The child has a very strong cough than to treat. What to do if a child has a dry cough at night: causes, relief and treatment. Combination cough medicines

Parents who are trying to cure a cold on early stage, are doing the right thing, because a very strong dry cough, sometimes leading to vomiting, may have serious consequences. A cough is a sharp expiration in which the diaphragm and many muscles take an active part. Bronchospasms are necessary for the body, as they clean the respiratory organs and remove infections from them. But coughing can also injure the trachea and bronchi and even cause reflex vomiting, irritating the back of the throat.

TEST: Why are you coughing?

How long have you been coughing?

Is your cough combined with a runny nose and is most noticeable in the morning (after sleep) and in the evening (already in bed)?

Cough can be described as:

You characterize cough as:

Can you say that the cough is deep (in order to understand this, type more air into the lungs and cough)?

During a coughing fit, you feel pain in your abdomen and/or chest (pain in the intercostal muscles and abdominals)?

Do you smoke?

Pay attention to the nature of the mucus that is released during the cough (no matter how much it is: a little or a lot). She is:

Do you feel dull pain in the chest, which does not depend on movements and is of an “internal” nature (as if the focus of pain is in the lung itself)?

Do you suffer from shortness of breath (during physical activity Are you quickly "out of breath" and tired, breathing becomes faster, after which there is a lack of air)?

The reasons

The occurrence of coughing and vomiting in children are for the following reasons:

whooping cough;
foreign particles in the respiratory organs;
acute respiratory viral infections;
inflammation of the nasal mucosa.

A strong dry cough very often begins suddenly at night. The most important thing is to determine exact reason its occurrence and provide emergency assistance.

whooping cough is dangerous infection, which even children vaccinated against whooping cough can get sick. The first signal of the disease is a low temperature, then a dry cough appears. The catarrhal period (the first signs of the disease) lasts about 2 weeks, during this period a stable dry cough worries, which later intensifies and greatly torments at night. Self-medication for this disease is strictly contraindicated. It is necessary to contact the doctors to determine accurate diagnosis and getting recommendations on how to treat a strong cough in a child.

Foreign particles enter respiratory organs Toddlers from 3 months to 2 years are quite common. In this case, immediate assistance is required even before the doctor arrives. A child may develop a severe cough while eating. If the baby accidentally swallowed a small part from the toy, it will instantly appear sudden cough, there will be reddening of the face and failure of breathing. Act quickly and efficiently. First call " ambulance". Lay a child under one year old with his back up and lightly tap on it so that the baby tries to cough up the object. If the child begins to choke, turn him back to you and with a sharp push, create pressure, pushing the object.

With SARS, a strong dry cough with vomiting is a common occurrence, caused by mucus accumulating in the nasopharynx. Do not self-medicate and seek qualified help to a specialist: he will tell you how to get rid of the disease without complications.

What to do with seizures

There are two types of cough: dry, unproductive and wet with sputum. Dry cough appears earlier, but both types of bronchospasm are dangerous without timely and proper treatment.

How to stop a bad cough in a child:

The baby should drink plenty of fluids. Use all possible ways to drink small children (new dishes, through a straw, “for mom and dad”, etc.), diversify drinking according to taste preferences. Juices, fruit drinks, compotes and even ordinary water will do.
Ventilate and humidify the air in the room. The baby's throat especially needs it during illness. A humidifier will be the ideal device for this purpose. If not available, place damp laundry near heat sources.
With a strong night cough, change the position of the child from side to side. Sleeping on your back is not recommended due to possible gag reflexes.
Use Recipes traditional medicine. They are safe for small children, easy to prepare, affordable and quite effective in action.

All of these methods help relieve severe coughing fits, but do not cure the disease itself. Be sure to contact the clinic, your doctor will establish an accurate diagnosis.

The child coughs very much - what to do

Pay Special attention for child nutrition. High-quality non-carbonated mineral water will help restore the water-alkaline balance. During the period of illness, cereals from cereal crops They are good for clearing the throat. The child's diet should include enough milk in a porridge or watery mashed potatoes. During illness, the child's body especially needs vitamins, so vegetable salads will be very useful. Do not give the patient too sweet and strong tonic drinks. concentrated juices and strong tea complicate the excretion of mucus. It is better to give preference to cocoa with milk, a variety of teas and herbal decoctions. Incredibly effective freshly prepared natural juices with the addition of honey. Too sweet, spicy, salty, dry and solid food can greatly complicate the course of the disease and adversely affect the health of the baby.

If the illness is microbial in origin, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It's difficult for child's body chemicals, but sometimes you can't do without them. Be sure to add additional vitamins to the child's diet in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits and dairy products.

Massage

Massage is not only pleasant procedure, which will help the child relax and relieve stress during illness, but will not allow sputum to stagnate in the bronchi, will bring it out.

In the morning, place your baby on the massage table or sit on the edge bed and put the baby in your arms with your back up. The head should be lower than the buttocks. With light massage movements, tap along the entire back of the child. During sleep, a lot of sputum accumulates in the respiratory organs of the baby, and massage treatments will help her to come out, greatly facilitating breathing. The child may cough during the massage.

In the evening, lay the baby back up, rub it with warm melted honey, and sprinkle the skin with fine salt on top. With very gentle circular movements, massage the whole body until the salt is completely dissolved. The procedure with honey scrub should last about 5 minutes. Your hands will stick strongly to the baby's skin, and the honey will turn white. At the end of the procedure, wipe the baby with a damp warm towel, then wipe the skin dry and put the baby to bed.

Medications

Rubbing

Rubbing will help get rid of a strong cough. This method successfully practiced for children older than 6 months. When using this method of treatment, observe the following rules:

when treating babies in the first months of life, consultation with a pediatrician is required;
it is not recommended to use rubbing with camphor oil for children under 1 year old;
rubbing is most effective at bedtime;
during the procedure, do not use the region of the heart and papillae;
lungs circular motions must be performed clockwise;
rubbing is contraindicated in high temperature;
after the procedure, wrap the child and put warm socks on him.

Pharmacies are ready to offer a large selection of rubbing agents. Traditional medicine also has many time-tested recipes. The purpose of rubbing is to warm the respiratory organs. For this, animal fats, propolis, various vegetable oils and vodka.

Bear fat strengthens immune system prevents the development of the disease. You need to rub it vigorously, covering the body after the procedure with a natural cloth.

Kurdyuk has a warming effect. It is recommended for children from 12 months of age as one of the treatments for dry, prolonged cough. For rubbing, you need to melt a little fat and spread on the back and chest. It is necessary to cover the lubricated areas of the body with polyethylene, put on pajamas for the patient and cover well with a blanket.

Goose fat is a popular phlegm-removing agent that is often used for coughing fits. 150 g of fat should be mixed with 2 tablespoons of vodka and rubbed with a mixture of neck and chest. After that, you should cover the rubbing area with a cloth and warm the patient.

Pork fat is used to rub the back, chest and feet for colds and prolonged coughs.

Interior fat - natural product, which consists of unique components not found in other fats. It is melted in the oven or steamed to a warm, pleasant temperature and a runny consistency. Store the product tightly closed in the refrigerator.

Water procedures

A pleasant method of treatment with which you can warm up the respiratory organs, relax the body and strengthen the immune system. For baths, decoctions of medicinal herbs are used - coltsfoot, forest mint, eucalyptus, chamomile, etc. You can mix different types of herbs.

This method cannot be treated at elevated body temperature. The water should not be scalding (around 37°C). The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes, while the water is warm. Avoid hypothermia.

Do nice bath not difficult. Pour about 400 g of dry herbs with boiling water and leave for an hour to infuse. Strain the decoction and pour into a bath of warm water.

aromatherapy

Aromatic oils have a mass useful properties and have a general strengthening effect on the body.

Benefits of aromatic oils:

are used to warm the respiratory system during inhalation;
an excellent warming agent for massages and rubbing;
have an antimicrobial effect when sprayed.

Contraindications: allergies

To disinfect a room of 15 square meters, place a bowl of hot water (70-80°C) and add 4 drops eucalyptus oil. Close the room for 30 minutes. This tool perfectly helps to get rid of viruses and bacteria that come from a sick person and spread around.

Chamomile and lavender oils are well suited for babies. For inhalation, you need 1 drop of oil per 1 liter hot water. To avoid burns, do not use boiling water.

For children from 6 years old, combinations of oils are very effective. Add 1 drop of chamomile and eucalyptus oil to 1 liter of hot water. Encourage your child to close their eyes and breathe through their mouth.

For massages, a mixture of 1 tablespoon of warm olive oil with 1 drop of tea tree oil, the same amount of eucalyptus and lavender is wonderful.

