The child has a severe dry cough without fever. A child has a cough without fever An acute cough in a child without fever

A severe cough in a child without fever should be treated immediately. But first you need to establish the reason for its appearance. The immunity of young children is in the process of formation, and the first months of life they are especially susceptible to various diseases. A cough without fever in a child is a serious concern: it is the first alarm signal that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the baby’s body. A wet cough in a child aged 1–8 years without fever should cause particular concern.

Causes

Cough in children is a mechanical reaction to irritants that affect the throat or bronchi. With its help, the body tries to cleanse itself by getting rid of germs or mucus. First of all, parents assume that the cough is caused by a common cold. It is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own, and you cannot do it without the help of a pediatrician.

The absence of temperature can seriously complicate the diagnosis. A child who is too young cannot complain about his problems; he will not tell if his throat hurts, and parents themselves cannot see how red it is. For any childhood illness, treatment should begin as soon as possible.

There can be many reasons that cause coughing, and even wheezing in a child. Some of them are quite harmless:

A runny nose, red throat, and cough with mucus are symptoms of an infection or cold, which are usually accompanied by a slight increase in body temperature. In this case, the child’s cough cannot be treated on his own, but immediately consult a doctor in order to start treatment on time.

Urgent help from a specialist is also needed if a foreign object gets into the throat. At the first suspicion that the child may have inhaled or swallowed something, you must call a doctor; you cannot try to remove the object yourself.

Dry air can also cause a cough: in this case, the throat does not hurt and phlegm is not produced.

A dry, barking cough in a child without fever may be the result of an allergic reaction or even habitual diathesis. The main task of parents is to tell the attending physician about how the child eats and what products are used to care for the baby. There is no need to treat a child if he is only one year old, but the baby must be isolated from the source of the allergy.

If a child coughs, but does not experience symptoms characteristic of a cold, this is a reason to visit a doctor. Shortness of breath and an attack without fever may indicate hidden inflammatory processes in the child’s body.

Parents should know what kind of cough is normal and what signs they need to pay special attention to.

The cough reflex is the body's natural reaction to an irritant. This is how a person gets rid of viruses, bacteria, allergens and all kinds of microscopic compounds that can accidentally enter the respiratory system. If the cough is rare, with a frequency of 10-15 times per day, do not worry and rush to the pharmacy for medicine. This is normal.

In children under one year of age, an attack may occur in the following cases:

• If liquid in the form of tears, milk or saliva gets on the mucous tissue of the throat during teething.
• If there is dry air in the room, it dries out the skin and reduces the protective functions of the child’s body.
• Ingestion of a foreign body into the respiratory system. These can be regular crumbs during meals.

Cough as a reflection of illness

A cough without fever in a child may indicate the development of the disease. In this case, it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as chest pain or watery eyes. The nature of expectoration, its duration and accompanying symptoms will indicate the cause of the disease. An accurate diagnosis is made by a pediatrician or otolaryngologist based on an examination of a small patient and appropriate examination.

Based on the type of manifestation, experts distinguish several types of cough in a child.

Dry cough

Dry, or unproductive - sharp, paroxysmal, repeats for several minutes without mucus separation, often torments at night, sometimes itching in the respiratory tract and chest pain are felt. Unproductive expectoration may occur without fever. It indicates the onset of a viral infection. The following factors can lead to the development of an attack:

A severe dry cough without fever may indicate the development of tuberculosis, atrophic pharyngitis, tuberculous bronchoadenitis, and pulmonary echinococcosis. In order to verify the presence of a serious illness, a fluorographic examination is prescribed.

If a child’s cough syndrome lasts for several months, it becomes chronic and requires special treatment. A prolonged cough without fever in a child cannot be ignored, since the bronchi lose their function and the body begins to experience oxygen starvation. This condition is fraught with negative consequences: internal organs may suffer, immunity may decrease, and new diseases may appear.

