Quick Action Guide
🚨 SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP IF:
- • Child has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
- • Breathing faster than usual
- • Blue or dusky color to lips, face, or tongue
- • High fever (especially without runny nose)
- • Any fever in child under 3 months old
- • Child under 3 months coughing for more than a few hours
📞 CALL DOCTOR NOW IF:
- • Makes "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
- • Coughing up blood
- • Has stridor (noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
- • Has wheezing when breathing out (unless you have asthma action plan)
- • Child is weak, cranky, or irritable
- • Signs of dehydration (dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth)
🏠 TRY AT HOME FIRST:
- • Use cool-mist humidifier in bedroom
- • Encourage plenty of fluids
- • For croup: steam bathroom or cool air exposure
- • Elevate head of bed slightly
- • Use saline nasal drops for congestion
✅ PREVENTION TIPS:
- • Keep up with recommended vaccinations
- • Practice good hand hygiene
- • Avoid smoke exposure
- • Maintain clean indoor air
- • Cover coughs and sneezes
What Are Coughs?
Definition
Coughs are one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness. A cough can sound awful, but usually isn't a sign of a serious condition. In fact, coughing is a healthy and important reflex that helps protect the airways in the throat and chest.
When to See a Doctor
Sometimes, though, a cough needs a doctor's care. Understanding the different types of cough can help you know when to handle them at home and when to call your doctor. Many health care providers now offer telehealth visits, which can save parents a trip to the office, especially for a nighttime cough.
Different Types of Coughs
🐕 "Barky" Cough
- • Caused by: Swelling in the upper airway, usually from croup
- • Characteristics: Sounds like a seal or dog barking
- • Timing: Often starts suddenly, especially in the middle of the night
- • Accompanied by: Stridor (noisy, harsh breathing when inhaling)
- • Risk factors: Kids under 3 are most at risk due to smaller airways
- • Treatment: Steam, cool air exposure, or medical attention if severe
😤 Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
- • Caused by: Bordetella pertussis bacteria
- • Characteristics: Spells of back-to-back coughs without breathing in between
- • Sound: Deep breath in after coughing makes a "whooping" sound
- • Other symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, low-grade fever
- • Risk factors: Most severe in infants under 1 year without pertussis vaccine
- • Prevention: DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, 6, 15 months, and 4-6 years
🎵 Cough With Wheezing
- • Sound: Wheezing (whistling) sound when breathing out
- • Indicates: Lower airways in lungs are swollen
- • Common causes: Asthma or viral infection bronchiolitis
- • Emergency: Can happen if lower airway is blocked by foreign object
- • Action needed: Child who starts coughing after inhaling something should see doctor
🌙 Nighttime Cough
- • Common cause: Mucus from nose and sinuses drains down throat during sleep
- • Problem level: Only concerning if it prevents child from sleeping
- • Asthma trigger: Airways more sensitive and irritable at night
- • Management: Elevate head, use humidifier, address underlying cause
☀️ Daytime Cough
- • Triggers: Cold air or activity can make coughs worse
- • Environmental factors: Check for air freshener, pets, or smoke exposure
- • Prevention: Avoid tobacco smoke and other irritants
- • Management: Address environmental triggers
🌡️ Cough With a Fever
- • Mild fever + runny nose: Probably common cold
- • High fever (102°F/39°C+): May indicate pneumonia
- • Warning signs: Child is weak and breathing fast
- • Action: Call doctor right away for high fever with cough
🤮 Cough With Vomiting
- • Common cause: Coughing triggers gag reflex
- • Mucus drainage: Lots of mucus drains into stomach causing nausea
- • When to worry: Only if vomiting doesn't stop
- • Management: Usually not cause for alarm
⏰ Lasting (Persistent) Cough
- • Viral colds: Can last weeks, especially with back-to-back colds
- • Other causes: Asthma, allergies, chronic infection in sinuses or airways
- • When to call doctor: If cough lasts more than 3 weeks
- • Evaluation needed: May require medical assessment for underlying conditions
How Are Types of Coughs Diagnosed?
When to Call Your Doctor
If you're concerned about your child's cough, call your doctor. Depending on the type of cough, other symptoms, and how long it's lasting, the doctor might want to see your child.