At productive cough mucus removal will be accelerated by inhalation with 1 drop of tea tree oil and 1 drop of eucalyptus per 1 liter of water. Rubbing with the mixture in the same proportions is effective for dry cough.

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 strong secretion sputum, begin treatment 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.

A child can cough for the most various reasons therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to visit a doctor and find out the nature of the disease

How do children get cough?

The child begins to cough violently different 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

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

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

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.
Wet (or productive) cough. His salient feature- the presence of sputum. Cough in children and adults is accompanied by wheezing, chest pain, a feeling of heaviness.
Strong paroxysmal. Coughing 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 does not stand out from the lungs, this is a dry type. It is caused by viral and bacterial origin. 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.

Dry cough cannot be cured instantly, traditional medicine or pharmaceutical preparations

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 products, 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:

there are sudden attacks barking cough(we recommend reading:);
cough turns into chronic form 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.

Cough is treated with syrups and tablets, which is better - depends on the age of the baby and the etiology of the disease

If a child is 3 years old, his body cannot physically cope with the accumulated mucus in the airways. He needs help 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:

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.
Thermopsol. The drug perfectly eliminates dry cough, easy to use.
Bromhexine. The remedy is prescribed to combat wet cough, as it enhances the removal of sputum.
Geromyrtol. The drug is designed specifically for patients suffering from severe coughing attacks during 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 old.

Treatment of cough with traditional medicine

methods that it offers official medicine, is 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.

Positive effect when coughing, it is observed from inhalation with essential oils or with potatoes

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:). Strong healing effect have thyme and thyme, which are included in the preparations Eukabal, Bronipret, Stoptussin, Pertussin (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.

Radish with honey - a vitaminizing agent with expectorant, anti-inflammatory and soothing effects

Drainage massage

Cough is also fought with the help of physiotherapy procedures. One of these - 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.
Give expectorant that enhances mucus secretion.

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.

Cough becomes an unpleasant and debilitating symptom that accompanies many childhood diseases. By itself, it is not something terrible. This is just a sign that reports problems in the human respiratory system. It is more common with children than adults. If the child has a strong cough, what to do - the doctor will tell, to whom the parents must contact.

Depending on what provoked such a reaction of the respiratory system, a certain scheme of therapeutic measures is selected.

Coughing is the forced exhalation of air from the lower respiratory tract. With it arises ringing sound caused by constriction of the larynx and the effect of the flow on the vocal cords.

The symptom may be chronic or acute, dry or wet, productive or spastic. The main role in its characterization is played by the causes of occurrence. A severe cough in a child can be like natural reaction to external stimuli, and the consequence of a pathological process or the norm.

Physiological cough

The symptom of this origin is distinguished by its short duration, the absence additional manifestations, with a noticeable periodicity. Physiological cough in children can be caused by various reasons.

While eating, part of the food or drink gets into Airways. In this case, the baby tries to get rid of the irritant with a natural reaction. Often given reason occurs in infants, as babies are forced to eat in horizontal position They can vomit and swallow air.
With prolonged crying, the child dries up in the throat, salivary glands begin to secrete more viscous mucus. This, in turn, provokes an attack of coughing of a physiological nature.
Morning children's cough, not recurring during the day, is the norm and does not require treatment. In this way, the kids try to clear the airways of mucus and dust that accumulates overnight.
Physiological cough in children of the first two years of life may occur during teething. At this time, salivation becomes more abundant, which provokes a natural reaction.

These causes usually do not require treatment. The symptom occurs intermittently, after which it goes away on its own. None unpleasant consequences Or he is not in danger.

Pathological conditions

The situation is different when the reflex is caused by some disease. Pathological cough is characterized frequent appearance. It is present during the day and at night. This symptom is often accompanied by additional anxiety in the child.: feeling unwell, fever, runny nose, nausea and other signs of illness.

Infections are the most common provocateurs. They can be viral, fungal or have bacterial nature origin. Infectious cough occurs with bronchitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and other diseases.
Worm infestations cause long lingering symptom, having no additional features illness. Pathologies such as ascariasis, toxociasis and others can be detected with the help of simple laboratory tests.
Heart diseases and circulatory disorders can cause a reaction that will be accompanied by shortness of breath and pain in the sternum. Heart defects, circulatory stasis can be established by a specialist during a complete diagnosis.