Wet cough

A wet cough without fever is called productive. It is characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, and the release of secretions, after which it becomes easier for the patient to breathe. The attack does not last long, without significant manifestations of pain, and often torments the child at night if the sputum is difficult to clear. Typically, acute respiratory diseases lead to its appearance. However, such a symptom may indicate other dangerous respiratory diseases:

• If a child's cough is dry and then gradually becomes wet with purulent mucous discharge, it may be an indicator of the flu.
• When a baby has difficulty breathing, coughs loudly in the morning, and has no fever, these are signs of chronic bronchitis.
• If the cough is jerky, loud, intrusive and accompanied by fever, weakness, headache without fever, this is tracheitis.
• Attacks at night with heavy breathing indicate bronchial asthma.
• A wet, lingering cough without fever with bloody streaks in the sputum is evidence of tuberculosis.

When medical help is needed

A symptom in any manifestation should alert the baby’s parents. You should immediately contact your pediatrician for help in the following cases:

• If a child has a cough without fever for more than two weeks.
• When a baby coughs.
• For pain in the lower chest.
• If coughing is accompanied by purulent sputum, which may contain spots and blood streaks.
• When a child is choking, there is a whistling sound in the chest.
• After taking antibacterial drugs, the cough does not go away for a long time.

Rare cough in a child without fever with runny nose

The appearance of a cough and runny nose indicates that the baby has developed rhinitis. This often happens in autumn, winter and early spring, after hypothermia. A cough attack occurs when viscous mucus from the nose enters the larynx and begins to irritate the mucous membrane. In this case, the pediatrician prescribes appropriate treatment for a runny nose. It consists of rinsing the nose with special solutions, using nasal drops with a vasoconstrictor effect, and doing acupressure of the nose. When eliminating a rare cough and runny nose without fever, it is important to provide the baby with the following conditions:

• Drink plenty of water: fortified tea, compote, fruit juice.
• Ventilation and humidification of the air in the room in compliance with the correct temperature conditions - 18-20 0 C.
• Walks in the open air.
• Complete nutrition.
• Keeping your nose clean.

Treatment of cough in a child with medications

Treatment of cough in a child without fever should be comprehensive. Since an attack is one of the symptoms of the disease, it is important to eliminate the cause of its occurrence. Along with medication and folk treatment, children are prescribed special procedures in the form of compresses, rinses and inhalations. To achieve the best result, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations. Parents should know that there are different methods of dealing with annoying cough:

Antibiotics are prescribed when the cough is caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection of the upper respiratory tract and is accompanied by fever. This condition can occur with sore throat, otitis media, sinusitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, and mechanical damage to the larynx.

It is prohibited to independently select and take an antibacterial drug, since these drugs are strong and can be harmful to health. Despite the fact that antibiotics for coughs on the second day have a positive effect, they must be taken according to the scheme for 5-7 days. The drugs are divided into the following groups.

• Penicillin series: “Amoxicillin”, “Ampicillin”, “Oxacillin”, “Ampiox”, “Augmentin”, “Flemoxib-solutab”.
• Group of macrolides: Azithromycin, Sumamed, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin.
• Cephalosporin group: Cefazolin, Ceclor, Suprax, Izodepom.

Antitussives help with dry, painful and painful coughs that interfere with sleep and appetite. Medicines dilute mucus and promote its removal from the body. In pediatrics the following is used.

• "Glaucin" is a plant-based drug that has an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effect.
• “Butamirate” - acts on the cough center, relieves inflammation, saturates the bronchi with oxygen.
• "Tusuprex" - fights expectoration by reducing the sensitivity of the cough center.
• "Libexin" - eliminates sore throat, expands the lumens of the bronchi and changes the shape of the cough. It becomes not dry, but wet.
• "Delsim" - blocks the work of the cough center, treats attacks of dry cough caused by allergies.
• "Robitussin" - constricts blood vessels, relieves swelling and inflammation. The medication relieves prolonged coughing that accompanies colds.

