Nocturnal allergic cough in a child. How to distinguish an allergic cough in a child from a cold. Treatment for schoolchildren

A cough is an attempt by the body to get rid of an irritant in the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or sinuses. The most common cause of such a response is associated with viral diseases, but often cough is due to allergies.

If parents observe suspicions of an allergic cough in a child, what to treat, what to look for and how to recognize the allergen are issues that need to be addressed first. Delay can lead to the fact that a harmless reaction to pollen, wool or food will result in prolonged asthma.

Receptors in the larynx, inside of the nose and bronchi capture any foreign body or substance and transmit information about it to the brain. The immune system then releases inflammatory mediators. After that, a normal reflex reaction occurs - the lungs clear the airways from the irritant with a strong forced exhalation.

But if in the case of sputum or a liquid that accidentally got into the trachea, the cough copes, then it does not deal with allergens. Each breath draws millions of molecules into the bronchi into the bronchi, which the immune system sometimes determines as dangerous, so allergic cough in children will continue until the child is moved to an environment without an irritant or given medication to drink.

Hypersensitivity and, as a result, cough, cause:

• pollen of flowering trees, shrubs, grasses (especially Asteraceae);
• dust and dust mites;
• cat or dog hair;
• mold spores;
• synthetic substances (latex, detergents, nickel);
• food products;
• wasp or bee venom;
• medicines (usually antibiotics).

Even if the irritant does not directly affect the respiratory system (for example, latex), an allergic cough attack can occur. This is due to IgE and E antibodies, which initiate not only coughing, but also redness, runny nose, stinging eyes, rashes, etc. In healthy people, negative reactions are not observed, because the immunity of an allergic person is pathological.

How to recognize an allergic cough

Dry allergic cough is often confused with the initial stage of whooping cough. The main difference from infection is that attacks in 8 out of 10 cases are accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, suffocation. Sputum is not excreted at all or comes out with difficulty. It is not formed due to an immune response, so a wet, squelching cough is almost never observed. The general condition and well-being of the child remains normal, the body temperature does not rise. A runny nose, stuffy nose and itching can give noticeable discomfort.

In addition to difficult breathing, symptoms of an allergic cough in children may include:

• seizures are sudden;
• barking dry cough often comes on at night;
• elevated temperature is not observed;
• in addition to a nocturnal cough, it manifests itself immediately after waking up and in the evening before going to bed;
• cough may not stop for several weeks, go into a sluggish state and resume with renewed vigor.

One or more of these symptoms indicate that the baby is suffering from hypersensitivity. It can manifest itself at any time, be episodic due to the possible change of locations. Also, in addition to coughing, the irritant sometimes causes a runny nose, frequent sneezing, pain in the eyes, and a sore throat.

Try to determine if the child starts coughing after sleeping on a down pillow, contact with a pet, or when wearing clothes from an old closet, eating a certain food, etc. If you notice such a pattern, limit contact with a possible irritant. So you will help the doctor to make the correct diagnosis of where the child has a cough, and make life easier for the baby if the correct treatment is prescribed. In addition to oral information, the pediatrician will prescribe the following tests:

• general blood analysis;
• blood chemistry;
• analysis for the concentration of IgE in the blood;
• chest x-ray (rare);
• sputum smear;
• analysis for allergens (enzymatic immunoassay).

Prevention of allergic cough in a child

Prevention is easy to do if you know what is causing the defensive reaction. If it is dust, ventilate the apartment at least three times a week, and even better - daily. Thoroughly clean pillows, blanket sofas, carpets from dust.

Pay special attention to the pillow, because at night the child can lie face down on it and inhale the old dust. To avoid this, pillowcases should always be clean, and the pillow itself should not be downy.

If the baby reacts to the fur of a pet, the latter should be taken to friends or parents at least for the time of active molting (spring-summer and late autumn). If it is impossible to prevent children from contacting a cat or dog, comb your four-legged pet outside the apartment and wash it 3-4 times a week. Also, due to a decrease in hormonal levels, pets shed 60-80% less if they are spayed.

