Cough

Dry, sharp cough in a child. Treatment of dry cough in children: medications, dosages

You are a fairly active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle and your body will delight you throughout your life. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and strong emotional overload. Try to minimize contact with sick people; if forced contact, do not forget about protective equipment (mask, washing your hands and face, clearing your respiratory tract).

It's time to think about what you are doing wrong...

You are at risk, you should think about your lifestyle and start taking care of yourself. Physical education is required, or even better, start playing sports, choose the sport that you like most and turn it into a hobby (dancing, cycling, gym, or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu promptly, they can lead to complications in the lungs. Be sure to work on your immunity, strengthen yourself, and be in nature and fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations; it is much easier to treat lung diseases in the initial stages than in advanced stages. Avoid emotional and physical overload; if possible, eliminate or minimize smoking or contact with smokers.

It's time to sound the alarm!

You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the functioning of your lungs and bronchi, have pity on them! If you want to live a long time, you need to radically change your entire attitude towards your body. First of all, get examined by specialists such as a therapist and a pulmonologist; you need to take radical measures, otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the doctors’ recommendations, radically change your life, perhaps you should change your job or even your place of residence, completely eliminate smoking and alcohol from your life, and reduce contact with people who have such bad habits to a minimum, toughen up, strengthen your immunity as much as possible spend more time in the fresh air. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely eliminate all aggressive products from everyday use and replace them with natural, natural remedies. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and ventilation of the room at home.

A child’s cough is an alarming symptom for parents. If it occurs as a result of damage to the respiratory tract by a viral or bacterial infection, then untimely treatment is fraught with its spread to nearby tissues, inflammation in the respiratory organs becoming chronic and the development of other complications. Treatment for dry cough is prescribed after determining its cause. In most cases, it appears at the beginning of an acute respiratory infection, gradually turning into a wet one. Allergies, whooping cough, gastroesophageal reflux, asthma, and disorders in the central nervous system can also cause such a symptom in a child.

Content:

Principles of treatment

Cough is one of the unconditioned protective reflexes of a person, the function of which is to clear the respiratory tract of various kinds of irritants (foreign bodies, viruses, bacteria, allergens, mucus, sputum). A dry or nonproductive cough is a cough that does not produce sputum due to its absence or too thick consistency. Unlike wet, it is quite painful, debilitating, does not allow the child to sleep normally, disrupts his psycho-emotional state and does not bring relief. In children, due to an annoying dry cough, irritation of the delicate mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is possible with the appearance of bleeding wounds or cracks.

The main cause of dry cough is colds, acute respiratory viral infections, or more precisely, inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract that arise against their background (pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis). With pharyngitis, the child experiences irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat, a feeling of dryness, raw pain and soreness; with tracheitis, pain behind the sternum and in the throat, increased coughing attacks with deep breaths, crying, laughing, and changes in air temperature. With bronchitis, a dry cough is loud, chesty, and in the initial stage is accompanied by the release of a scant amount of sputum, pain in the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and behind the sternum.

If a child has a dry cough, parents should contact their pediatrician to find out the cause and choose treatment. This is especially true if there is no certainty that a dry cough is associated with an acute respiratory infection, that is, when, in addition to a cough, the child has neither a runny nose, nor a sore throat, nor other characteristic clinical signs of this group of diseases.

The principle of combating a dry cough that occurs against the background of acute respiratory infections is to soften and relieve inflammation in the throat cavity and create conditions to prevent further spread of the inflammatory process down the respiratory tract. If the infection has entered the bronchi and bronchitis has developed, drugs are used that promote the transition of a dry cough into a wet one, which will effectively clear the airways of accumulated mucus and sputum.

In some children, a dry cough may occur only in the morning and not be a sign of any pathology. Its cause in most cases is the incorrect temperature and humidity level in the room where the child sleeps.

For dry cough, as well as for its prevention, organizing proper child care is of great importance. It includes:

plenty of warm drinks (alkaline non-carbonated mineral waters, warm compotes, fruit drinks, herbal teas);
walks in the open air;
frequent ventilation and wet cleaning of the house;
maintaining humidity in the apartment at a level of at least 50%;
temperature control (no more than 20°C) in the room where the child is and sleeps.

