Cough Treatment for Children

Cough in children is a common occurrence. Sometimes, it is a dry cough and in other times it is chesty cough which produces phlegm. It may not be a serious issue but it causes them a lot of discomfort. The worst part of this problem is that they cannot sleep properly at night. Cough is often categorized into acute and chronic. An acute cough bothers the child for one or two weeks whereas a chronic cough continues for several weeks. Cough treatment mostly depends on whether it is an acute problem or a chronic problem.

Causes of Cough

A viral infection in the respiratory tract is the most common cause of acute cough in children. The infections that affect the upper part of the respiratory tract are common cold, influenza and laryngitis. The lower part of the respiratory tract get infected mostly due to bronchitis and pneumonia. Allergic rhinitis is another factor that trigger cough in kids. A chronic form of cough that often affects infants and small children is known as whooping cough (or pertussis). It is caused by bacteria that infects the lining of the air passage. Asthma, post nasal drip and gastro-esophageal reflux disease are the other causes.

Cough Treatment for Children

The main aim of the treatment is to decrease the intensity of the cough and treat the underlying cause responsible for it. Cough suppressants and expectorants are two of the most popular medicines for children. As the name cough suppressant suggest, it helps to control the coughing reflex and is used for dry cough treatment. Expectorants are good for chesty cough. Lozenges can be helpful to reduce the tickling sensation in the throat that induces cough. However, it should not be given to children who are below 3 years of age as it can cause choking.

An acute form of infection of the respiratory tract like pneumonia is treated with the help of antibiotics. However, antibiotics do not work on common cold viruses. Sometimes, antihistamines are given in order to relieve allergy symptoms. As these medicines causes drowsiness, it is given particularly when the child's sleep get disrupted because of the persistent cough. When it is caused by asthma, bronchodilators are given for treatment. A whooping cough is treated with oral antibiotics and corticosteroid medicine. Antibiotic medicines fight off the infection and corticosteroid helps to reduce inflammation in the air passage. If it becomes serious, then the child may require hospitalization and these medicines are then administered intravenously.

Natural Remedies for Cough

Doctors often advise that medicines should not be given to small children for a long time. When dry cough in children is not accompanied by any other symptoms, then it can be effectively treated at home. Some excellent home remedies for common cold and cough in children are as follows:

Lemon and Honey: This is a great combination used for treating persistent cough in children. Mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice and give it to your child. Honey will form a thin layer on the lining of the throat and reduce the irritation. Lemon juice supplies vitamin C that fights off the infection.

Honey and Onion: This is used to provide relief from chest congestion in children. Boil a white onion and squeeze out the juice from it. Mix up equal amount of honey into this juice and offer it to your child. This should be given two times in a day. This mixture has anti-inflammatory qualities that brings down inflammation in the respiratory passage.

Milk and Turmeric: You cannot use any honey based cough remedies on infants as it may lead to botulism. In that case, you can try milk and turmeric which is one of the best remedies for babies. Mix a pinch of salt into a cup of warm milk and feed this milk twice a day to your little one.

Basil Leaves and Ginger: Boil 3-4 fresh basil leaves and one inch of ginger in a cup of water. Add some jaggery to make this mixture sweeter. This concoction should be taken twice a day for best results.

Most of the medicines that are used in cough treatment for children are available over the counter but you must consult your pediatrician before giving them to your child. If natural cough remedies fail to show any signs of improvement, then also you must take your child to the doctor to check out whether it is caused by any other underlying health problems.