Pathological causes of children's cough can be: neoplasms, enlarged adenoids, neurological abnormalities, congenital anomalies, cystic fibrosis. It is almost impossible to independently establish what caused this symptom.

External provocateurs

A strong dry cough in a child is often a consequence of irritation of the respiratory tract. external factors. Such a reaction can be inhalation of polluted air, dust, tobacco smoke, exhaust gases. A temperature imbalance (very hot or cold air) is capable of provoking an attack..

To some extent, heating and cooling appliances can be called cough provocateurs, as they affect the humidity of the air and change its temperature. Allergic reaction, hay fever, bronchial asthma - this is what can be the cause of cough, which is caused by external provocateurs.

First aid for seizures

With a spastic cough, the child needs urgent help. Often the attack is accompanied by vomiting. If a similar symptom occurs in a child of the first year of life and is accompanied by suffocation, then the cause may be the ingress of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. It is important for parents not to get confused and urgently call an ambulance. You will need to contact an ambulance in the following cases:

anxiety is accompanied by wheezing and pallor of the skin;
the spasm appeared suddenly and does not go away within 5-10 minutes;
during exhalation, foam, mucus or blood is released.

If all the described symptoms are not found in your child, then you can try to help with an attack yourself..

Give the child a drink: water, tea, juice, compote. Any liquid will soften the larynx. It is important that the drink is not hot or cold.
Release your chest. If the baby is warmly dressed or something is squeezing the neck with the sternum, then this must be urgently eliminated. In this way, you will facilitate the supply of oxygen to the lungs.
Ventilate the room. Perhaps the attack began due to dry, dusty or stale air. Open windows, but do not create a draft.
If the baby is sick with asthma, then you should always have on hand inhalants that are used during attacks.

Treatment

If there is a strong cough in a child, how to treat it depends on the cause of the symptom. As already mentioned, such an unpleasant reaction is just a consequence of pathology or external stimulus. When the tones are eliminated, the cough will disappear on its own.. Additionally, doctors recommend using methods to combat the cough itself, which come down to the use of medicines, physiotherapy, organization correct mode and conditions.

Synthetic and herbal medicines

Modern pharmacology offers consumers a wide variety of cough remedies. Patients ask themselves: how do drugs treat this very cough? The answer will be different for each drug.

Some drugs have an expectorant effect, helping the child to cough faster. They are essential for wet coughs. (Gerbion, Codelac Phyto, Bronchicum, Ascoril).
Other agents help thin the sputum. They are needed by a baby with a dry cough, as well as if there are wheezing in the bronchi. Education thick mucus prevents coughing, and sputum thinners will make it lighter and thinner. (ACC, Ambrobene, Lazolvan, Fluimucil, Mucodin, Bromhexine).
Bronchoconstrictor drugs help with spasmodic cough. They relieve spasm, expand the lumen of the bronchi. (Hexoprenaline, Salbutamol, Terbutaline, Berodual).
Anti-inflammatory drugs accelerate the recovery of damaged tissue of the respiratory system, and also prevent further development inflammatory process. ( Breast fee, Erespal, Bronchipret, Rotokan).
Antitussive drugs for children affect the work of the respiratory center. They completely block the reflex. Such medicines are necessary for dry cough, not accompanied by wheezing in the bronchi. (Sinekod, Codelac NEO, Bronholitin, Linax, Libeksin).

Rubbing

If a child has a strong cough with fever, then rubbing it is strictly prohibited. Such manipulations can contribute to an additional increase in the level of the thermometer.. In other cases, this method is welcome even in small children. Rubbing helps to warm up, improve sputum discharge. It is important to know what exactly you need to rub the child in each case.

Medicinal ointments (Dr. Mom, Vicks, Pulmeks baby, Dr. Tice) - contain menthol or eucalyptus. They have a distracting effect, relieve coughing, relieve inflammation and improve breathing. Many drugs are prohibited for children under 2 years of age.
Camphor oil is designed to warm, eliminate inflammatory process. It is used to rub the sternum and back. It is important not to use for children under one year old, as camphor can adversely affect the functioning of the heart.
Fats (badger, goat) - contain mass useful substances. You can rub them on the feet, back, neck or chest. Such natural remedies are used to treat dry and wet cough in children of all ages.

Massage to relieve cough

If you have a severe cough with difficulty passing sputum, you can help your child with massage.. Manipulation should be performed during the recovery period. Be sure to consult your doctor before having a massage.