It is with the organization of proper care that it is necessary to begin the treatment of cough in children, especially young ones, for whom the use of many medications can pose a potential threat to the child’s health due to the development of severe side effects. According to foreign doctors, drinking plenty of fluids is no less effective in diluting and facilitating the evacuation of sputum than taking mucolytic drugs, which pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky draws the attention of parents to.

Medicines for children

A doctor should prescribe medications for a child’s dry cough based on an examination of the throat, auscultation of the chest and the results of general clinical tests. Depending on the cause of the disease that provokes a dry cough, the following are prescribed:

local medications for the treatment of sore throat;
antitussives;
mucolytics;
expectorants.

In addition, the complex treatment of dry cough in children includes antispasmodics, antihistamines, sedatives, and antibiotics.

It is particularly difficult to prescribe medications for dry cough for children under two years of age. This is due to the fact that due to the weakness of the respiratory muscles, their cough reflex is still poorly developed, so the child is not able to cough effectively.

Excessive mucus in the respiratory tract, which is formed when taking mucolytics and expectorants, is in this case dangerous for the baby. The resulting cough can provoke bouts of vomiting in the child and lead to the baby choking on the resulting mucus. In addition, the list of relatively safe drugs approved for use in children in the first years of life is quite limited.

Local preparations for the treatment of throat

If the cause of a dry cough is irritation of the throat mucosa, then for its treatment it is recommended to use local therapy, which has a softening, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing effect. Depending on the age of the child, he may be prescribed rinses with water-salt solutions, herbal decoctions, inhalations, irrigation of the throat with sprays, lozenges, lozenges or lozenges with extracts of medicinal herbs.

Medicines approved for children for sore throat and their dosage depending on age

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Lizobact (tablets)	from 3 to 7 years	1 table each 3 times a day
	from 7 to 12 years	1 table each 4 times a day
		2 tables each 3-4 times a day
Inhalipt (spray)		2-3 injections 3-4 times a day
Tantum verde (tablets)		1 table each every 3 hours
Strepsils (lozenges)		1 lozenge every 3 hours
Septefril (tablets)		1 table each 3-4 times a day
Septolete (lozenges)		1 lozenge up to 4 times a day
Septolete (lozenges)		1 lozenge – up to 8 times a day
Hexoral (spray)		1 injection twice a day
Faringosept (lozenges)		1 table each three times a day

Antitussives

This group of drugs is given to children only as prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of a painful cough accompanied by pain, sleep disturbances and other unpleasant consequences. The mechanism of their action is to suppress the child’s cough due to the inhibitory effect on the cough center, reducing irritation of inflamed mucous membranes, and reducing the susceptibility of peripheral cough receptors to irritating factors. They also have moderate anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, bronchodilator and expectorant effects. With a dry cough while taking them, the child may experience stagnation of mucus in the respiratory tract, so medical supervision is necessary.

Preparations for the treatment of dry cough

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Sinekod (drops, syrup, dragees)	syrup from 3 years	three times a day, 5 ml
	syrup from 6 years	10 ml three times a day
	syrup from 12 years	three times a day, 15 ml
	drops from 2 months to 3 years	according to instructions
Libexin (tablets)		¼ table each 3–4 times a day
		½ table each 3–4 times a day
		1 table each 3–4 times a day
Bronholitin (syrup, combination drug)		5 ml three times a day
Bronholitin (syrup, combination drug)		10 ml three times a day
Glauvent (tablets)		10 mg 2–3 times a day

Mucolytics

Mucolytics are drugs that change the physical properties and chemical composition of sputum, which leads to a decrease in viscosity and dilution of bronchial secretions, or promoting the production of a more liquid part of it.

Mucolytics for dry cough in children

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Ambroxol and its analogs ambrobene, lazolvan, ambrohexal (available in the form of syrups, tablets, solutions for inhalation and internal use)	syrup up to 2 years	2.5 ml twice daily
	syrup from 2 to 5 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	syrup over 5 years old	5 ml 2–3 times a day
ACC and its analogues mucobene, fluimucil (dosage forms - syrup, effervescent tablets, granules for the preparation of solution for oral administration)	syrup from 2 to 5 years	5 ml 2–3 times a day
	syrup 6–14 years	5 ml 2–3 times a day
	syrup over 14 years old	10 ml 2–3 times a day
Bromhexine (tablets and syrup)		daily dosage – 12 mg
	from 6 to 14 years	daily dosage - 24 mg
	over 14 years old	daily dosage - 24–48 mg

Long-term use of mucolytics by a child is fraught with hyperproduction of sputum; they are usually used until the dry cough becomes wet, and then discontinued.