With hypersensitivity to a certain type of food, you need to remove it from the diet altogether. It is important not to confuse food allergies with gastrointestinal disorders from the difficulty of digesting it. For example, up to 20% of children are unable to fully digest lactose due to a reduced concentration of the lactase enzyme.

When consuming dairy products, people with incompatibilities get symptoms that are similar to allergic reactions, but they are not. In addition to the incompatibility of products with lactose, some symptoms appear when the level of acidity of gastric juice is below normal.

It will not be possible to completely protect the child, but you are able to minimize the number of contacts with irritants: the fewer such “meetings”, the less likely the development of complications. Prevention also includes folk remedies:

1. Rinse the nasopharynx with salt water or plain clean warm water.
2. Syrup of garlic, honey or sugar, infused for 2-3 weeks - take a tablespoon once a day.
3. 10 bay leaves are boiled in a liter of water, then a tablespoon of honey and soda is added.

Varieties of cough

Cough with allergies in children is dry and wet. Dry occurs most often, it is systematic, often begins at night or early in the morning. Barking heavy cough passes within 10-15 minutes to several hours. In advanced cases, hypersensitivity continues for days.

If the cough is too strong, it results in inflammation of the mucous membrane, pain and sore throat, loss of voice. To quickly relieve the effects of an attack, give your baby a good antihistamine. Such drugs keep the effect up to 12-24 hours, depending on the half-life. To reduce inflammation of the throat and sore throat, make tea, ask the child to gargle with warm water, spray with a nebulizer. This will moisten the organs of the larynx, hardened from constant “tearing”.

Wet cough is rare. Sputum looks transparent, without pus. It is called vitreous. It is formed after a long attack, when the mucous membrane of the throat becomes inflamed to such an extent that the salivary secretion thickens when released and accumulates like a “lump in the throat” during sharp forced exhalations, while this does not pose a danger. If a cough on the background of hypersensitivity occurred during a viral illness, in addition to antihistamines, mucolytic agents that thin sputum should be taken.

Cough in babies

In a newborn child or infant up to 6-12 months, allergic reactions in the vast majority of cases occur due to artificial feeding. If the baby is not fed baby food, but hypersensitivity in the form of coughing or redness still manifests itself, the nursing mother should review her diet and remove foods from it that can cause an allergic reaction. Give up sesame, nuts, milk, legumes, honey, citrus and cereal products for a while.

In the hospital, hypersensitivity of infants is diagnosed by external examination and interviewing parents. In severe cases, a blood test is taken and an ultrasound diagnosis of the abdominal cavity is done. If one of the parents has an active form of allergies or asthma, the chance that a baby under a year old will have similar health problems is 30-80% higher than children from healthy people.

The immunity of the crumbs is not able to withstand external threats, so IgE and E proteins react to everything. Treating a newborn on your own is fraught. Contact the clinic, because the selection of drugs for the treatment of young children is a complex and responsible process. In no case do not self-medicate if you do not know what to do.

What to do if a child coughs due to allergies

The first thing to do with an allergic cough is to limit the baby's contact with the irritant. If it's a dust mite, take your child to the park for some fresh air. If pollen sensitivity, limit outdoor play during active flowering and replace indoor plants with ornamentals or conifers.

If the allergen is unknown, you need to undergo treatment at the clinic. In addition to the tests listed above, agree to skin tests - a scraper of the upper part of the dermis and applying the alleged allergen in its place. Accurate identification of the irritant will effectively deal with the manifestations of allergies.

How to relieve coughing attacks in a child:

• taking antihistamines, cortisone, theophylline, or sodium cromoglycate. For children, in the vast majority of cases, only antihistamines are used because they are the safest;
• installation of air purifiers with carbon filters in the house;
• vaccination. The introduction of an immune stimulant IgG is an extreme measure that is prescribed exclusively by doctors. Appropriate if no other treatment is working;
• taking sorbents, activated charcoal - if the allergy is caused by a food product or liquid;
• let the child drink warm tea, inhale with saline through a nebulizer.