Put the baby down chest on your knees.
With the edge of the palm, gently tap on the area of the bronchi, as if directing upward movements.
Replace tapping with stroking movements.
Perform the procedure 2-3 times a day.

Water procedures

It is forbidden to bathe a child only if the cough is accompanied by hyperthermia.

Often, parents are interested in the issue of bathing coughing children. It is believed that until complete recovery can not be carried out water procedures. However, this judgment is considered erroneous.

Under normal temperature indicators bathing children is not only possible, but also necessary.

Coughing in a child always causes alertness and anxiety of parents. What caused the malaise, how and with what to treat the baby - such questions, probably, visited each of us more than once. Some use traditional medicine recipes, others rush to the pharmacy for miracle cure. Who is right and how pediatricians advise treating cough in children, we will consider below.

Varieties of cough

Many parents know firsthand how difficult it is to get rid of ailments, especially in children. early age. After all, most medications are prohibited for young patients, and folk remedies often cause allergies. Therefore, the pediatrician should deal with the selection of treatment methods.

Only a doctor can deliver correct diagnosis, and, depending on the age of the child and the type of cough, prescribe essential medicine. But parents also have a lot of responsibility. To facilitate understanding of the pathological process, we will consider the main types of cough in children, find out why they are dangerous and talk about treatment methods.

Physiological cough

Any person periodically has a need to clear the respiratory tract from dust and accumulated sputum. it normal reaction aimed at protecting the body from foreign bodies and pathogenic bacteria.

Thus, a natural cough in a child is not a pathology and does not require treatment. It occurs most often in the morning and does not cause significant discomfort to the baby.

Dry or dusty air in the room can provoke a similar reflex. This problem is especially relevant during the heating season.

Pathological cough

Most often, children are worried about just such a cough. Unlike natural, it manifests itself in a very diverse way and depends on the nature of the pathogen. In most cases this various diseases respiratory tract:

laryngitis and pharyngitis;
tracheitis;
bronchitis;
pneumonia;
ARI and SARS;
acute and chronic tonsillitis;
flu;
tuberculosis.

In general, the causes of cough in children are diverse and far from always have an infectious nature. A similar reflex can be caused by a narrowing of the bronchi, which is specific for bronchial asthma, or a foreign body entering the respiratory system. In this case, the cough develops unexpectedly and is choking in nature. The child loses his voice and has difficulty breathing.

Malaise allergic nature has other symptoms - cough occurs without apparent reason and is not accompanied by symptoms of a cold. After removing the allergen, the baby's condition returns to normal.

With different pathological conditions cough manifests itself differently. It can be productive and dry, barking or harsh, deaf, paroxysmal and spasmodic.

Dry cough

The most obsessive cough in a child. It usually appears at the beginning of the disease and causes a lot of problems for both parents and the baby. Sputum does not separate with it, so the process of coughing up becomes long and painful. At improper treatment turns into a chronic form.

Spasmodic reflex

If a child coughs against a background of bronchial spasm, it is quite possible to develop asthma. At the same time, there is no sputum, the baby suffocates and wheezes. The malaise is paroxysmal in nature and requires mandatory medical supervision.

Croupy cough (false croup)

Most dangerous view ailments, especially for young children. In this category of children, the anatomical and physiological structure of the larynx predisposes to the development of croup. Even the slightest inflammation can cause severe swelling and suffocation. Therefore, if a child develops a hard, barking cough, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

With the development of a barking cough, the baby must be shown to the doctor

The following symptoms will help distinguish false croup from other ENT diseases:

hoarseness of voice, especially after crying;
swelling of the larynx;
shortness of breath, severe difficulty breathing;
blanching or blueing of the skin;
possible loss of consciousness.

If the child only wheezes, but does not cough and breathes heavily, these are also signs of an incipient false croup.

In this case, you should not engage in amateur activities and try to help the baby with folk remedies. You will only waste precious time. Laryngeal edema is very dangerous and should be treated by a doctor.

Wet (productive) cough

It can be said perfect option development of the disease. Such a cough, as a rule, appears at the end of the disease, does not cause anxiety and is quickly cured. With its help, the lungs and bronchi are freed from sputum and residues pathogenic microorganisms. How to treat a children's cough of this nature, consider below.