Expectorants

For dry coughs, syrups based on medicinal herbs are often prescribed, which dilute accumulated mucus and accelerate its elimination by irritating the cough center and increasing the production of liquid bronchial secretions. They contain plant extracts that have not only an expectorant, but also an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, and healing effect. These products are relatively safe for health, but in children prone to allergies, they can provoke urticaria, dermatitis or other allergic reactions during treatment.

Some of the syrups used for dry cough and their dosages

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Dr. MOM		three times a day, ½ tsp.
		three times a day, ½–1 tsp.
		three times a day, 1–2 tsp.
Herbion with plantain	from 2 to 7 years	1 measuring spoon three times a day
	from 7 to 14 years old	1–2 scoops three times a day
	after 14 years	2 scoops 3–5 times a day
Bronchicum S	from 6 to 12 months	2.5 ml twice a day
	from 1 year to 2 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	from 2 to 6 years	5 ml twice a day
	from 6 to 12 years	5 ml three times a day
Gedelix	from 2 to 4 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	from 4 to 10 years	2.5 ml 4 times a day
	over 10 years old	5 ml three times a day

Inhalations

In the complex treatment of dry cough, inhalations provide a good therapeutic effect. They are performed by inhaling vapors or using a nebulizer. When using a nebulizer, the child is inhaled with solutions of medications (lazolvan, ambrobene, ACC, fluimucil, sinupret, dekasan and others), saline, and buffer soda. The advantage of this method of treating cough is that the drugs get directly into the respiratory tract.

For steam inhalations for dry coughs, decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs (sage, St. John's wort, chamomile, eucalyptus, coltsfoot), ready-made herbal cough remedies (ingafitol, eucarom), baking soda solutions, and mineral water are used. The temperature of the solution when a child performs inhalations should not be higher than 40°C to avoid burns to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and respiratory tract.

Folk remedies for cough

When treating dry cough in children, one should not forget about simple folk remedies, the effectiveness of which has been tested for decades. They include massages, compresses, herbal infusions and teas. Herbs that help in the fight against dry cough include licorice, marshmallow, coltsfoot, elecampane, wild rosemary.

For a dry cough, it is effective to give your child warm compresses at night. Good results are obtained by using the following compositions:

sunflower oil, honey and vodka, mixed in equal proportions;
apple cider vinegar (1 part), water (3 parts) and 1 tsp. honey;
honey, mustard powder, flour, vegetable oil, vodka, mixed in equal proportions.

Tea with currants, raspberries or honey can help a child with a dry cough due to ARVI. A well-known folk remedy for treating sore throat and cough is warm milk with honey or soda and butter. This drink has a softening and warming effect, and the antiseptic properties of honey help the child’s body fight pathogenic microflora. It should be borne in mind that honey is a highly allergenic product, so it should be used with caution, especially in babies and children prone to allergies.

Frequent dry cough in a child - many parents experience this symptom. Due to irritating throat syndrome, the baby sleeps poorly, becomes moody and restless. Why does a dry cough develop - is it a symptom of a disease or a residual phenomenon after a cold? How can I help my child?

Determining dry cough

Cough syndrome is a normal physiological phenomenon. With the help of coughing, the body clears the lungs, bronchi, and respiratory tract of accumulated mucus and small foreign objects. Pediatricians divide the cough reflex into two main types:

Wet (productive). When you cough, you expectorate sputum - mucus consisting of toxins, pathogenic microorganisms and dust.
Dry (unproductive). Cough without expectoration of mucus. A dry cough is excruciating and painful, bringing no relief.

