This practical guide will help you distinguish the origin of the cough, identify warning signs, and learn the most effective remedies to soothe your baby’s cough.
There isn’t just one type of cough (all moms know this!), nor a single cause. The most common are:
1. Cold or other viral respiratory illnesses: cause coughing fits due to excess mucus coming from the nose, which the child—too young to blow their nose—lets flow into the throat. The cough reflex is the body’s defense to prevent viruses and bacteria from reaching the bronchi.
2. Inflammation of the larynx: usually caused by a virus. The cough sounds similar to a dog’s bark and may come with obvious breathing difficulty due to inflammation and spasm of the vocal cords (laryngeal stridor).
3. Inflammation of the bronchi and lungs: the cough is an attempt by the body to expel secretions caused by germs responsible for bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchopneumonia (usually viral).
4. Asthma: shows as bronchial contraction, usually due to an allergic reaction. Here, the cough is the body’s attempt to combat bronchial closure.
5. Maxillary sinusitis: in children under six years old, the frontal sinuses are not fully developed, but the maxillary sinuses (small cavities beside the nose) can fill with mucus in prolonged colds. This can cause cough due to mucus in the throat, especially when the child is lying down resting.
When to call the pediatrician?
It is advisable to immediately see a pediatrician or emergency service if your child:
- Breathes with difficulty, appears apathetic and lethargic (even without coughing), and has pale or bluish color around the mouth or nails: this means the baby is not getting enough oxygen into their lungs.
- Shows “retractions” when breathing in, such as sinking in at the base of the sternum (between chest and belly), the jugular notch (throat), or between the ribs.
- Coughs up some blood with mucus.
- Complains of continuous chest pain.
- Is apathetic (does not respond to external stimuli).
- May have aspirated a foreign object (call 112 immediately).
- Has a high fever and shows distress and restlessness.
It is advisable to see the pediatrician during office hours if your child:
- Has had a fever for at least 48 hours.
- Has had a cough for two weeks.
- Has cough accompanied by chest pain at times.
- Has a cough that prevents sleep.
- Has coughing fits that cause vomiting.
- In any case, if the baby is under three months old.
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