Whooping cough

This is a common infectious disease that most often affects children. preschool age. At an early stage of the pathology, whooping cough is difficult to distinguish from the usual one. But after a few days it becomes paroxysmal and spasmodic, ending in violent vomiting.

Whooping cough is dangerous for its complications, so if a child has coughing fits, the rhythm of breathing goes astray, cyanosis of the skin appears, medical help is needed. Young children are subject to compulsory hospitalization.

The disease is especially severe in children under 2 years of age. innate immunity to this illness is not present, but after recovery protection remains forever.

Other types of cough

It is quite difficult to independently determine the disease by the nature of the cough. For example, if a child coughs while sleeping, this may be a symptom of both respiratory disease, and asthma or allergies or a consequence of dry indoor air.

Coughing during sleep can be a symptom of many pathologies.

Snot can also provoke a reflex reaction. flowing down back wall nasopharynx and irritating the mucous membrane, they easily activate cough receptors. Especially often a cough from a runny nose occurs in a child with rhinopharyngitis.

summon similar symptom maybe tracheitis. This infectious disease develops as a complication of pharyngitis, laryngitis or rhinitis. It is characterized by a dull cough in a child, especially pronounced at night and in the morning or arising from a sharp breath.

Such a variety of forms of malaise should encourage parents to pay more attention to such symptoms and take necessary measures. So, what to do if the child coughs?

Treatment

To begin with, it should be noted that home therapy is possible only in relation to dry and wet cough. All other types of pathological reflex require the help of a doctor.

maintain an optimal microclimate in the room where the sick child is located;
as much as possible to give the baby warm, unsweetened drinks;
if there is no temperature, and well-being allows, allow the child to move more.

It is undesirable to use essential oils in the treatment without the knowledge of the pediatrician. Concentrates can cause bronchospasm, especially dangerous for young children.

Medications

Pharmacy medicines will help to quickly cure a cough in a child. They are prescribed depending on the type of ailment - if sputum is present, then it is forbidden to take antitussives. With a dry cough, on the contrary, it is desirable to use this therapy option to the maximum.

The choice of medications for coughing

Modern medicines are available in different forms: tablets, sprays, syrups, drops and lozenges for sucking, powders for preparing solutions. Usually used to treat a child liquid forms medicines. They are more comfortable and easy to drink.

Expectorants

This group of drugs is designed to remove sputum from the respiratory tract. Most of the expectorants are made on the basis of plant extracts, so the drugs are relatively safe and drink well.

Most often, a wet cough for children is prescribed: with plantain or primrose; Evkabal, Prospan, Alteyka, Prospan, Flavamed, Ambroxol, Ambrobene.

Each of these funds has its own age restrictions, contraindications and adverse reactions. For example, Evkabal and Prospan are allowed to prescribe to babies from 6 months. Other drugs are recommended to be used only after 2 years. Therefore, if a child has a cough with sputum, it is better to entrust the choice of medicine to the doctor.

Mucolytics

To thin the viscous and thick mucus that clogged the airways, the following medications are prescribed for small patients:

Carbocysteine;
Bronchobos;
Fluditec;
Flavamed.

These remedies help to relieve a child's cough, make him productive and help to eliminate sputum.

Fluditec is prescribed for children to thin and evacuate thick, viscous secretions.

Antitussives

These drugs help to suppress cough reflex and soothe a cough in a child. There are several types of antitussives:

narcotic drugs - Codeine, Ethylmorphine. Used only under medical supervision. Often addictive and adverse reactions. Rarely used in the treatment of children;
non-narcotic medicines - Oxeladin, Sinekod, Glaucin, Butamirat. The most efficient and safe drugs, therefore, they are taken much more often;
means of peripheral exposure - Prenoxindiazine. The result of its application is significantly lower. The medicine is not able to stop a coughing fit and is rarely prescribed.

The simultaneous use of antitussive and expectorant drugs is prohibited.

In addition, it is dangerous to use antitussive medicines with a wet cough. This can cause accumulation of mucus in the airways and the development of pneumonia.

Sinekod and similar drugs are prescribed for children with a dry cough

Bronchodilators

These drugs help eliminate bronchospasm and make breathing easier. Medications such as Eufillin, Broncholitin Syrup, or Theophylline are prescribed for coughs if a child has been diagnosed with asthma or progressive lung disease (COPD).

Local funds

Local preparations include warming ointments, mustard plasters and patches. The latter are different types and have contraindications, in particular, are prohibited for young children.

