Why won't my child's cough go away?
Imagine a child who had a cold a couple of weeks ago. He no longer has a fever, he's not feeling well... but he's still coughing. Especially at night. And every time he laughs, runs, or screams. Sounds familiar, right?
A persistent cough after a respiratory infection is one of the most common reasons for consultations in pediatrics. And the first thing to know is that, in most cases, it's not a cause for alarm.
Despite all this, many parents ask themselves questions when they see their child's cough not going away completely: Is this normal? Can they go back to school? Should they be given anything?
Why is he still coughing so long after?
After a cold (an upper respiratory infection, such as a flu or pharyngitis), the mucous membranes of the airways remain inflamed and tender for several days, sometimes even weeks. This residual inflammation stimulates cough receptors, causing the child to cough at the slightest stimuli: cold air, exercise, laughter, temperature changes, etc.
This type of cough is known as a post-infectious cough and can last between 2 and 4 weeks, even after the rest of the symptoms have disappeared.
In fact, during that time period, especially if the child is young and attending preschool, the most common thing is for them to catch a new virus that causes one respiratory process to follow another, such that the cough persists not because something is wrong, but because they have not fully recovered before the new virus arrives.
What if the cough is dry?
In most cases, this residual cough is not accompanied by mucus or expectoration and is simply the natural evolution of a viral process.
However, pediatricians limit the cough to 4 weeks of continuous coughing to investigate whether a cough that seems to be lasting longer than expected could be due to other causes, such as:
- Asthma or bronchial hyperreactivity: especially if the cough worsens with exercise, at night, or if there is a family history.
- Allergic rhinitis: In some cases, a persistent dry cough may be the only symptom of a respiratory allergy, although it is often accompanied by eye congestion or itching.
- Gastroesophageal reflux: Although less common, it can cause a chronic dry cough.
- Foreign body: If there is a clear choking episode and a persistent cough follows, it should always be evaluated.
And what can I do at home?
Although there's no magic formula to make a cough go away, there are some steps you can take to make your child more comfortable while the process improves on its own, which is most common:
- Maintain good hydration, as water keeps the mucosa hydrated and reduces irritation, in addition to fluidifying secretions.
- Avoid dry or smoky (tobacco) environments. Remember that very strong heating can worsen your cough. In these cases, having a humidifier in your home may be helpful.
- Ventilate rooms well and maintain a comfortable temperature without excessive heat.
- Don't force your child to cough less: Coughing is a useful reflex. It shouldn't be suppressed if it doesn't interfere with rest or activities.
- Do not use syrups without medical advice: most cough suppressants are not effective in children and may have side effects.
And when should you consult your pediatrician?
Most of the time, when a child has a persistent cough, it eventually goes away with a little patience (or a lot, depending on how you look at it). However, there are several signs that indicate it's time to consult a doctor:
- If the cough lasts more than 3-4 weeks.
- If accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
- If your cough causes frequent vomiting or prevents you from sleeping.
- If there is a persistent fever or the child is listless.
- If we suspect that he may have choked on something.
In summary...
A cough is a defense mechanism of the body, and it doesn't always need to be made to go away. In most cases, after a cold, a dry cough can last for a while without cause for alarm. However, if it persists longer than expected or other symptoms appear, it's time to see your pediatrician.
And in the meantime, water, patience… and maybe some earplugs to block out the nighttime concert when a child has a persistent cough.
If you're curious about children's health, in our book you'll find simple and entertaining explanations of the most important childhood illnesses, like the ones you're reading in this post. You can purchase it here .
20minutos