Dry cough syndrome develops due to irritation of receptors, which are located in large numbers in the pharynx, trachea, sinuses, stomach and bronchi. When something affects the receptors, a cough reflex occurs. Doctors divide children's dry cough into five types:

Easy. Cough syndrome is observed in a child 2-3 times a day. It passes without fever or discomfort.
Paroxysmal. A longer-lasting symptom that provokes strengthening of the respiratory muscles. The baby feels tired after the attack, there is lacrimation and soreness in the sternum.
Paroxysmal. Cough syndrome is frequent and very strong. The attacks cannot be calmed; they occur 10-20 times daily, completely exhausting the child.
Barking. During an attack of such a cough, the child suffocates, shortness of breath appears, and breathing becomes whistling and hoarse. The cough reflex itself is loud, rough, similar to a dog barking.
Chronic. If a dry cough is observed for 2-2.5 weeks, it becomes “chronic”. Prolonged cough is divided into two types: pulmonary (deep) and superficial (shallow). Attacks of pulmonary cough last 8-10 minutes; with this syndrome, the baby bends in half, facilitating coughing (the chest is involved in coughing). With superficial, hoarseness is noted (the larynx is involved in the coughing process), attacks last for 3-4 minutes.

A persistent dry cough is very dangerous for a baby. Nonproductive cough syndrome causes swelling of the larynx and serious breathing problems. You should find out the true cause of the illness and treat the baby!

Causes of dry cough in children

In 10% of cases, the baby has a mild, natural cough. This syndrome resembles coughing and is more often observed sporadically in the morning. The body is cleansed of accumulated dust and mucus. But in 90% of cases, dry cough becomes a symptom of dangerous diseases:

ARVI and acute respiratory infections. The first signal of a viral infection and a cold is a rise in temperature and the development of a headache. The larynx becomes dry and irritated, a runny nose appears, and then a dry cough occurs. At first it is short-lived, weak, and with treatment it quickly becomes wet and disappears. If a child's cold is not treated, the condition worsens and the infection develops into tracheitis or bronchitis.

Bronchitis, tracheitis and laryngitis. When inflammation flows into the lower respiratory sections and affects the larynx, bronchi and trachea, the type of dry cough also changes. It intensifies, becoming barking and debilitating. Cough syndrome causes pain in the throat and chest. Attacks occur at night and in the morning, disturbing the child 3-4 times during the day.

Flu. This disease is much more severe than other viral infections. Flu is signaled by a rapid rise in high temperature (up to +40⁰ C) and aching muscles. Soon the symptoms are joined by redness of the eyes, a severe runny nose and a frequent dry cough, causing the child to become hoarse.

Cough syndrome causes pain in the sternum, muscles and fatigue after attacks. The cough of the flu is loud, barking, accompanied by difficulty breathing (it becomes shallow) and blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle.

In children, influenza conditions are much more severe - children's airways are narrow. Severe inflammation provokes the development of swelling that blocks the lumen into the lungs. Flu is especially dangerous in children of the first years of life.

Whooping cough. Cough syndrome with whooping cough is paroxysmal and barking. A cough of a paroxysmal type is also observed. This symptom is a hallmark of whooping cough. As the disease progresses, coughing attacks become frequent. The cough does not stop at night, preventing the baby from getting enough sleep and rest. Whooping cough is a dangerous disease in children and must be treated in a hospital setting.

Allergy. A dry cough is a sure companion of allergic reactions. It develops due to the action of allergens that enter the respiratory tract. Allergic coughing often occurs in the morning and intensifies under the influence of an irritant (food, household chemicals, flowering plants, house dust, animals). In children, allergies (if not detected and treated) quickly develop into severe complications: bronchial asthma and obstructive bronchitis.

Children can cough for reasons independent of illness. A dry cough develops when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract. This syndrome may accompany the child when adapting to attending kindergarten. Dry cough syndrome develops in babies when teething, or when there are problems at school or in the family.

Treatment of dry cough

There are many reasons for the development of this pathology. What to do if your baby has this disease? Parents need to seek help from a pediatrician - the doctor will determine the exact culprit of the cough and prescribe adequate treatment measures.

Drug therapy

When treating a cough, it should be remembered that it indicates the presence and development of a pathological process in the body. Therefore, the efforts of doctors are aimed at curing the main culprit of the disease - a specific disease.

To alleviate coughing attacks, pediatricians prescribe medications. Medicines aimed at combating dry cough are divided into two types:

Mucolytics. Medicines aimed at quickly converting a non-productive cough into a productive one, causing coughing. For children, mucolytics are prescribed on a plant basis. The action of such drugs is based on stimulating the accumulation of sputum and activating its removal from the body through expectoration. Such drugs include:

ACC 100.
Lazolvan.
Bromhexine.
Ambrobene.
Fluimucil.
Rinofluimucil.