If you are interested in the question of how to relieve an attack of an allergic cough in a child, pay attention to drugs that inhibit the cough reflex: drugs based on phenylbutyrate dihydrogen, bithiodine, glaucine. Please note that you can take such drugs only after the permission of the doctor. Don't be self-employed.

How to cure a child, the pediatrician knows best. Remember that the best treatment is prevention.

Keep your home clean, dust free, see your doctor when you first suspect an allergy, and use quality products.

Was the article helpful to you? Give her 5 stars below!

Is the child unwell again? And after another sleepless night spent near his bed in futile efforts to curb bouts of painful coughing, mom decides to call a doctor. True, in the clinic they always ask about the temperature. But most mothers will think: nothing, I will say that + 37.5 ° C. Although it is strange, despite such a strong cough, the temperature of the child is normal, and the throat is not red ...

A good pediatrician knows that a dry paroxysmal cough can be a sign of anything, including a rhinovirus or adenovirus infection, chlamydia and mycoplasma, measles, whooping cough, croup, a foreign body that has entered the trachea, and even hypertrophy of the thymus gland. In the end, it may just be an allergic cough in children.

But in reality, it's not easy. Coughing has a physiological purpose: to clear the airways of everything that got there. With an allergic cough in children and adults, an allergen enters the respiratory tract, to which their body reacts, as if it were an alien from another galaxy.

Causes of allergic cough in children - allergens

Among the causes of allergic cough in children, doctors name such typical irritants as dust, pollen of flowering plants, animal hair (cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters), bird feathers (parrots and canaries in a cage or down-feather "stuffing" of pillows), mold spores and bacteria that enter the child's body through the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, an allergic cough can begin not only in spring or summer, but at any time of the year.

Dry allergic cough in children is very often a protective reaction of the body to ticks that live in ... ordinary house dust. So, according to medical statistics, the etiology of bronchial asthma in 67% of children with this diagnosis is an allergy to dust mites. By the way, in our apartments (in mattresses, blankets, pillows, carpets, books, upholstered furniture) there are whole hordes of these microscopic arachnids - almost 150 species of dermatophagoid or pyroglyphid mites. Their main food is systematically exfoliating particles of the upper layer of human skin (epidermis). The waste products of ticks (excrement) contain proteins that cause allergic reactions in people with hypersensitivity.

The greatest tendency to allergies, including in the form of cough, was noted in children who suffered from diathesis in infancy (maladjustment with frequent allergic reactions and reduced resistance to infection). According to doctors, such children are predisposed to allergies from birth.

It should also be borne in mind that the likelihood of an allergic cough in children is higher where there are people in the family who suffer from allergies. Allergic cough is most often diagnosed in children aged one to seven years.

Symptoms of allergic cough in children

The main feature of allergic cough in children is that it has a clinical picture, in some ways resembling a cough in acute respiratory diseases. That is why it is most often mistaken for a sign of a cold or SARS.

However, an allergic cough usually starts at normal body temperature. At the same time, the child feels unwell: he becomes lethargic, easily irritated and more than usual capricious. Attacks of dry, tormenting larynx coughing come on unexpectedly, mostly at night. Cough may be accompanied by itchy throat and nose, sneezing, and a slight runny nose. With prolonged bouts of coughing, the child may begin to expectorate clear sputum, but this does not make him feel better. The child breathes with a whistle (when exhaling) and complains of chest pain when coughing.

The main area of ​​allergic inflammation, the manifestation of which is allergic cough in children, is the larynx and trachea, and this is allergic laryngotracheitis. If due to

Allergen damage inflammation is localized in the pharynx, then doctors diagnose allergic pharyngitis. Allergic laryngitis is determined with inflammation of the larynx, allergic tracheitis - with an inflammatory process in the trachea, allergic bronchitis - in the bronchi.

The disease can repeatedly worsen during the month, in autumn and winter it happens more often. And parents need to remember that with similar symptoms of an allergic cough in children, “treating a cold” with mustard plasters, rubbing or herbal cough decoctions is a waste of time. And you can’t lose it, because such a cough without adequate treatment can turn into chronic obstructive bronchitis, and then into bronchial asthma.