Mucolytic expectorants help remove thick, sticky, difficult-to-clear mucus. This group includes:

• "Ambroxol" - thins mucus, promotes its increase, and cleanses the respiratory system.
• "Carbocisteine" - removes phlegm, regenerates the mucous tissues of the lungs and bronchi, normalizes their function.
• "Bromhexine" - reduces the viscosity of sputum, helps with expectoration, and makes breathing easier.
• "Fluimucil" - relieves inflammation in the bronchi, removes pathogenic mucus, and has an antioxidant effect.
• "Ambrobene" - successfully fights an attack that is accompanied by purulent sputum.
• "Lazolvan" - removes phlegm, restores the functioning of the epithelial tissue of the lungs, and helps to quickly get rid of cough.

During therapy, it must be taken into account that mucolytics and antitussive drugs are incompatible with each other and can harm the little person.

Healing recipes for cough treatment

Traditional medicine helps alleviate the condition of a sick child. Today, the advice of ancient healers is still relevant and is not rejected by scientists. Healer recipes serve as a good aid to the basic treatment for cough without fever:

Black radish with honey.

• The root crop is washed and cleaned.
• Make a small hole in the middle and fill it with honey.
• Leave for several hours.
• The resulting thick syrup is given to the child one teaspoon every two hours.

Warm milk with honey and butter gets rid of sticky mucus. The drink is drunk 3-4 times a day and always before bedtime.

An infusion of pine buds eliminates dry cough.

• A tablespoon of herbal raw materials is poured with half a liter of milk.
• Simmer in a sealed container over low heat for an hour.
• Filter and cool.
• Take 50 ml every 2-3 hours.

Onion syrup has a pronounced expectorant property.

• A medium-sized onion is peeled and chopped.
• The resulting mass is sprinkled with two teaspoons of sugar.
• Leave it overnight.
• The product is consumed in small portions every hour.

Aloe juice mixed in equal proportions with honey and butter. The healing potion is given to the child before meals four times a day.

Decoctions based on medicinal plants make breathing easier for the baby. You can use marshmallow, chamomile, coltsfoot, sage, and plantain herbs.

Inhalations in the treatment of cough

Inhalations with a nebulizer are indicated for children from the age of two. They are made on the basis of mineral water, medicinal herbs and special medicinal solutions. It is important to follow certain rules.

The procedure is carried out an hour after eating.

Inhalation is done three times a day for 10 minutes.

To achieve the best results during the procedure, it is recommended to breathe deeply several times.

Heat compresses are widely used in pediatric practice. They increase blood circulation and relieve swelling during inflammatory processes. The most effective are the following.

Potato compress.

• Two or three fruits are boiled unpeeled.
• Knead the mass with a fork.
• Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and two drops of iodine to it.
• Form a cake and wrap it with cotton cloth.
• Apply to the chest, cover with a warm scarf or blanket.
• The compress is removed when it cools down.

Cabbage with honey.

• The cabbage leaf is softened in boiling water for several minutes.
• Honey is melted in a water bath, and the temperature of the liquid used should not exceed 50 0 C.
• Warm bee product is applied to the baby's chest.
• A cabbage leaf is placed on top.
• The compress is covered with film and a warm scarf is placed on top.
• Leave it overnight.

Along with the listed methods, rubbing is effective, which is done before bedtime using badger, goat fat or lard. Such treatment methods are safe for babies, even in infancy. Correct actions by parents will help the child eliminate annoying cough in any form, even if it manifests itself without fever.

Cough is a common symptom that accompanies many diseases, especially when it comes to the fragile bodies of children. But sometimes it can confuse parents. During a cold, this reflex is considered almost normal. But the mysterious reasons that cause a cough when the baby looks completely healthy are very puzzling. It is very difficult to understand how to treat a cough in a child without fever, and what pathological processes are to blame. Let's figure out how you can alleviate the baby's condition.