The use of warming rubbing Eucabal or Pulmex Baby will help alleviate the cough in a child. They can be used from 6 months of age. The balm of Dr. Theiss is allowed from 2 years.

Babies after 3 years can be rubbed with camphor ointments, Vicks Active balm, Helpex Effect ointment or Doctor MOM.

Folk remedies

In addition to medicines pediatricians often recommend alternative ways therapy. Alternative medicine helps to cure a cough in a child quickly and safely.

However, despite the effectiveness and harmlessness folk remedies, their use must be coordinated with the pediatrician. Young children are often allergic to natural ingredients.

The following cough recipes for children are the most popular:

black radish juice with sugar or honey;
a drink made from fresh or frozen viburnum berries is recommended to drink instead of tea;
anise decoction with honey is perfect for treating babies;
fresh carrot juice with sugar can be taken at the time of a coughing attack, 1 tsp;
onion gruel with honey will be useful for bronchitis and tracheitis;
cure a child with dry, painful cough a mixture of lemon, honey and medical glycerin will help.

Honey can cause unwanted reaction therefore it is not recommended to give it to children suffering from allergies

At huge number folk recipes, the most widespread and favorite is still hot milk with honey and other additives. The drink has excellent emollient and expectorant properties. From such delicious medicine no kid will refuse.

Inhalations

You can quickly cure a cough in a child with the help of inhalation. For procedures, it is better to purchase a nebulizer. This convenient and safe device will protect the baby from burns. With its help, sessions are conducted with medicinal herbs, and with pharmaceutical liquids. Alkaline acids have a good expectorant effect. mineral water and physiological solution.

Inhalations are contraindicated in children under 2 years of age due to the risk of developing bronchospasm.

Of the medicines for inhalation, the most commonly used:

mucolytics - Lazolvan, Pertussin, Fluimucil;
Bronchodilators - Berovent;
natural medicines - tincture of eucalyptus, propolis or plantain, Rotokan;
antitussive agent Tussamag;
glucocorticosteroids - Pulmicort or Dexamethasone.

Inhalations are carried out 2 hours before meals for no more than 10 minutes. The therapeutic course consists of 8-10 sessions.

The procedure moisturizes and soothes irritated mucous membranes, promotes deep penetration and rapid absorption of medicinal substances.

For inhalation with herbs, plants with an antitussive and expectorant effect are chosen: coltsfoot, plantain, oregano, pine buds, eucalyptus, licorice.

Compresses

Another effective remedy, which can quickly cure a child's cough. Compresses are very different - dry and wet, oil, honey, vodka and cottage cheese. They are applied to the chest and back, avoiding the heart area. The baby is wrapped in a woolen thing and covered with a blanket.

The following compresses are the most effective and safe:

potato. In a hot puree, add a spoonful of alcohol, turpentine and sunflower oil. The resulting mass is applied to gauze and applied for 2–2.5 hours. After the procedure, it is better not to wash off the compress, but to wipe the skin with a damp towel;
oil. A piece of gauze or cotton fabric is soaked in hot oil and squeezed, covered with waxed paper (not polyethylene) on top, kept for at least 3 hours;
acetic. Apple concentrate is diluted with hot water and honey is added to the solution. The gauze is impregnated with the mixture and applied to the bronchial area. Leave for 20-30 minutes.

The compress can not be applied to the heart area

It is not recommended to do compresses for skin lesions, elevated body temperature and infants. Alcohol application is contraindicated in children under 3 years of age and those suffering from thyroid pathology. It is undesirable to use honey for treatment if the child is prone to allergies.

Another old way to fight a cough is to rub your baby's chest and back. interior fat. The bear and badger product is especially good. It is advisable to do this procedure at night.

mustard plasters

With a painful cough, mustard plasters will be useful. They have a warming effect, promote a rush of blood and increase the discharge of mucus. It is recommended to put mustard plasters through a cloth or gauze so as not to burn the delicate skin of the baby.

For children under 3 years old, it is better to make a mustard wrap. This more gentle procedure has the same effect as setting mustard plasters.

Knowing how to treat a cough in a child, you can quickly eliminate this unpleasant symptom yourself. Properly selected medical preparations and traditional medicine will improve the baby's well-being and speed up recovery. However, if the child has been feeling unwell for several weeks, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Cough is one of the first signs of illness. it defensive reaction body, contributing to the cleansing of the bronchi and trachea. There are several types of cough, as well as several reasons for its occurrence.