Diagnosis of allergic cough in children

Only an allergist can identify the real cause of an allergic cough. To do this, a child is examined, including a whole range of laboratory tests (general blood test, sputum, nasal swab for eosinophils), clarification of the state of the respiratory organs and the pathological processes occurring in them (using computer bronchophonography), as well as tests for allergens.

But the primary task of diagnosing allergic cough in children is to determine the allergen (or allergens) that causes the disease. And here a proven method comes to the rescue - skin allergy tests (skin testing). They are made for plant pollen, household allergens, as well as for medicinal irritants - for children aged four years and older.

Another diagnostic method in allergology is enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). This method allows you to detect and measure the number of specific antigens that the body produces and releases into the blood plasma in response to the penetration of foreign cells. By the type of antigen detected, you can find out which allergen caused such a reaction in the body.

The most modern method for diagnosing allergies, including diagnosing allergic cough in children, is the multiple chemiluminescence method - MAST. By comparing the allergen (or several allergens) identified in a patient with a whole set of standard allergens, it is possible to make the most accurate diagnosis, even with hidden forms of allergy.

Treatment of allergic cough in children

The complex treatment of allergic cough in children is aimed at reducing sensitivity to the allergen (desensitization), getting rid of it as far as possible (immune therapy), as well as relieving symptoms - bronchospasm.

To reduce sensitivity to an allergen, antihistamine (antiallergic) drugs are used as a general treatment for allergic cough in children. They block histamine - a mediator of the human body's reactions to allergens.

It should be noted that the frequently prescribed first-generation antiallergic drugs (diphenhydramine, diprazine, suprastin, pilfen, pipolfen, tavegil) have not only a sedative (sedative) effect and cause drowsiness. Among the negative side effects of these popular drugs, their effect on the formation of nerve connections in children, even at average therapeutic doses, has been found. In addition, taking these medications leads to dryness of the respiratory mucosa, that is, the cough can become more intense with thick sputum in addition. It is for this reason that these medicines give children a maximum of five days. For example, tavegil (aka clemastine) is strictly contraindicated in children under one year old. And for children under the age of 12, it is prescribed 0.5 tablets 2 times a day (before meals, with a small amount of water).

The latest generation antihistamines - claritin, fenistil, zyrtec, kestin - do not have a sedative effect. So, claritin (aka lomilan, lotaren, clallergin, etc.) is available in the form of tablets and syrup. The dose of the drug for children from 2 to 12 years old is 5 ml of syrup (1 teaspoon) or half a tablet (5 mg) with a body weight not exceeding 30 kg; for children over 12 years old, the daily dose is 1 tablet (10 mg) or 2 teaspoons of syrup.

The best, although the longest (three to five years) treatment for any allergy and allergic cough in children is allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which "accustoms" the body's immune system to allergens. The method is based on the introduction to the patient of gradually increasing doses of the same allergen that causes an allergic reaction. According to allergists, as a result of this treatment, the immune system simply stops responding to a previously unbearable stimulus.

Symptomatic treatment of allergic cough in children is carried out with the help of antispasmodic drugs, which reduce or completely remove bronchospasm and coughing fits. The drug Berotek in the form of a 0.1% solution for inhalation counteracts the development of bronchospastic reactions. It is prescribed for children 6-12 years old, 5-10 drops, over 12 years old - 10-15 drops per inhalation. Inhalations are carried out no more than four times a day, before use, the drug must be diluted in one teaspoon of saline.

An effective expectorant solutan (oral solution) is taken by children from one to 6 years old, 5 drops three times a day; from 6 to 15 years - 7-10 drops. For children 2-6 years old, it is better to use an aerosol for inhalation of salbutamol (ventolin) - 1-2 mg 3 times a day.

Cough syrup glycodin with terpinhydrate and levomenthol should be taken 3-4 times a day: children aged 4-6 years - a quarter teaspoon, 7-12 years old, half a teaspoon. And the preparation fluifort in the form of a syrup has a mucolytic (thinning sputum) and expectorant effect. Children aged 1 to 5 years are prescribed half a teaspoon 2-3 times a day, older children - a teaspoon three times a day.