Possible causes of prolonged cough without fever

The cough reflex is a normal response of the body aimed at cleansing the mucous membranes of various foreign bodies. This is often due to parental smoking, which causes irritation of the mucous membranes in children under one year old and even older. Cough often becomes a companion for teenagers who have contracted this habit.

Respiratory diseases

More often, cough in children under 5 years of age is caused by a common cold with a runny nose, occurring without a fever. Its symptoms are a sore and sore throat. Bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis in the initial stage are diseases that cause a wet cough, with wheezing clearly audible.

Acute or indolent infections

Adenoiditis, pneumonia, sinusitis, whooping cough, tonsillitis, and the early stage of tuberculosis are distinguished by attacks of loud and unproductive cough. Most often they appear at night.

Allergy

In this case, there is also no temperature. The irritating factor that provokes a dry cough is dust, pollen, insufficiently humid indoor air, food, etc.

Stress

A dry cough often signals a poor psychological state of the baby. A child's persistent dry cough suddenly goes away at night, while eating or talking. If your child is 6 years old and has just started going to school, it could be school stress.

Helminths

Worms, carried through the bloodstream throughout the body, reach the lungs and cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes. Because of them, a dry, hard cough appears, similar to allergic symptoms.

Digestive and cardiovascular diseases

With heart disease, there is a cough, with no other symptoms. It can be detected as early as 3 weeks after the baby is born. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. This leads to damage to the bronchi: a prolonged cough intensifies after each meal.

What is the danger of a prolonged dry cough in a child without fever?

An extremely prolonged cough in a child without fever will inevitably lead to complications.

A persistent cough without other symptoms of illness for several weeks should be a reason for additional examination of the child.

The most common complications:

1. Pathologies of the respiratory tract that are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature develop into bronchial asthma or bronchitis.
2. Permanent irritation of the mucous membrane makes it sensitive. Swelling is fertile ground for various infections.
3. Frequent dry cough in a child 9 months and older at night will provoke difficulty breathing through the nose; otitis media and sinusitis are likely complications.

To avoid such unpleasant consequences, the child must be shown to a doctor.

How you can help

Increasing the humidity in the room can significantly improve the condition. The optimal value is 60%, but 50 and 70% are acceptable. In winter, containers with water are placed in the room; in summer, wet towels are hung. But the best solution would be to buy a special humidifier. The child must be given plenty to drink often. This will soothe the mucous membrane and relieve irritation.

Pharmacy medications as prescribed by a doctor

A prolonged cough in a child without fever requires immediate and qualified treatment. Therefore, a doctor should prescribe suitable drugs from a wide list of drugs. Depending on the cause, medications from the following groups are prescribed:

1. Antibiotics. They are prescribed only if the cause of a severe cough in a child without fever is a bacterial infection. The choice of drug (Ampicillin, Doxycillin) and its exact dosage is determined only by the doctor.
2. Antihistamines, if the cough is caused by an allergen (Zyrtec, Zodak, Loratadine, Cetrin, Edem, Erius).
3. Mucolytic agents act on thick sputum, significantly thinning it and simplifying its discharge. These include Ambrobene, ACC, Bromhexine, Bronchipret.
4. Coughing. Necessary if sputum appears, but its separation is difficult. Children are more often prescribed licorice root syrup, Bronchicum, Lazolvan, Prospan.
5. Antitussives. They are prescribed for debilitating cough. Suitable for children: Codelac, Libexin, Omnitus.
6. Vitamins, drugs to support immunity (Anaferon, Arbidol, Derinat).

Antitussives should not be given to a child on their own without a doctor’s prescription. Such drugs only help with coughs caused by allergies, whooping cough or oncology.

Inhalations

A rare dry cough in a child is treated with inhalations: the usual method or a nebulizer. At home, it is allowed to use herbal infusions, decoctions, and water with the addition of essential oils. The medications for these procedures are prescribed by the doctor. A prerequisite is the absence of temperature.