Antitussives. Medicines that have a suppressive effect on the cough center. They cannot be taken simultaneously with mucolytics. Most often, pediatricians prescribe the following antitussives:

Panatus.
Sinekod.
Omnitus.
Libexin.
Stoptussin.
Codelac Neo.

In cases where the dry cough reflex goes away with fever and increased temperature, doctors prescribe antibiotics that suppress the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.

Attention! Medicines, even herbal ones, should absolutely not be prescribed to a child on their own! A careless attitude puts the child's health at risk! Only a pediatrician will explain how to treat your baby.

Inhalations - first aid for coughs

Inhalation is the introduction of active substances and medications into the respiratory tract using steam. Inhalation well moisturizes the mucous membranes of the bronchi and lungs, instantly “delivering” medicinal substances to the source of infection. Helps the body produce and remove mucus.

For inhalations, you can use nebulizers or use a container in which a healing hot solution is placed (the child breathes the steam, covered with a thick cloth). For inhalation use:

Medicinal pharmaceutical preparations (ambrobene, berodual, lazolvan).
Soda, mineral water, saline solution to soften and moisturize dry mucous membranes.
Herbal infusions (they cannot be used in a nebulizer due to the impossibility of accurately determining the dosage). The herb is recommended for inhalation in children over 2 years of age. Sage, eucalyptus, linden, mint, chamomile, fir and cedar are ideal for treating dry cough.

Inhalation should be given to children at the first signs of a cold (sore throat, sore throat, scratching in the throat, cough). Inhalation is an affordable and simple way to combat cough at home.

Folk remedies

The most powerful remedy that helps quickly cure a dry cough is pork fat. Ancient healers used it to help patients with pneumonia and tuberculosis get back on their feet. For children's treatment, you need to take only fresh fat (preferably village fat). The fat is cut into pieces and heated in a water bath. It is stored in the refrigerator in a glass container. How to use it?

For rubbing (for colds). Room temperature fat is rubbed onto the baby's back, chest and heels. For greater effect, add 2-3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the fat.
Egg cocktail (for pneumonia, whooping cough, asthma). Heat the fat and mix in equal parts with warm milk. Add a chicken egg to the mixture. Mix the mixture thoroughly and drink in one gulp.
With bread (for bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis). Fat is spread on a piece of bread, lightly sprinkled with salt and crushed garlic. The product softens irritated mucous membranes well and helps produce sputum.

If your baby does not like the taste of this medicine, use a more pleasant treatment. Take 2-3 potatoes and boil them. Mash hot and add vegetable oil (2 tbsp), honey (20 ml) and eucalyptus essential oil (3 drops) to the puree.

Form a thick cake from the mixture and apply it as a compress on the baby’s back and chest. Wrap the baby's body in a warm scarf and keep the compress for 1-1.5 hours. It is better to do the procedure in the evening, before bedtime.

Preventive measures

To avoid the development of a painful dry cough and malaise in the child, parents should follow a number of simple recommendations:

Do not overcool the baby.
Ventilate the nursery regularly.
Humidify the air using humidifiers.
Spend time with your child in the fresh air every day.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet, not forgetting about vitamins.
Temper the body, gradually accustoming the baby to cool water.
Engage in active sports with your child and do exercises daily.

And at the first sign of discomfort, do not postpone a visit to the pediatrician! After all, a dry cough can be not only the cause of a common cold, but also a sign of a serious illness.

Health to your child!

A dry, or non-productive, cough is an unpleasant symptom that can appear in both adults and children. It may differ depending on the reasons for its development, severity and duration. The cough may last for several days, and sometimes it may not stop after several months. In any case, this symptom prevents both the child and his parents from leading a normal life. In general, a dry cough in a child has a number of its own characteristics that doctors should be aware of.

Despite the fact that this symptom itself does not cause positive emotions, but, on the contrary, brings with it only discomfort, in fact, coughing is a protective reflex, thanks to which the body can get rid of an infectious agent, as well as a foreign body. Sometimes a cough can occur in healthy people, but most often it is a consequence of viral diseases.

Treatment of dry cough in children directly depends on the specific provoking factor; it is not enough to simply deal with the symptom. A doctor will be able to understand the true reasons with the help of a diagnostic examination; you should not engage in self-diagnosis.