Prevention of allergic cough in children

Prevention of allergic cough in children is possible and depends only on the consistency and perseverance of the parents. Daily wet cleaning in the house, especially in the children's room, should become the rule without exception. It is recommended to clean the air in the apartment and control its humidity.

In the room where a child suffering from an allergic cough lives, there is no place for woolen carpets and rugs, fabric curtains, a soft sofa or armchair, as well as indoor flowers. Even plush and fur toys should not be in this room, not to mention the living "carriers of wool" - a dog or a cat.

for the sake of prevention of allergic cough in children wool blankets and feather pillows will have to be replaced with bedding made of hypoallergenic artificial materials. And the linen on the child's bed should be changed twice a week and subjected to a thorough wash in very hot water.

Cough can be a manifestation of various diseases, but it does not always speak specifically about the disease, being sometimes a protective reaction of the body from external influences that are harmful to it. For example, when it comes to allergies. This situation is often faced by young parents and begin to stuff the child with medicines. But before you treat allergic, you urgently need to make a diagnosis and understand what exactly caused it. Then eliminate the cause.

What is an allergy?

In medicine, an allergy is a reaction of the body's defense system to certain irritants. We can say that it is beneficial, because if the immune system had not reacted to the negative impact, the body might not have coped. And so measures are taken, the effect of the allergen is eliminated, and everything returns to normal.

"What is the treatment for allergic cough in a child?" - one of the most popular questions that young mothers ask in the offices of pediatricians. The current generation of children is not distinguished by strong immunity, and allergies at a tender age, alas, are a frequent occurrence.

Who is at risk?

Someone never wonders how an allergic cough in a child is treated. Allergy symptoms never make themselves felt. Some people suffer all their lives.

Whether a person is allergic or not, as a rule, becomes clear already in infancy. Children whose bodies react violently to certain foods or other substances with skin rashes are likely to continue to suffer from allergic reactions. Parents of these kids need to be on the lookout all the time.

In addition, the cause of allergies in the future can be diseases transferred in infancy, when immunity is still practically at zero. It is difficult for the body to fight the sore, and it fails.

Are at risk and those children whose close relatives also suffer from allergies. The hereditary factor in this case is of great importance.

Allergy Prevention

One of the most alarming conditions for parents is a dry allergic cough in a child. Than to treat it and stuff the child with drugs, of course, it is better to prevent the disease.

And prevention should begin even during the bearing of the baby. From the first weeks of pregnancy, a woman should walk a lot away from polluted highways, refuse to eat obviously and, of course, cross out all bad habits.

Both before and after the birth of a child, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the house - to do wet cleaning, to ventilate the room more often. It is better to protect the newborn from contact with animals. At the slightest suspicion of diathesis, the baby should be urgently shown to the doctor.

Allergic cough symptoms

So, what is the treatment for allergic cough in a child whose symptoms are quite specific? Before giving any medication, it should be precisely established that the baby is coughing precisely because of the allergy. The main symptoms of an allergic cough are:

Types of Allergic Cough

Experts distinguish several types of allergic cough. Among them are:

• Dry - most often occurs during cold or heat.
• Barking character - accompanied by a hoarse voice. Sounds like the barking sound of a dog. Breathing is difficult.
• Night cough - lasts a long time (two to three hours). The eyes are watery, clear mucus flows from the nasal passages.

How to distinguish an allergic cough from the symptoms of bronchitis or whooping cough?

As noted above, coughing can be manifestations of various diseases, including bronchitis or whooping cough. It is important for parents to correctly assess the condition of the baby in order to take the necessary measures in time. After all, in particular, whooping cough can pose a direct threat to life, and you can not hesitate to get medical help.

Of course, it is best to immediately consult a doctor. Competent doctors, before treating an allergic cough in a child, analyze the symptoms in depth. And they make the right decisions. And parents, being in an anxious state, are not always able to think soberly.

But still, how is it different from other diseases?