The most common recipes:

1. Herbal infusions and decoctions: St. John's wort, calendula, plantain, chamomile, thyme or eucalyptus. Any of the options will do. 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water, infused, filtered, and slightly heated. Inhalation is performed for 5 minutes; a total of 3 procedures can be done per day.
2. Soda. For inhalation, take 1 tsp and stir in boiling water. Breathe over the steam for 3-5 minutes. The recipe relieves coughing attacks and promotes rapid removal of phlegm. For greater effect, mix soda and salt.

These recipes are universal; they help overcome almost any child’s cough - wet or dry. The exception is its allergic form, which requires treatment with medications.

Sometimes it is better to purchase a nebulizer, since you can treat a child with it not only with decoctions, essential oils, but also with pharmaceutical drugs. Without the intervention of a doctor, it is allowed to use only two liquids for the nebulizer - Borjomi or saline solution. The procedure prescribed by the doctor is often carried out with bronchodilators (Berodual, Ventolin), mucolytics (Ambrobene, Lazolvan, Fluimucil), antibiotics (Rotokan or Dekasan).

Massage

If a child coughs but does not have a fever, then drainage massage is recommended, which is used to combat many diseases. This procedure is suitable for any age, as it:

• improves the functioning of the circulatory and lymphatic systems;
• makes breathing easier;
• strengthens muscles and immunity.

Massage should not be performed immediately after eating, when the child does not feel well, with anemia, skin diseases, or in a feverish state.

Do drainage massage 10 times: 5 days, 2 times.

1. The child is placed on his stomach, a pillow is placed under him so that the head is slightly lower than the body.
2. First, the bronchial area is massaged, rubbing and stroking are applied.
3. Then, stepping back a little from the spine, light pinching with both hands begins from the bottom up, their location should be symmetrical.
4. Having retreated further from the spine, the pinching is repeated. In this way the entire back is covered.
5. Using the same scheme, light tapping with the ribs of the palms is performed, the movements should “draw” a Christmas tree.
6. Finish the back massage with light blows with your fists, asking you to clear your throat and turning over onto your back.
7. The chest is rubbed clockwise in a circular motion, starting from the sternum.

After these manipulations, the baby is covered with a blanket and left to lie for an hour.

Radish, cabbage and other vegetables

Traditional medicine has many recipes that alleviate the condition of a sick child. The following are most often used:

1. Black radish, honey. If the baby does not have gastrointestinal diseases, then the remedy is allowed. A hole is cut in the core of the vegetable, a spoonful of honey is poured in, the “lid” is closed and left for 4-5 hours. The child is given 1 tsp. 3-4 times. The course is from a week to 10 days. The radish is not thrown away, but used for several days, adding honey periodically. It is better to do this at night so that a new portion of juice has time to form.
2. Cabbage. The leaves are separated from the head of cabbage and placed in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Melt the honey and pour it onto the leaves. Compresses are applied to the back and chest, covered with polyethylene, and the torso is wrapped in a warm scarf. Leave the cabbage overnight. Treatment is continued for 5-7 days. Due to possible allergies to honey, it should be used with caution.
3. Garlic, onion. If parents are often bothered by a child’s cough without fever at night, then this decoction can be a salvation. Add 3 onions to a peeled head of garlic, pour in a liter of milk, and boil until the vegetables become soft. Add honey to the cooled drink and give 1 tbsp. l. day and night when the attack occurred.
4. Radish with carrots. The juice of these vegetables is mixed with milk in equal parts. Give the baby a tablespoon up to 5 times a day.

Decoctions of medicinal herbs

Herbal teas are an affordable and effective drink for any cough.

Treatment of cough with folk remedies gives a milder effect. As a rule, all these techniques help not only fight the underlying infection, but also strengthen the immune system.

