Identify And Treat A Toddler Cough – From Coughing At Night To A Persistent Cough There Is A Remedy

Tweet 

The first time your little bundle of joy starts to sound unwell can be a worrying time. Should you go to sleep or stay awake and monitor them? Should they be in a warm room or a cooler room? They can’t tell you what is wrong so you will naturally worry even more because you don’t know what to do.

Let’s take a common condition often endured by babies and toddlers – a cough. This can be distressing for parents because it sounds so bad, maybe worse than it actually is. A cough can cause irritation, difficulty in breathing and discomfort but some basic observations can help you work out why they are coughing and how you can help them feel better.

Does your toddler cough a lot? Is your toddler coughing at night? It is likely there is a toddler cough remedy available that you can try in the first instance before making a visit to your doctor. Of course I urge you to obtain a professional diagnosis as soon as possible. One thing is for sure, a coughing toddler can have a major effect on family life, especially through the night.

Here are the most common causes of baby and toddler coughs, how to recognise them and what you can do to alleviate the symptoms.

Teething

Symptoms:

• A straight forward, non-productive cough that is short and infrequent.

When our daughter was teething we noticed that she would cough at night. It was strange because she would not cough in the day, only after she’d gone to bed. We were not sure what we should do; provide fresh air to her room, give her some water, elevate her bed.

We consulted our doctor who told us it could simply be down to the fact she was teething. When babies start pushing their teeth through they produce increased levels of saliva. As they sleep the saliva collects and trickles towards the back of their mouths. The natural reaction is for them to cough.

Remedies:

• There is little you can do for them and the cough will subside as the teething does.

Common Cold

Symptoms:

• A cough that may be accompanied by phlegm and a sound of mucus rattling within the throat
• Other cold symptoms may be present;
• A runny nose
• Sneezing
• Mild fever

When a child has a common cold, like us they will feel generally unwell and congested. Their nose will be runny, they will sneeze and a cough is usually present. What also happens is that mucus collects at the back of the nose and begins to drip down to the throat. This activates the cough reflex causing your child’s cough. The cough will normally last for the same length of time as the cold virus.

When I get a cold I don’t usually cough until after it has passed. The mucus that is ingested throughout the duration of the cold settles on my chest. I then spend a few days coughing it up.

Remedies:

• Avoid cough medicines as they are not normally effective nor recommended for such young children
• Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids (water or juice are best)
• You can also use a humidifier in their room to help sooth their throats and loosen any mucus
• A spoonful of honey can help too; it is only to be given to children over 1 and it can coat their throat to allivieate soreness

Bronchiolitis

Symptoms:

• A phlegmy cough with high-pitched whistling or wheezing as they breathe
• The cough is likely to be productive and there may be vomiting
• It is likely a child will have shallow breathing
• They may become lethargic
• Skin tone may look a little grey

Bronchiolitis is an infection that causes the bronchioles to swell and become inflamed. The Bronchioles are airways that lead to the lungs. The condition is often caused by a common cold with the usual signs and symptoms showing; runny nose, congestion and fever.

When Bronchiolitis sets in, it can cause shortness of breath and lethargy. Our little 4 month old has suffered this recently. She began with her first cold virus that concerned us enough but it simply made her uncomfortable, unable to sleep properly and in turn had an effect on us. Grumpy parents with little sleep can’t cope!

We took her to a doctor after a week as her cough was so severe and it was causing her to vomit. There was a rattle in her chest and she looked a bit grey. We were told to get her to hospital that day to a paediactric unit.

We panicked, as many parents would, mainly because we were told she was not breathing properly and was not getting enough oxygen. There was a possibility that she would have to stay overnight on a drip. Could it really be this bad? In our case we were told that she was not so serious that any further treatment was required.

Remedies:

• Plenty of liquids; they may not have full bottles of milk but are more likely to take less and more often
• There is little or no proof that using steam or moist air actually helps this condition but many parents do use this remedy
• Plenty of Calpol or Paracetamol (suitable for infants) will help make your child feel better
• However if their condition changes and they lips lose color, they become dehydrated or their breathing is labored get to a doctor or the hospital

Asthma

Symptoms:

• A wheezy cough that just won’t stop, mostly at night or after physical activity
• No other cold or viral symptoms.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes the small airways into the lungs to swell and spasm. There is a build-up of mucus, your child may be wheezing and may have difficulty in drawing breath. The condition can be worsened by cold weather, family pets and pollen or other pollutants.

Remedies:

• The only remedy here is to take your child to the doctor. It may not be full blown Asthma; in our case it was just a chest infection causing our eldest daughter’s wheezy cough. We were given a nebulizer with a little face mask, that attaches to an inhaler. She hated it but using it every night before bed really helped. If Asthma is diagnosed some kind of inhaler medication may be necessary.

Croup

Symptoms:

• A barking cough and hoarseness, often likened to the call of a seal or sea lion.

Croup, or laryngotracheobronchitis, is a respiratory condition usually caused by a viral infection of the upper airway. It results in the swelling of inner throat, which interferes with a child’s breathing and produces the barking cough.

Remedies:

• Again it is suggested you use an air humidifier or steam, from a hot bath for example
• A dose of steroids can be used to treat Croup and that is something for your doctor to advise you on.

Whooping Cough

Symptoms:

• Initially symptoms may be mild, then get worse as it develops into severe coughing fits.
• The name of this condition is from the high-pitched whoop sound that occurs when a child inhales after coughing.

Whooping cough is also known as Pertussis and can be prevented with a vaccination.

Remedies:

•  Antibiotics
• Plenty of fluids
• Seek advice from your doctor

Pneumonia

Symptoms:

• A phlegmy cough with labored breathing
• Fever
• Aches
• Chest pain
• Vomiting

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs. It is caused by an infection but can also be caused by bacteria and viruses. It reduces the air space in the lungs and the infection results in parts of the lung being filled with fluid from surrounding blood vessels.

There is a vaccine that is usually effective in preventing Pneumonia.

Remedies:

• Antibiotics
• Plenty of fluids

The above information is supplied as a reference only. If you notice any of the symptoms listed you should seek medical attention as soon as you become concerned.