Allergy diagnostics

How and how allergic cough is treated in a child, diagnosis will help to say for sure. After all, even if the fact of an allergy is not questioned, it is difficult to determine what exactly it is caused by.

First of all, the pediatrician examines the baby, listens to him, assesses the nature of the cough, measures the temperature and talks with the parents, determining the type of disease. If there is an allergy, a special test is performed. Small incisions are made on the skin in the forearm area with a scarifier, which are filled with a certain reagent (allergen in small doses). If redness or blisters appear on the skin, itching begins, etc., then it is this allergen that causes the cough reaction. The reason is found - you can prescribe treatment. (This type of diagnosis is not carried out in relation to children under three years of age).

Often, when making a diagnosis, a blood test for the level of immunoglobulin is also prescribed, which allows to detect allergic reactions.

What can cause an attack?

Obviously, in search of an answer to the question of how an allergic cough is treated in a child, determining the cause plays a very important role. The list of provoking factors is huge, but the main ones are:

So, what is the treatment for allergic cough in a child?

After making a diagnosis and identifying the allergen, the first thing to do is to isolate the child from the irritant, or at least minimize contact.

If the incident nevertheless occurred (the child grabbed the cat and coughed heavily), the attack is removed with a special drug (Suprastin, Tavegil, Diazolin, Erius, etc.). But only after the allergen is removed to a safe distance, otherwise there will be no effect. Injections stop the attack within ten minutes. Tablets are somewhat slower - they begin to act in twenty to thirty minutes.

In cases where the allergen cannot be removed, they will not help - hormonal ones are needed. Allergy inevitably causes intoxication of the body, for the elimination of which they take white coal, "Smecta" and similar drugs.

What is the treatment for allergic cough in a child yet? Children over three years of age may be recommended the “hardening” method, when an allergen is injected under the skin, each time increasing the dose, and as a result, the body develops immunity. Cough is well eliminated by inhalation, expanding the bronchi.

When in a non-acute period, doctors often prescribe Gerbion syrup based on plantain. This and some other plants are true friends of allergy sufferers, which is well known to traditional medicine.

Folk ways to deal with allergic cough

"Whose children have an allergic cough, what do you treat?" - sometimes an alarmed mother asks other parents. And experienced parents share proven folk recipes:

• drip aloe juice into the nose (well removes phlegm);
• boiled and chopped bay leaf mixed with a few teaspoons of honey and a pinch of soda - give a remedy during an attack;
• as a drink for attacks, use the water in which the onions were boiled (several onions per liter);
• gargle with water (you can add sea salt) after walking.

A favorite of moms and dads, who has already become almost a legend, Dr. Komarovsky, answering the question of how to relieve an attack and how an allergic cough is treated in a child, urges not to panic and approaches the situation with humor. So, for example, he considers the first remedy for an allergic cough ... the establishment of a dog. Which will "bring" parents out for walks with their children. And fresh air for an allergic person is the best medicine.

The doctor also advises to humidify the room (during attacks, you can open the hot water tap in the bathroom to create steam). And another sure remedy is to drink plenty of water.

Komarovsky is categorically against total purity, which, in his opinion, just leads to allergic reactions of an unhardened organism. But, of course, it is necessary to keep order, because an excess of dust is harmful for a healthy person, but for an allergic person it is fatal.

The doctor agrees with his colleagues that the first step should be, if possible, to exclude the patient's contact with the allergen (that is, completely eliminate the cause), and then treat the effect. Otherwise, there will be no positive result.

And of course, physical activity, hardening, quality products, clothing made from natural fabrics and most importantly (as in any business) - a positive attitude!

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

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

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

General characteristics of allergic cough

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

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

Symptoms

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

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

The reasons

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

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

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

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

Diagnostics

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

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

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

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

Treatment

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

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

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

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

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

Antihistamines

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enterosorbents

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

Plasmapheresis

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

Inhalations

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

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

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

Berodual

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

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

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

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

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

Folk remedies

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

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

Allergy Cough Diet

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prevention

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

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

Komarovsky's opinion

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

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

Cough in children of the first years of life is one of the most common symptoms of inflammatory, viral and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract.