The concentration of nutrients in drinks is high, therefore, due to the nature of the treatment of infants, they should only be used with the permission of the pediatrician. Other age groups also need approval for similar treatments.

1. Chamomile. Disinfects and thins mucus. Allowed for children over 3 years old. To prepare tea, take 1 tbsp. l. herbs, pour boiling water, then leave for 30-60 minutes. Children are given 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day until symptoms disappear. The drink is also suitable for inhalation.
2. Oregano. Helps remove thick mucus. 2 tbsp. l. pour one glass of boiling water, steep the tea for 30 minutes, then filter. Berries or honey are added to the drink. Give ½ glass.
3. Licorice. Relieves swelling, thins thick mucus. 20 g of crushed roots are poured into 700 ml of boiling water, placed in a water bath for 10 minutes, then removed and left for an hour. Children are given a glass after meals 3 times a day.
4. Thyme. The herb relieves inflammation of the respiratory tract and relieves painful symptoms. 1 tbsp. l. pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave for an hour. Children over 3 years old are given ½ cup twice a day.

Compresses

This treatment method is used when a child has a severe cough without fever. Popular traditional medicines include the following:

• Potato compress. Vegetables (2-4 pieces) are boiled with their peels, kneaded until mushy, and placed on cheesecloth or cloth. The not very hot potatoes are placed on the back, covered with parchment, and the child is wrapped warmly. Keep the compress for 2 hours, then remove and cover the heated area with a blanket. Two or three procedures are enough for relief to occur.
• Badger fat. It is melted in advance in a water bath, moistened with a napkin or gauze, and applied to the back and chest, bypassing the heart area. Cover with wax paper, and carefully wrap the patient. Keep the compress for an hour. If the cough is very severe, it is additionally recommended to rub with warm fat before going to bed.
• Mustard and honey. The ingredients are mixed in a 1:1 ratio, then applied in a thin layer directly to the back, covered with film, the baby is wrapped, and the mustard mass is left overnight. For older children add 1 tbsp. l. vodka. The product is not recommended if you are prone to allergies.

Antitussive diet

To eliminate a rare cough in a child without fever, it is recommended to supplement treatment measures with nutritional correction. The diet must include a variety of vegetables and fruits, but with a dry cough, citrus fruits, which provoke irritation of the mucous membrane, are excluded. The best nutrition would be:

• oatmeal with a liquid consistency;
• mashed potatoes with cream or milk;
• radish salads with apples and vegetable oils;
• various nuts;
• compotes, jelly and fruit drinks.

Boiled milk with butter will soften your throat. Food that is too hot or cold is prohibited.

What to do if the cough does not go away for two weeks or more

If a child coughs painfully and for a long time, there are no new symptoms, and the situation does not change for more than a month, then it is most likely that the condition is caused by an allergen, stress, or excessively dry air. If the humidity level can be increased, then the remaining provocateurs should be dealt with by doctors - an allergist or psychologist.

Children often catch colds in spring and autumn. One of the signs of a wide range of diseases is cough. It happens that loved ones do not pay due attention to a dry cough if there are no signs of a rise in the baby’s body temperature. But this sign needs to be given close attention, and the sooner you start dealing with this problem, the better.

A dry cough is called, not accompanied by mucus or sputum. Attacks of such cough in children can be painful and severe. Every adult and child at times has the urge to cough, helping the body clear the airways of accumulated mucus and dust. This is a normal physiological reaction of the body and should not cause anxiety in parents. It’s another matter if the cough is repeated many times, unproductive, worsens at night and ends with weakness and vomiting. In this case, it is necessary to show the child to the local pediatrician.

