Parents attention and timely providedhelp - the best remedy for dry cough for a childPhoto: Getty The first thing to do when identifying a dry cough is to determine its cause. When coughing, accompanied by high fever, aching in the joints, general weakness in the baby, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Causes of dry cough
If the child is less than 2 years old, then at an elevated temperature and a strong cough, you need to call an ambulance immediately as soon as symptoms are detected. The main causes of dry cough:
- Viral and bacterial infections of the upper, lower respiratory tract;
- dry air in the room;
- contact with allergens;
- penetration of a foreign body into the respiratory organs.
Dry cough is not considered a disease and dangerouscondition, treatment is aimed at eliminating the disease, which is accompanied by this symptom. When a child inhales and swallows foreign bodies, it develops a strong dry cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Here you need to urgently call an ambulance. In a hospital, a child will be X-rayed and a foreign body removed. With the defeat of the respiratory system viruses can be used drugs that lower the temperature. Do not buy remedy for dry cough for children, relying on the recommendations of the commercial or pharmacist at the pharmacy. In the treatment of children under 3 years old, the use of antitussive and expectorant drugs can lead to the accumulation of mucus in the bronchi and the development of pneumonia.
How to alleviate the condition of the child with a dry cough
The use of medicines should not bewithout special instructions of the expert. According to reviews of doctors, effective remedies for dry cough in children with viral and bacterial infections are:
- Inhalation (steam and nebulizer);
- warm drink;
- chest massage.
Inhalation with sodium chloride or mineralwater without gas helps to remove sputum and make dry cough productive (wet). Steam inhalations on herbal broths are no less effective, but they can cause an allergic reaction. Massaging the chest improves sputum discharge. Do not use warm ointments without prescribing, it is dangerous in the treatment of bacterial infections. Essential oils can also irritate the skin of the baby and provoke allergic dyspnea. To make the child feel better, warm and abundant drinking will help. You can use herbal teas, tea, milk. At the time of treatment exclude sour juices and other beverages that irritate the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and throat. Low air humidity is a common cause of dry cough. The liquid mucus that has accumulated in the child’s bronchi becomes more dense. To soften it and remove it from the respiratory organs, it is necessary to increase the humidity in the room to 60–70%. Food allergies, allergies to dust, animal dander and pollen can be accompanied by a dry cough. The treatment here is taking antihistamines and isolating the child from the allergen. Help the small body deal with the infection on its own, and if the temperature rises and other symptoms join, immediately consult a doctor. See also:
