If your child is unwell with a fever, runny nose and cough it is best to keep them home and reduce the chance of spreading their infection to others. Is it OK to send my child to school if they have a cough? If your child coughs mainly at night and less during the day, this may represent asthma and should be investigated by your GP. If they are over 12 months, consider giving them some honey to soothe the irritation in their throat. My child’s cough is keeping them awake at night. How to recognise the different types of cough in children Honey may be helpful, but should only be used in children over 12 months old.Cough medicines are of no proven benefit and may be harmful to children under the age of six years.Most coughs don't require treatment, and will not respond to antibiotics.Most young children get respiratory tract infections six to 12 times a year.Cough is a very common problem for children, and is usually caused by respiratory tract infections.If you are concerned that your child may have asthma, see your GP for an examination and more information. Many children with asthma also suffer from allergies and eczema. Usually, children with asthma will have other symptoms as well, such as wheeze and difficulty breathing. Could it be asthma?Ī child who has a persistent cough at night might have asthma. If the cough lasts for many weeks and you are worried, your GP may refer you to a paediatrician (specialist children's doctor).Ī wet sounding cough, or a cough with phlegm, that casts for four or more weeks as this type of cough could have other causes. Some post-viral coughs may be present for many weeks after your child has recovered from the respiratory tract infection, for example, after bronchiolitis. If your child has a high fever, difficulty breathing, is not drinking very much or has fewer wet nappies than usual, take them to see the GP. If your child seems unwell and you are concerned, it is a good idea to take them to your GP. The doctor will check your child for other causes of cough. Honey should be avoided in children less than 12 months old, because there may be a risk of a rare condition called botulism, which causes muscle weakness. As a short-term solution, one to two teaspoons of honey taken 30 minutes before bedtime may be helpful for children older than 12 months. There is some evidence that honey may reduce the severity and duration of a cough.Children older than six should only take cough medicines on the advice of a health professional. However, there is no scientific evidence that cough medicines will be helpful.Cough medicines should not be used in children younger than six years old. Cough medicines are not useful in treating cough in children in fact, recent studies suggest that some cough medicines may be harmful to younger children.Cigarette smoke will make the cough worse, so it is essential that you do not expose your child to smoke. If your child is otherwise well, it is unlikely that there will be a serious cause for the cough. In these cases, antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to treat a bacterial infection. Occasionally a cough may be caused by a bacterial infection in the throat or chest. Sometimes, children may cough for many weeks after a viral infection – this is called a post-viral cough and, again, antibiotics are usually no help. Young children usually have six to 12 respiratory tract infections per year, usually caused by viruses.Īntibiotics don't help with coughs caused by viruses. Cough is a very common problem for children. The most common cause of cough is a respiratory tract infection, such as a cold.
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