Dry cough is varied in its manifestations; it is divided according to its nature, duration, and cause of occurrence:

The most common causes of dry cough:

• Penetration of a foreign object into the lumen of the trachea. This may be a tiny speck that will activate the cough reaction.
• Chronic bronchitis as a complication after a previous infection. Symptoms of intoxication go away, but the cough remains.
• Asthma. This cough will most torment the child at night, as well as after physical or emotional stress. These attacks can annoy the baby several times a day.
• Allergy. Most often, allergic cough occurs during the flowering of certain plants. Children can react in a similar way to household chemicals and large amounts of house dust.
• A serious manifestation of a dry cough can be a child becoming infected with tuberculosis. The disease begins in an ordinary way, with a slight cough and malaise, weakness, lethargy of the child; in this case, only a visit to the pediatrician can help recognize the disease and begin the necessary therapy. Never self-medicate in such cases, because you can quickly start the process and face serious complications of this disease.
• Difficulties with the digestion process. When belching, hydrochloric acid from the gastric juice enters the esophagus, irritating its walls and causing an unproductive cough.
• Stress. Often children may cough when experiencing emotional stress. This condition goes away without consequences after the child calms down.
• Whooping cough is a serious infectious disease that usually begins with the appearance of a high fever and the appearance of a rash, but recently an uncharacteristic development of this disease has occurred. A specific “whooping cough” is characterized by a buzzing sound, lacrimation, and protrusion of the tongue during coughing attacks.

Treatment of dry cough without fever in children.

A dry cough without fever in children is more difficult to cure than a common cold. The use of medications and medicinal herbs for children under 5 years of age is carried out only in agreement with the local pediatrician. Treatment of cough at home comes down to warm compresses, lotions and inhalations. Helps overcome coughing with a remedy made from equal parts of natural honey and lemon juice. Children over five years old You can give lozenges and cough lozenges.Inhalations are considered one of the effective methods for dry cough. The procedures can be carried out using a steam inhaler or a device with compressed air.The active ingredients are:

• Isotonic sodium chloride solution,
• Natural mineral water,
• Baking soda solution (a teaspoon of soda per 200 ml of boiled water).

The use of a steam inhaler gives excellent results, but the use of this device on young children must be strictly supervised. The presence of steam in the design can heat up the inhalation mask, which can lead to burns to the delicate skin of the child or the reluctance of children to undergo these procedures. During therapy, children should be provided with sufficient warm water. (not hot!) drink. These can be compotes, rosehip decoctions, lingonberry or cranberry juice, tea with lemon, infusions of coltsfoot, thyme, oregano.

Prevention of dry cough in children.

Weakened children should undergo hardening activities in advance. Get used to physical exercise, swimming, and regular walks in the fresh air. Ventilate the nursery daily and use humidifiers in the nursery during the winter. Perform regular sanitation of the oral cavity to avoid unnecessary foci of infection. You should not overuse self-treatment, so as not to accidentally overlook a serious illness. If you see that your child’s cough does not stop for several days, does not become productive, or does not show other cold symptoms, then you should insist on additional examination. The sooner the causes of the disease are identified, the greater the chance that the disease will not become chronic and complications will not appear.

Cough is the body’s protective reaction to the introduction of a foreign agent into the respiratory tract. Based on the nature of sputum discharge, it is divided into wet and dry. This allows you to select the right treatment in the future.

Causes of cough in a child without fever:

• allergic component;
• inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract;
• foreign bodies in the respiratory tract;
• helminthic infestations;
• physiological cough.

Allergies and cough in a child

Children, especially under one year of age, are often susceptible to diathesis. Against this background, a paroxysmal dry cough may occur. The main thing here is to eliminate the allergen: dust particles, pet hair, indoor plants.

Pediatrician Baranov A.A. in his book he describes the primary and secondary prevention of allergic sensitization. To prevent hypersensitivity, you need to:

• maintain for as long as possible (at least 6 months);
• eliminate passive smoking;
• periodically (2 times a year) donate blood for specific Ig E, which indicates the presence of an allergic component;
• exclude contact with animals, dust, etc. (hypoallergenic life);
• follow a hypoallergenic diet.

