of sputum in the lower respiratory tract can not only be due to its production, but also due to drainage from the paranasal sinuses.

If a wet cough lasts no more than 5 days, without giving the child any inconvenience and discomfort, then you should not use antitussive drugs. Such a cough can be with sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis or allergies. If it does not stop for more than 5 days, it is necessary to consult a doctor and find out its cause.

What will help to thin and remove sputum?

Mucalytics work well with this, which in turn accelerate sputum production or reduce the formation of mucus. For children older than 2 years, drugs can be used

• in the form of syrup: Ambroxo and its analogues - Ambrobene, Ambrohexal, Flavamed, Lazolvan.
• In the form of powder Acetylcysteine, which is dissolved in water;
• Children from 6-12 years old;
• In the form of syrup or inhalation Fluimucil.

Dosages and frequency of use can be found in the instructions for use, which are available in each package for the drug.

It is important to know that mucalytics are contraindicated for children under 2 years of age, especially if it is SARS or influenza, as their negative effect on the health of babies has been noted. In exceptional cases, as prescribed by a doctor, Fluimucil can be given in the form of a solution from a feeding bottle or from a spoon. If there is a cough in babies up to a year old, it is recommended to use other methods: drinking plenty of water, humidifying the air in the room, washing the child's nose.

Expectorants

Presented more often with herbal preparations that facilitate expectoration. They have not only expectorant, but also anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties.

Unlike mukalytics, such funds are allowed for use by children of 2 years of age and even infants. When taking these drugs, it is necessary for the child to give more liquid: warm boiled water, homemade unsweetened compote, weak tea or herbal infusions.

These funds include:

• Mukaltin (marshmallow extract) for children from 1 to 5 years. Before use, the tablet is dissolved in a small amount of warm boiled water.
• The syrup can be given to babies from the first months. It is important to follow the dosage.
• Gedeliq - syrup from ivy leaf extract is allowed for use by children from the first days of life.
• Pertussin in the form of syrup is prescribed in cases where it is necessary to dilute sputum that is difficult to separate.

How to quickly cure a cough at home?

Medicines are medicines, but sometimes you can do without them. Moreover, traditional medicine knows a lot of means of how to cure a cough at home without resorting to medicines.

To start, a few tips.

1. Before treating a cough, it is necessary to know its cause.
2. When coughing, it is necessary to give a position to a sick child, in which sputum is more easily coughed up.
3. As a distraction when coughing, you can use warming compresses on the chest, hot foot baths.

Folk remedies and herbal infusions

If there are previously prepared medicinal herbs at home that help with coughing, use them and prepare herbal infusions.

• Infusion from the leaves of Marshmallow officinalis. Brew a tablespoon of chopped herbs with a glass of boiling water, let it brew, strain and give the child a teaspoon 3-4 times a day.
• Infusion of coltsfoot leaves, plantain, currants, wild strawberries, raspberries, linden flowers, rose hips, St. John's wort. 1 st. l. collection brew in a glass of boiling water, let it brew, then strain. Drink warm several times a day.
• Banana. Peel a ripe banana, rub it through a strainer, stir the banana mass in half a glass of hot sweet water. Drink several times a day.
• Kalina with honey. 1 st. mash a spoonful of berries in a glass of warm water, add a teaspoon of honey. Drink three times a day. Reduces hoarseness, cough and fever.
• Milk with soda. Half a teaspoon of baking soda is added to a glass of warm milk. Drink in small sips, preferably at bedtime.
• Turnip juice. Grate the peeled turnip, squeeze the juice out of it, add a spoonful of honey, stir. Before use, heat in a water bath.
• Mix radish or carrot juice with milk or honey drink in the ratio 1:1. Give 1 tbsp. l. several times a day.
• Mogul. Beat egg yolks with sugar or honey. Give for cough on an empty stomach before meals. Be aware that eggs can be contaminated with salmonella, so use tested homemade eggs or wash them thoroughly with soap and water before use.
• A mixture of 2 tbsp. l. butter, 2 fresh egg yolks, 2 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. mix wheat flour thoroughly and take many times a day.
• Dilute fresh birch sap or maple tree sap with warm milk and drink several times a day.
• Cowberry juice mixed with honey and taken several times a day. Helps to expel mucus.

Inhalations

• Oil inhalations with fir, eucalyptus, sage, propolis oil;
• Inhalation with soda or over boiled potatoes;
• With herbal infusion prepared from St. John's wort, sage, plantain leaves, calendula flowers. All ingredients are taken in equal parts. 1 st. a spoonful of herbal collection is poured with a glass of boiling water.

Reflexology

Impact on biologically active points is a good addition in the treatment of respiratory diseases. What can be applied if there is a cough?

• Hot mustard foot baths (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of hot water, water temperature 45º, duration 10-20 minutes).
• Chest massage with honey and pork fat.
• Acupressure massage of the sternum, interscapular and collar zone.
• Mix a tablespoon of honey, pork fat, vodka. Melt in a water bath and rub the back overnight.

Food for cough

It is very useful to relieve bronchospasm when coughing to use liquid milk oatmeal porridge, mashed potatoes cooked with plenty of milk.

A good effect will be from mashed radish, seasoned with a tablespoon of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of sour cream. And for dessert, you can give a lemon, turned through a meat grinder and seasoned with honey to taste.

Dear parents, today I presented you with a selection of medicines and folk methods that help get rid of a child's cough. I hope that with a similar problem you will choose something suitable. But before starting treatment at home, I recommend that you consult with your doctor to find out the cause of the cough. Without finding out the cause, it is dangerous to self-medicate, especially in young children. Be healthy!