Common causes of cough in children

Cough in children and adults is caused by the same reasons. When something enters our respiratory tract, it tries to get rid of it with a sharp exhalation. It can be sputum, pollen, swelling of the mucous membranes, or even pathological cough syndrome.

Measles causes cough

Most common causes coughing is as follows:

, which actively multiply in the body and depress the immunity of the child. Symptoms of the disease may weaken, and after a while, intensify again. Coughing attacks appear more often, they are more pronounced and practically do not stop. Most often it is a cold viral disease, but measles, tonsillitis or whooping cough cannot be ruled out.
Bacterial infections, accompanied not only by cough, but also copious secretions from the nose.
Allergic reactions caused by the action of allergens. Such a cough begins suddenly, the attacks often intensify at night. Cough is often accompanied by sneezing and itching.
Foreign objects stuck in the throat. The curiosity of babies is boundless and sometimes it leads to bad consequences. While playing, children can put a ball, a bean, a small toy, and so on into their mouths. From the outside, it will look like a sharp attack of dry cough.

Only a correct diagnosis will help to effectively cure a cough. Unfortunately, even experienced doctor can't always do it on the first try. To help the doctor and understand how to treat the child if he coughs heavily, parents should pay attention to the sound that the child makes when coughing. This will help determine the type of cough.

Varieties of cough

Coughing can be different: dry or wet, hoarse or sonorous, suffocating. By the nature of the cough, the doctor will be able to put provisional diagnosis and start treatment. In children under one year old, cough is most often caused by various viruses and.

The child coughs heavily: what should parents do?

It is best to immediately show the child to the doctor. When we cough, the respiratory muscles contract and expel phlegm. In children under 3 years of age, these muscles are not developed, so they cannot cough up. The accumulated mucus leads to the fact that viruses settle in the lungs, this increases the risk of complications.

How to treat a strong cough: traditional methods

Self-treatment does not always lead to positive result. Self-treatment of young children is especially dangerous. An experienced specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.

Several doctors should examine the child: ENT, therapist and gastroenterologist. The contents can enter the esophagus and pharynx at night.

There is a range effective means to have at home. The most popular of them are Mukaltin, Bromhexine, children's Lazolvan and anise drops. You can use them only after the permission of the doctor. He must also indicate the duration of treatment and a single dose.

Medicines are selected based on the type of cough. Dry cough must be quickly transformed into a wet one. For this, antitussive drugs are used, often alkaline drink and warm compresses. In cases of wet cough, mucolytics are used, which thin the sputum and help to remove it from the nasopharynx.

In the absence of temperature, various physiotherapeutic procedures with drugs (electrophoresis, inhalations) and magnetotherapy are prescribed.

Psychogenic cough requires consultation with a psychologist. The cause of the disease is mental and emotional overload. What to do if the child coughs heavily, and it is not known how to treat, the pills are powerless here. A comfortable emotional environment in the family will help get rid of a cough. Loads should alternate with periods of rest. During seizures, you need to distract the child with a conversation, a book or a movie.

The allergic nature of the disease is not immediately detected. An allergen can be any substance that has entered the body, but most often it is: dust, wool, synthetic detergents, some . Such a cough is the easiest to treat: it is enough to find out the cause of the allergy and protect the child from it.

Mustard foot baths, mustard plasters, cupping, massage and rubbing are effective if the child does not have a fever. When the temperature rises above 37.5, these methods are contraindicated.

plentiful drink ( herbal infusions, milk, tea) contribute to replenishment water balance and help expel mucus. Drinking with milk is not recommended if the baby has severe runny nose because milk increases mucus secretion.

The most popular and effective "drinks" are: warm water with honey, lemon juice with honey, black radish juice with sugar, aloe with lemon and honey. Tea with raspberry jam has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect.

If the cough is caused by an allergy, you can understand this without consulting a doctor. Attentive parents notice that before a coughing fit, the child was in contact with certain objects.

Your child coughs heavily, how to treat the disease effectively will tell good specialist so don't delay your visit to the doctor. Timely treatment guarantees the recovery of the child in short time with minimal complications. As additional funds you can use recipes that our grandmothers successfully used. Herbal infusions, honey, jam, etc. will help alleviate the condition of the child, and most importantly, all the ingredients can be found in almost any kitchen.

Aug 4, 2016 Violetta Doctor