Different types of coughs in children have different causes

Coughing in children is quite common, especially when the child has the flu. The cough will usually heal as the body recovers from the disease. Even so, parents need to pay attention to the type of cough that often attacks children. The following is an explanation about coughing in children.

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What causes cough in children?

Coughs and colds can be caused due to viral infections of the nose, throat and sinuses. Young children can experience coughs and colds more often because they do not have a strong immune system.

Before the age of 7 years, the child's immune system is not fully strong. At that age, the child's body has not built up immunity to the more than 100 different viruses that cause colds.

The child's upper respiratory tract (including the ear and surrounding area) is not fully developed until after school age. This allows bacteria and viruses to be more able to attack the child's immunity.

However, if your child's cough doesn't go away, don't immediately assume that your child has a weak immune system.

When he coughs, the child is just being exposed to a lot of viruses. If this condition often causes more serious problems, it may be that your child's immune system is down.

Children can catch a cough because they are infected from the surrounding people, such as relatives, parents, family members, friends, and others.

Children who often play with their friends may experience coughs and colds more often.

The rainy season can also affect coughs in children. Toddlers can experience coughs and colds up to 9 times each year.

Meanwhile, adults can cough 2-4 times a year.

When a child has been exposed to a virus that causes coughing, the child's immune system will recognize it.

so that the child's immune system becomes stronger. Therefore, the frequency of coughs and colds decreases in older children.

Types of coughs in children that need to be watched out for

Although it is often considered a common disease, parents need to be vigilant. The reason is, coughing can be a symptom of certain diseases. The following types of coughs in children need attention.

1. Coughing up phlegm

Children often catch coughs because of colds or flu.

This causes a stuffy or runny nose, decreased appetite, watery eyes, and sore throat.

When you have a cold, cough with phlegm also often accompanies and usually resolves within 1-2 weeks.

However, if the fever continues to occur accompanied by a change in the color of the mucus to greenish color, consult a doctor immediately.

It is feared that there will be a bacterial infection in children. This infection is not only in the throat but can also be an infection in the lungs.

Use humidifier (humidifier), bathing with warm water, and consuming warm food or drinks can open the child's airways and relieve sore throats. One way to reduce coughs and colds is without medication.

2. Cough is like wheezing in children

This condition sounds like an asthma cough symptom, namely wheezing. Wheezing is a breath sound that is similar to a high pitched whistle like giggle.

This is common in children aged 6 months to 3 years. However, if the wheezing is caused by asthma, it usually occurs over 2 years of age.

A wheezing cough will usually get better during the day, but will get worse at night or when the surrounding air is cold. Usually it gets worse when the child cries or feels restless.

This cough can be caused by disease croup.

Quoting from Kids Health, this is a respiratory infection that occurs when the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and bronchi (airways to the lungs) experience irritation and swelling.

The swelling makes the airways narrow, causing faster, shallow breathing and a severe cough. As a result, the child will have difficulty breathing.

Croup is most susceptible to attacking babies aged 3 months to children aged 5 years, but it can also affect children over 15 years.

The cause is viral infections such as influenza virus, parainfluenza RSV, measles, and adenovirus. Initially your little one will experience common cold symptoms and over time will experience a wheezing cough with fever.

Apart from coughing wheezing, another symptom that includes it is breathing faster. To relieve cough conditions, keeping children from getting cold is the easiest way parents can do.

This cough can generally be treated at home and taking medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

If a cough attack in a child occurs suddenly with difficulty breathing or wheezing occurs for more than five minutes until the color of the skin around the child's mouth changes, take it to the doctor immediately.

3. Dry cough at night

This cough will get worse at night or after physical activity. Dry cough is the main symptom of asthma in children.

Asthma is a condition in which the lungs become inflamed and narrowed, resulting in excess mucus.

The mucus in the lungs causes a tingling sensation that causes children with asthma to cough.

In addition to coughing, the condition of the child who is thin, often raises the chest when breathing, or is easily tired can be signs that the child has asthma. Especially if the child has had difficulty breathing. To be sure, check with a doctor.

Preventing attacks in asthma can be done by avoiding the triggers. For mild cases, your child may need an inhaled bronchodilator and asthma control medication.

4. Shortness of cough

When a child (especially those under 2 years of age) has a shortened cough, is breathing rapidly and has a hoarse voice, it is possible that the child has a bronchial infection (bronchiolitis).

Bronchiolitis is a condition in which the small tubes in the lungs become swollen and mucus.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this infection caused by the respiratory syncytial virus does not require chest X-rays or blood tests.

The doctor can diagnose the disease by performing a physical examination and asking a thorough medical history.

For severe cases, your child may need to be hospitalized to receive oxygen, fluids, and medications.

5. Whooping cough in children

Whooping cough or known as pertussis occurs due to the pertussis bacteria that attacks the respiratory tract. This causes inflammation and narrows and even blocks the airways.

Babies are at high risk of developing this cough. If he is not yet one year old, he must receive hospital care as well as antibiotic treatment to treat coughs in babies due to pertussis.

Symptoms of whooping cough start out like flu, but a cough will appear in the second week.

The cough is usually faster than a normal cough accompanied by bursts of discharge, it can even vomit or choke because the breath stops for a moment.

This disease is contagious and is very long, even the cough can last up to more than 6 months. Therefore, this disease is also known as 100 days cough.

How to make coughs in children subside quickly

To relieve cough in your little one, parents can try various treatments. Starting from natural cough medicines to medicines from doctors for children.

Here are some medicines to relieve cough in children:

• Take a special cough medicine for children
• Give the child enough fluids
• Avoid cough and allergy triggers
• Consuming honey

Cough medicine for children can be adjusted to the condition of your little one, consult your doctor for more details.

When should you see a doctor?

If the cough is very disturbing, checking to a doctor is the right step. The doctor can suggest the most effective treatment to speed up the healing process.

The following are cough symptoms in children, which indicate that your little one needs to be taken to the doctor immediately:

• The child has a cough accompanied by a high fever
• The child has difficulty breathing due to coughing
• Whooping cough
• Chest pain
• Children find it difficult or don't want to eat
• The child coughs up blood
• The child has a cough accompanied by vomiting

It is important to see a doctor if the cough in children has lasted more than 2 weeks.

In addition, if the cough in a child recovers and recurs for more than 3 months, parents are required to have their child checked by a doctor for further treatment.