Most often, with a weak cough and the absence of other manifestations of the disease, parents begin to treat the baby themselves, giving him antitussive pharmaceutical and folk remedies.

But such treatment will not help if an allergic cough develops.

To eliminate it, it will be necessary to find out the main cause of the disease and undergo a course of special treatment, which the doctor can choose based on the tests.

What causes an allergic cough in a child

An allergic cough in a child develops as a result of the reaction of the bronchi to one of the types of allergens.

The allergen that has entered the body causes a specific immune reaction, the production of inflammatory mediators occurs, which cause all the manifestations of allergies, including coughing.

In most cases, allergen provocateurs enter the bronchial tree along with the air flow, in this case, with the help of cough shocks, the bronchi try to get rid of the irritant.

Less commonly, allergens that cause an allergic cough enter the body with food or through the blood.

Common Causes

More often, allergic cough in children develops if they suffered from diathesis in infancy.

The predisposing factors of the disease also include:

1. hereditary predisposition. An allergic cough in babies develops more often if blood relatives have a history of bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis, hay fever,;
2. Reduced work of immunity;
3. Bad environmental conditions;
4. Constant smoking in the apartment;
5. Introduction to the diet of a large number of products with dyes, flavors and other chemical additives;
6. Helminth infestation.

Allergic cough mainly develops for the first time in children from one and a half years and more; all preschool children are susceptible to it.

And if enough time is given to the treatment of the disease at this time, then you can completely cope with the disease and prevent the development of a disease such as bronchial asthma.

Causes of dry allergic cough

There are actually quite a lot of elements alien to our immune system that can provoke an allergic cough. But most often dry cough is caused by:

• House dust. It has been established that in any residential area there are millions of dust mites, the waste products of which have a protein structure and can cause an allergic cough. It has been proven that in more than 60% of cases the cause of the disease lies precisely in allergies to house dust;
• Animal saliva protein;
• Pollen from flowering shrubs, trees, flowers;
• Means of household chemicals;
• Cosmetics with a strong smell - perfumes, aerosols, deodorants.

An allergic cough in any child can also appear as a result of the use of an allergenic food product for him.

At the same time, in addition to coughing, burning and sore throat, swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth, rashes on the body can disturb.

Causes of an attack

A painful allergic attack is caused by a large number of allergens entering the respiratory tract or digestive system at once.

An attack can occur in a child at the time of contact with a pet, especially at a party if no pets are kept at home.

A strong reaction of the bronchi also occurs to substances of a biological nature of origin - pollen and microparticles of plants.

With a tendency to allergic reactions, an attack can be provoked by staying in a smoky room, sharp inhalation of odors, taking a number of medications, and excessive physical activity.

Usually, after contact with the allergen is interrupted, the coughing shocks gradually decrease and the state of health stabilizes.

Symptoms and main differences of allergic cough

It is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish an allergic cough in a child from a cold.

But there are several signs that will help parents assume that their baby is developing an allergic reaction, these are:

• Sudden onset of cough. Some parents note that before the attack, the child played with a dog or cat, was in a forest or field. Read on the topic -;
• The barking nature of the attack;
• Lack of sputum or its slight excretion;
• The duration of an allergic cough is up to several weeks;
• Strengthening of the attack at night;
• No temperature;
• Simultaneous development with the formation of a large amount of mucus and sneezing;
• The absence of a positive effect when taking antitussive and expectorant drugs.

An allergic type of cough in children occurs in any month of the year. But if its cause, then exacerbations occur in the spring and summer.

We remove the attack

With the development of an attack of allergic cough, parents should not get lost, because the general well-being of the child depends on their correct actions. Pediatricians advise to adhere to such rules:

1. Stop contact with the allergen, if known. That is, remove the animal from the premises, take the child out of the forest, ventilate the room with strong odors in it.
2. Give the child a warm drink that will soften the mucous membrane and remove the tickle, which will naturally make the cough less frequent. As a drink, you can use a decoction of chamomile, warm milk, alkaline water.
3. Give the child one of the age-appropriate dosage. A faster effect is given by drugs such as Diazolin, but they are used in a short course. Feeling better after about 20-30 minutes after taking the tablet forms of the drug.
   