Causes of dry cough in a child

Let's look at the most likely causes of a severe dry cough in a child:

viral diseases;
cold or hypothermia;
whooping cough. This is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. The child suffers from bouts of buzzing cough. In some cases, the cough may even end in vomiting, the child has a pale complexion, the tongue protrudes outward, and lacrimation also appears;
reflux esophagitis. This pathology is caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. As a result, irritation of the mucous membrane of not only the esophagus, but also the throat will occur. In addition to coughing, the child may be bothered by increased salivation, burning in the throat and esophagus, and sometimes even vomiting;
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx that causes a dry barking cough in a child. The temperature may also rise, hoarseness appears, and symptoms of intoxication may also be present. A throat cough is usually treated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs of herbal origin, and in the case of the bacterial nature of the disease, antibiotics cannot be avoided;
measles, in which, in addition to the cough reflex, the temperature rises;
laryngotracheobronchitis. This is a rather dangerous pathology that requires qualified help. Swelling of the larynx and trachea causes a barking cough and shortness of breath;
allergic reactions;
dirty air (tobacco smoke, chemicals, etc.).

Attacks of a dry cough in a child are a serious reason to consult a doctor to determine the cause and prescribe the optimal treatment.

What will help with dry cough for children?

Treatment depends on the cause of the cough, namely:

Treating a rare dry cough in a child is a little more difficult than in adults; it is important to take into account the following factors:

possibility of overdose. Typically, dosage is based on age and body weight, so the smaller the child, the greater the risk of overdose. For children under two years of age, medications are used according to strict doctor’s instructions and under his strict supervision;
side effects. Unfortunately, unwanted complications occur more often in childhood. If, for example, we talk about the antitussive group of drugs, they can often cause the following side effects: dizziness and drowsiness;
characteristics of the body. Small children do not yet know how to fully cough up, so it would be wrong to give drugs to clear sputum;
the need to consume large amounts of fluid. To remove toxic substances you need to drink a lot of water.

A doctor should prescribe cough medicine

Cough preparations

Antitussives are prescribed in the following cases:

painful sensations;
disrupt proper sleep;
do not fulfill their protective function;
the appearance of convulsions and vomiting.

It should be understood that antitussives can be narcotic and non-narcotic, but only non-narcotic ones are used to treat children. Children under two years of age should not use such drugs. If the disease is mild, then it is better to use herbal remedies that will safely affect the child’s body.

As an additional treatment for a child’s cough, the following groups of drugs can be used:

mucolytics. They dilute the mucous secretion and promote its rapid separation. Mucolytics make the cough moist, or productive, thereby accelerating the healing process;
resorptive expectorants. They dilute sputum and increase its quantity;
expectorants that have a secretomotor effect. The rapid discharge of sputum in this case is carried out due to the activation of the cough and vomiting center.

The child should drink as much fluid as possible for a speedy recovery

Let's talk about popular and effective drugs that will help relieve frequent dry cough. These products have a number of contraindications and possible side effects, so you should read the instructions before use.

Falimint

The properties of the product are similar to menthol and in the oral cavity it creates a feeling of coolness and pleasant freshness. Falimint does not dry out the mucous membrane. The effect occurs after the first use, the cough is significantly relieved.

The drug is available in the form of tablets for resorption. Falimint is prescribed to children after five years of age. In principle, the product has no contraindications, except for allergic reactions. You can buy dragees for about 150 rubles.

Libexin

The drug has a triple effect, namely:

the sensitivity of nerve endings is significantly reduced;
relaxation of the bronchi;
the response to irritating factors is reduced.

About a few hours after application, the effect of Libexin begins. The product is available in the form of tablets and syrup. The price varies within 300 rubles. Sometimes unwanted side effects such as dizziness, increased fatigue or an allergic reaction may occur.

Codelac

Codelac is a herbal preparation that has antitussive properties. Available in the form of tablets, elixir and syrup. In general, Codelac is a combined remedy that reduces excitability, increases the viscosity of sputum, but does not affect the respiratory center.

The drug is prescribed to children from six years of age. Codelac is not recommended for long-term use. The average price is 150 rubles.

Gerbion syrup has an antibacterial and antitussive effect. The drug helps to increase the secretion of mucous secretion, as well as reduce its viscosity. The syrup contains ascorbic acid, thanks to which Herbion can safely be considered a remedy that strengthens the immune system.

