Children's Cough (Part One)

Coughing is a natural protective mechanism for clearing the respiratory tract from various irritants; simple (smoke, gases, dust, etc.) or problematic (infections, foreign bodies, etc.). We distinguish what is called "wet cough" and "dry cough".

When a child has a cough, how do we soothe it?

The doctor advises some simple measures, valid for all types of cough.

1. Give them more fluids to drink, especially warm ones.
2. Moisturize the environment with available means.
3. Relieve them from excessive clothing.
4. Steam with water (without other substances) or with a device.
5. For children over one year old, a cup of warm milk with a spoon of honey, 3 times a day (not for children under one year old). For older children, a mint candy.
6. Keep them away from irritating environments (where smoking is done, gas is used for heating, etc.
7. If they vomit food after coughing, feed them more often and in small amounts.

What about medicines?

Don't rely too much on them, but if you do go to a pharmacy on your own, choose according to the type of cough: for wet or dry cough (do not go by the name, the composition is what matters). Never antibiotics, without consulting a doctor.

When should we contact the doctor? Parents ask.

We advise that a visit should be made quickly for children under 2 months. Cough is accompanied by some signs called "alarm signs" such as:

• very frequent, difficult, and noisy breathing.
• Barking cough.
• Blueness around the lips.
• Refusal of fluids
• Whenever a foreign body is suspected.

Non-urgent visits should be made:

• if the cough is accompanied by fever, for more than 3 days.
• when the cough continues for more than 2 weeks.
• in cases of cough with severe chest pain (people say it burns).
• when it is suspected to be related to any particular circumstance

MOUTH PAINS

Unlike adults, children express mouth or throat discomfort in different ways, mostly related to age. Regardless of the cause, the little ones fuss, cry, and refuse to eat, seemingly without reason; while slightly older children point and say it burns or hurts "here, here, and here". If you notice problems of this nature, to orient yourself with the end of a spoon gently check the mouth and throat area to see any changes (redness, sores, bite marks, blisters, etc.).

When there is mouth pain, how do we soothe it?

Wet your finger with refrigerator water and pass it over the mouth area. Pain is also relieved by Paracetamol, so you can give it to them. Older children can keep a mint candy in their mouth or give them ice cream. If they are not caused by bites of the cheek flesh, minor burns at the tip of the tongue, emerging teeth just with that etc. In other cases, especially when you see specific changes yourself, for further contact the doctor who will recommend treatment according to the cause.

What could be the causes?

The causes are numerous, starting from the home environment. If there is smoking, then the child "smokes" passively as well. Older children might have started smoking, so tactfully check pockets and the smell of the mouth (both boys and girls). Another cause is gas for heating or cooking etc. Special emotional states also have an impact.

A significant and often problematic place is occupied by allergies and infections. The most common infections, from viruses and then from microbes, cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, most frequently during cold seasons. Children up to the age of 3-4 years who attend collective environments (nurseries, kindergartens, etc.) are more predisposed. Cough with abundant secretions from the nose, of a yellow color; can also be caused by sinusitis.