4. If it is known that a food product has become a provocateur of an attack of an allergic cough, then an enterosorbent should be used. Children are given a drink at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of weight, Polysorb, Filtrum.
5. Perform inhalation through a nebulizer. To soften the throat, ordinary saline or mineral water is suitable. If the doctor has already prescribed treatment for allergic cough in the form of inhalation agents, then Pulmicort, Berodual, Eufillin can be used to expand the bronchi and relieve spasms from them.
   

In the event that an attack of the disease is accompanied by severe shortness of breath, suffocation, blue or blanching of the skin of the face, wheezing, you should first call an ambulance and then provide first aid on your own before it arrives.

With allergic laryngospasm, all of the above activities should be carried out, and in addition to them, you can seat the child in the bathroom, where hot water is first turned on. High humidity reduces the attack.

Is it necessary to carry out diagnostics in a medical institution?

Identification of the cause of allergic cough in a medical institution is mandatory, as soon as a complete diagnosis of the state of the child's body allows you to choose an effective course of treatment.

When conducting application tests and blood tests, the type of allergen is revealed, which in the future will reduce contact with the irritant to a minimum.

When examining a child, a general blood test is also prescribed, if necessary, feces for dysbacteriosis and worm eggs.

If the baby has concomitant diseases, then their treatment has a positive effect on the state of the immune system, which in turn reduces the likelihood of developing an allergic cough.

Treatment of the disease in children

Treatment of allergic cough is prescribed by an allergist. In addition to antihistamines, the child is prescribed, drugs that strengthen the immune system are selected.

Treatment came to be carried out in full, as soon as it would reduce the likelihood of developing bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases in later life.

Parents also need to remember that a coughing fit can appear at any time after contact with an allergen, so you need to try to make sure that the child experiences the irritant as little as possible.

The use of modern medicines.

When treating allergies in children, it is very important to choose the right antihistamine drug, since many of them, with a long course of therapy, can cause negative changes in the nervous system and internal organs.

Medicines such as Suprastin, Tavegil, Pipolfen, Diphenhydramine cause drowsiness, so you can not use them for more than 5 days.

The last generation of drugs cause the least side effects, these are:

All medicines for a child should be prescribed by a doctor, since it is important to choose not only a single dosage, but also a general course of therapy.

When choosing drugs, other pathologies that the child may suffer from are also taken into account.

What does traditional medicine offer

In addition to the main treatment, non-traditional methods are often used.

Traditional medicine for an allergic form of cough offers:

• Carry out rinsing of the throat and nose after each visit to the street. Use ordinary water, in which it is not forbidden to add a little sea or ordinary salt. The rinsing procedure removes some of the allergens from the mucous layer and, therefore, reduces the manifestations of an allergic reaction.
• Cough medicine. It is prepared from a small spoonful of honey, an equal amount of soda and laurel leaves. Leaves in the amount of two or three pieces are boiled in a glass of boiling water, then honey and soda are added to this strained liquid. You need to take the solution during an attack in a quarter cup.

Disease prevention

An allergic cough in a child can be repeated again and again. Therefore, the task of parents is to make the number of seizures as minimal as possible.

For this you should:

• Minimize contact with the identified allergen. Sometimes, unfortunately, you have to give pets to friends - dogs, cats, but without this, if you are allergic to the disease, it will only progress.
• In the child's room, constantly carry out wet cleaning. You should also get rid of things in which dust accumulates the most, these are soft toys, heavy curtains, carpets, feather pillows.
• When diathesis appears in a small child, it is imperative to find out the cause of the problem and choose hypoallergenic food for the child. If at this age you do not pay attention to, then in the future the child's likelihood of developing allergies increases many times over.
• The child should try to feed only natural and healthy products. Food stuffed with various chemical compounds often becomes a provocateur of allergic diseases.

An allergic type of cough that occurs in a child must be treated in a timely manner. If you delay the visit to the doctor, then the development of bronchial asthma becomes a very real event.