Telehealth Visits
Many health care providers now offer telehealth visits, which can save parents a trip to the office (especially for a nighttime cough). "Video chatting" lets doctors see and hear a child cough, and often this is enough to make a diagnosis or rule out a serious problem. Hearing the cough will help the doctor decide whether (and how) to treat it.
How Are Coughs Treated?
Most Coughs Are Viral
Most coughs are caused by viruses and have to just run their course. Sometimes, this can take up to 2 weeks. Doctors usually don't prescribe antibiotics because these only work against bacteria.
Cough Medicines
- • Not usually needed: Unless a cough won't let your child sleep
- • Limited effectiveness: They might help stop coughing but don't treat the cause
- • Consult doctor first: Call to be sure of correct dose and safety
- • Avoid combination medicines: Like "Tylenol Cold" - can cause overdose
- • Age restriction: Not recommended for children under 6 years old
How Can I Help My Child Feel Better?
For "Barky" or "Croupy" Cough
- • Turn on hot water in shower and close door to steam up bathroom
- • Sit in bathroom with child for about 20 minutes
- • Steam should help child breathe more easily
- • Try reading a book together to pass the time
General Comfort Measures
- • Cool-mist humidifier in child's bedroom for better sleep
- • Brief exposure to cool air outdoors (10-15 minutes)
- • Cool beverages like juice can be soothing
- • Keep child hydrated
- • Avoid soda or orange juice (can hurt sore throat)
For Asthma
- • Make sure you have an asthma action plan from doctor
- • Plan should help you choose right asthma medicines
- • Follow the plan exactly as prescribed
- • Keep rescue inhaler accessible
Cough Drops
- • OK for older kids
- • Kids under 3 years can choke on them
- • Better to avoid unless doctor says they're safe
- • Check with doctor before using
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Always call your doctor if your child is coughing and:
Breathing Problems:
- • Has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
- • Is breathing faster than usual
- • Has a blue or dusky color to lips, face, or tongue
- • Has stridor (noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
- • Has wheezing when breathing out (unless you have asthma action plan)
Fever & Other Symptoms:
- • Has a high fever (especially without runny or stuffy nose)
- • Has any fever and is younger than 3 months old
- • Is younger than 3 months and coughing for more than a few hours
- • Makes a "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
- • Is coughing up blood
Also call if your child is:
- • Weak, cranky, or irritable
- • Dehydrated (dizziness, drowsiness, dry/sticky mouth, sunken eyes, crying with little/no tears, peeing less often)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long should a cough last?
A: Most coughs from colds last 1-2 weeks, but some can persist for 3-4 weeks. If a cough lasts more than 2 weeks or is getting worse, it's time to see your pediatrician. Chronic coughs may indicate underlying conditions that need medical attention.
Q: Should I give my child cough medicine?
A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 6 years old due to potential side effects and lack of proven effectiveness. For older children, consult your pediatrician first. Focus on comfort measures like humidifiers and fluids.
Q: When is a cough considered an emergency?
A: Seek immediate medical attention if your child has difficulty breathing, turns blue, has a high fever with severe cough, shows signs of dehydration, or if you're concerned about their breathing. Trust your instincts - if you're worried, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Q: What's the difference between croup and whooping cough?
A: Croup causes a "barky" cough due to swelling in the upper airway, often worse at night. Whooping cough (pertussis) causes rapid back-to-back coughs followed by a "whooping" sound when breathing in. Croup is usually viral, while whooping cough is bacterial and preventable with vaccination.
Q: Can I use honey for my child's cough?
A: Honey can be soothing for coughs in children over 1 year old, but never give honey to infants under 12 months due to the risk of botulism. For children over 1, a small amount of honey (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) can help soothe a sore throat and reduce coughing.
Q: What should I do if my child is wheezing?
A: Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out) can indicate asthma, bronchiolitis, or a foreign object in the airway. If your child starts wheezing suddenly after inhaling something, seek immediate medical attention. For known asthma, follow your asthma action plan. Otherwise, call your doctor promptly.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general information about coughing in children and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment. If your child has concerning symptoms or you're worried about their breathing, seek medical attention promptly. Trust your parental instincts—if you notice any respiratory concerns in your child, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.