What does it mean when your child has a cough?

What does it mean when your child has a cough?

A productive cough could be a sign that a lung disease is getting worse or that your child has an infection. Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. This type of coughing may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may awaken your child from sleep. Nasal discharge ( post-nasal drip) draining down the back of the throat.

What causes a child to have a high temp?

Many things can cause a high temperature in children, from common childhood illnesses like chickenpox and tonsillitis, to vaccinations. Checking a high temperature. Your child might: Use a digital thermometer (which you can buy from pharmacies and supermarkets) to take your child’s temperature.

Can a 12 year old have a productive cough?

For information about coughs in teens and adults, see the topic Coughs, Age 12 and Older. A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus (sputum). The mucus may have drained down the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses or may have come up from the lungs. A productive cough generally should not be suppressed; it clears mucus from the lungs.

How long does it take for a child to return to normal temperature?

A high temperature is very common in young children. The temperature usually returns to normal within 3 or 4 days. What is a high temperature? A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly from child to child. A high temperature is 38C or more.

When your child coughs, their body is doing its job. A cough is a reflex that clears fluid from the throat and chest. It happens when nerve endings in those airways get irritated. It’s one of the most common symptoms of colds and other viruses, including the flu. But if it’s caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t make it stop.

How long does a toddler cough last after a cold?

Toddler cough and fever may also indicate influenza. If your child is getting over an illness, then the cough will probably be the last symptom to get better. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a dry, hacking cough to linger for as long as three weeks after a cold (although you should see some gradual improvement between 10 and 14 days).

Is it normal for a baby to have a dry cough?

In both children and adults, it’s common for dry coughs to linger for several weeks after a cold or flu has passed. Other possible causes of dry cough include: Remedies for dry cough depend on its cause. Babies and toddlers. In babies and toddlers, dry coughs typically don’t require treatment. A humidifier can help make them more comfortable.

What to do if your child has a croupy cough?

Croup: Croup is a viral illness that causes swelling in the upper airway. The cough is described as barky and some children will make a sound when breathing in known as stridor. Placing the child in a steamy bathroom or going out into the cool night air can calm a croupy cough.

Is it normal for a child to have a cough?

Typically, a child’s cough is nothing to worry about. Every year parents can expect their children to get several colds, especially during the fall and winter months, which can result in coughing as a side effect.

What causes a wheezing cough in a 2 year old?

The most common cause of bronchiolitis is the RSV virus, but other viruses may cause the same symptoms. Bronchiolitis is mainly seen in children 2 years old and younger and causes wheezing and difficulty breathing. Call your pediatrician if: A dry cough evolves into clicking, bubbling or rattling when your child inhales.

What does it mean when a toddler has a dry cough?

It is important to know what type of cough your child has, and what it might mean. Toddler Dry Cough: An infection of the upper respiratory tract, such as a cold or influenza, often causes a dry, hacking cough. Toddler coughing at night may get worse with a cold or flu, and warm rooms may also worsen the symptoms.

When to take your child to the ER for a cough?

Head to the ER if more severe symptoms arise, particularly a bluish tongue or lips, or stridor that goes on for more than 10 minutes. Steroid medications can reduce inflammation safely and quickly. Sounds like a dry, brassy cough that typically starts after a respiratory illness, often in school-aged children.

When your child coughs, their body is doing its job. A cough is a reflex that clears fluid from the throat and chest. It happens when nerve endings in those airways get irritated. It’s one of the most common symptoms of colds and other viruses, including the flu. But if it’s caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t make it stop.

How often do children go to the doctor for cough?

Chronic cough is one of the five most common reasons children are taken to the doctor, affecting 5 to 10 percent of children in the U.S. every year and accounting for 30 million office visits annually. And that’s not surprising, given that coughing is a symptom of a host of health conditions.

What to do if your child has a dry cough?

Turn on the shower in your bathroom and close the door, allowing the room to steam up. Sit with your child for around 20 minutes as they inhale the warm mist. Use a humidifier. If the air in your house is dry, it can dry out your child’s airways as well.

When does a child get a croup cough?

Croup occurs when the upper airway (nose and upper throat) swells, which causes a child to work harder to breathe. Croup typically occurs in fall and winter and affects boys more than girls.

Are there any home remedies for a Childs cough?

Even medicine labeled for children can have serious side effects, such as high blood pressure and seizures. No drugs can cure a cough caused by a virus, but treatments may soothe symptoms. Here are a few home remedies to try: Steam: You can create your own steam room.

Can a sinus infection cause a child to have a constant cough?

Even a low-grade sinus infection can cause a seemingly never-ending persistent cough in children. Treatment: Your primary-care doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to zap the infection and nasal sprays to ease symptoms.

Can a child with asthma have a chronic cough?

Symptoms: Your child may wheeze or have shortness of breath, a tight feeling in his chest, or a cough. However, not every child with asthma wheezes. Many only have a chronic cough, which doctors typically refer to as cough-variant asthma.