Dry Cough in Children

Dry cough, in most cases, is associated with the symptoms of some underlying medical conditions. So ignoring the symptoms of dry cough may invite trouble later. A child suffering from dry cough may sound different from his usual tone. The child may also complain about difficulty in swallowing food or water. This mainly happens due to the irritation of the larynx and tonsils. Other symptoms of dry cough in children include a change in the behavior (increased irritability or agitation) and craving for liquids more than normal. This was about the symptoms of dry cough in children, and the following will brief you regarding the different dry cough causes in children, along with the treatment methods.

Dry Cough Causes in Children

# Common cold is considered to be the most common cause of dry cough in children.

# Other potential causes are:

• whooping cough
• asthma
• laryngitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx; characterized by hoarseness or loss of voice and coughing)
• pollution

# Dry cough in children can also result from allergy and croup (a disease of infants and young children; harsh coughing and hoarseness, fever and difficulty in breathing).

# Post nasal drip is also one of the common causes of dry cough. This is due to the fact that, when a person is suffering from a post nasal drip, the secretions of the nose chronically drip into the back of the throat and this causes dry cough.

# Bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, lung disease and lung tumor have also been found to be some of the underlying causes of dry cough. When it comes to dry cough at night, then sinus infection, common cold, whooping cough, and asthma are diagnosed as the primary causes. Emphysema is also a potential cause, but it is more prevalent in smokers and elderly people thus, rare in kids.

Dry Cough Treatment

When it comes to children, medications may not be the first choice, unless the condition is life-threatening. So, it is best to try effective remedies which can be prepared at home with some simple kitchen ingredients.

• Crush some basil leaves and mix it with honey. Give this mixture whenever your child has a cough. Likewise, you can also prepare a mix of turmeric powder with honey. This helps in clearing the chest congestion and improves breathing.
• Keeping the body well-hydrated also helps in the treatment of dry cough in children. However, drinking water may not be preferred by your child at all times. So, give him his favorite fruit juices in order to keep up the level of body fluids.
• Almonds are always a favorite among kids. So, soak some of them in water overnight, and the next morning make a paste out of them. Mix this paste with honey and administer it whenever the cough resumes.
• Unlike adults, taking raw cloves of garlic or ginger root may not be so comfortable for the little ones. So, the best way to use these natural medicines is by adding them in foods. You can add them in hot soups and the like.
• Herbal tea or green tea might not turn out to be so 'good' to small kids because of their taste. However, if you can help them take the tea, at least twice a day, this would be beneficial for a speedy recovery from dry cough.
• One effective method of treating dry cough in children is to gargle with lukewarm saline water every morning. However, small kids usually get irritated when asked to do so, and more after getting up from bed. So, you have to be smart enough to help your kids use this effective method of treatment.

If your kid is coughing up thick greenish phlegm, having difficulty in breathing, or coughing up bloody phlegm, then seek immediate medical care. Dry cough is a common illness which affects people of all ages, especially children. The symptoms are generally very uncomfortable for the little ones, unlike the grown ups for whom it can be no more than annoyance. If left untreated for a longer period, it can also result in chronic dry cough. So, dry cough in children may be a bit difficult when it comes to the treatment, as in most cases, children refuse to co-operate. However, if constant efforts are filled with love and care, things become easier.