If allergy symptoms occur, treatment is carried out with antihistamines (Zodak, Zyrtec, Loratadine), inhalations with drugs that expand the lumen of the bronchi (Berodual, etc.) up to 3 times a day. Inhalations with physiological saline solution (to moisturize the mucous membrane of the bronchi and upper respiratory tract).

It is necessary to strictly observe the age dosage and follow the doctor’s prescriptions. Any medications have contraindications, which must be read before use!

These are insidious inflammatory diseases that are accompanied by a dry hacking cough. When it occurs, it has a “barking” character and is accompanied by hoarseness of voice.

It is dangerous because with it, especially in young children, swelling of the larynx quickly increases and an attack of suffocation may occur.

In practice, this usually happens in infants at 6–7 months. Laryngitis and bronchitis are a consequence of a cold and may be accompanied by other respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose. The cough can become chronic and last up to 2-3 months if not treated adequately.

What to do to prevent chronic cough?

1. First aid for acute laryngitis is inhalation with saline and adrenaline, in a ratio of 1:5, up to five times a day. This quickly relieves swelling of the larynx.
2. Drink plenty of fluids. You can give still mineral water in small sips.
3. Antitussives and mucolytics.

Foreign body in the respiratory tract

The cause of a cough may be the accidental entry of balls, buttons, coins or small stationery into the respiratory tract. The cough begins suddenly, the child’s voice disappears, breathing becomes difficult, and the skin turns blue.

In this case, an emergency call to the ambulance is necessary! Parents, be careful! Do not leave your baby unattended, hide all small objects!

Because of this, skin rashes may occur, total immunoglobulin E and eosinophils in the blood may increase, which will falsely lead the doctor to think about an allergy.

But experienced pediatricians know that if allergic dermatitis or an allergic cough is suspected, it is necessary to exclude helminthic infestations in the child.

Twice a year it is necessary to take tests for eggs, especially if the child attends a children's group, and, if necessary, carry out sanitation with anthelmintic drugs.

Medications in the treatment of pathological cough in children

Antitussives are divided into:

• expectorants;
• mucolytic.

The first group is used to improve sputum discharge. Drugs from the second group are intended to liquefy it.

Expectorants:

• Codelac;
• Bronchicum.

• Ambroxol (Ambrobene, Lazolvan);
• Ascoril.

The most common in pediatric practice is Ambroxol, or Ambrobene.

The drug is quite good, the effect occurs quickly, and can be prescribed from the age of three months in the form of syrups. Used up to 2 - 3 times a day orally or in the form of inhalations. The ACC drug is used in the form of syrup from 2 years of age.

Children under 3 years of age should be given these drugs with caution, as there is rapid and profuse discharge of large quantities of sputum.

It is difficult for a baby to cough up such a volume. A good effect is achieved by using a nebulizer, thanks to which the drug directly enters the bronchi and lungs.

Herbal remedies are also useful. True, in order to avoid allergic reactions, you should not get carried away with them. For infants, calendula, chamomile and thyme are used.

Physiological cough

In newborns, due to the anatomical features of the respiratory system (the bronchial mucosa is delicate, covered with many blood vessels and a thin layer of mucus), a physiological cough often occurs, which allows the upper respiratory tract to be cleared of accumulated mucus.

Its peculiarity is that:

• it is not accompanied by a rise in temperature;
• the baby eats well, sleeps, and is not capricious;
• does not require drug treatment.

Doctor Komarovsky advises to eliminate this type of cough:

• ventilate the room 3 - 4 times a day for 10 minutes;
• perform daily wet cleaning;
• humidify the air;
• walk in the fresh air for 1.5 hours.

During teething, in the fourth to fifth month of life, the child experiences profuse salivation, which may result in coughing. It also does not require treatment.

In general, we can say that coughing in infants under one year of age is a completely normal symptom, if there is no cough. This clears the airways of accumulated mucus and dust.