A special feature of the drug is that it forms a film on the surface of the mucous membrane, which performs a protective function. As a result, irritation and the manifestation of the inflammatory process are reduced.

Herbion can be used for children from two years old; it has virtually no contraindications. The price is on average 250 rubles

Halixol

After about thirty minutes, the effect of using Halixol begins. The product thins mucus and reduces its viscosity. Halixol has a calming effect on the vulnerable mucous membrane. The syrup is prescribed to children from five years old and can be purchased for 100 rubles.

Lazolvan

Lazolvan begins to act after about half an hour and maintains its effect for ten hours. The drug relieves cough, thins mucus and reduces irritation of the respiratory tract. Lazolvan is sold in the form of syrup, tablets, and a solution for inhalation.

Proper child care

Actions against dry cough include not only the use of medications:

compliance with bed rest;
drinking plenty of alkaline drinks;
ventilation of the children's room and wet cleaning;
maintaining optimal air humidity;
steam inhalations;
use of safe traditional medicine recipes.

Separately, I would like to say about fluid consumption and air humidification. The phrase that drinking plenty of fluids is the key to a speedy recovery is, at first glance, hackneyed and banal, but in fact, drinking enough fluid plays a really important role in the body’s fight against illness. Thanks to water, coughing attacks will become less and less frequent.

For an irritating cough, you can give your child the following drink:

rosehip decoction;
cranberry juice;
decoctions of medicinal herbs, namely: plantain, sage, licorice;
hot tea with honey, raspberries;
hot goat milk with a melted piece of butter;
warm alkaline water without gas;
infusion of licorice root, etc.

When treating a debilitating cough, it is important that the room in which the child is located is sufficiently humidified

As for maintaining optimal humidity levels, we can say with confidence that this plays an important role in the fight for the health of your baby. Dry air negatively affects the condition of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, making them vulnerable to attacks by infectious agents. To sufficiently humidify the room, you can use both special devices and improvised materials, for example, a container of water.

Homeopathy as a treatment

Homeopathic remedies have been used for treating children for quite some time. And this is not surprising, because many parents prefer those drugs that contain safe and natural ingredients.

Homeopathic remedies can help cure a persistent cough

Let's talk about homeopathic remedies that doctors prescribe for treating children. Often used for coughs Bronchalis-heel, Bronchogran, Umkalor. Homeopathic remedies may contain the following substances:

aconite. A special feature of this drug is the possibility of its use at all stages of the disease;
belladonna. The drug especially helps with spasmodic cough. Typically, the indication for the use of belladonna is the appearance of the following symptoms: sudden onset and end of an attack, headaches, fever, flushed face;
opium. It is usually prescribed when a child’s dry cough is accompanied by a sore throat. It is usually prescribed to children when the child’s condition worsens at night, and the attack is slightly relieved after drinking a small amount of water.

Inhalations will help you recover

Inhalation procedures help alleviate dry cough. To carry out the procedure, you can use special inhalers, or you can use methods that have been known for a long time, for example, inhaling steam from a pan, wrapped in a towel, or breathing over the spout of a kettle.

For inhalation, you can use various solutions, namely:

medicines, for example, Lazolvan, ACC, Ambrobene;
decoctions of medicinal plants: chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus, juniper, sage, St. John's wort.

What to do if your child constantly coughs?

A persistent cough reflex may be due to the following reasons:

re-infection;
ascariasis can provoke coughing;
the pathological process spreads down the respiratory tract;
viral diseases of the upper respiratory tract can provoke frequent attacks of dry cough;
chronic respiratory diseases;
allergic reactions, etc.

First of all, it is important to find out what caused the continuous cough.

If a persistent cough is accompanied by high fever, sweating, weakness, and the condition does not go away within several days, this can be dangerous to the child’s health and therefore it is extremely important to consult a doctor. The doctor prescribes medications based on the baby’s age, symptoms, general condition, and test results.

A long cough can be treated using traditional methods:

chest collection To treat a child, you will need a collection of the following plants: pine buds, thyme, linden, plantain, mint, licorice, calendula. For 500 ml of boiling water there are two tablespoons of the medicinal mixture. The product should sit for two hours. After it has been strained, it can be safely taken. You should drink half a glass of the infusion before meals;
vanilla syrup. This is not only healthy, but also tasty, which children love. One glass of milk must be heated, then add two tablespoons of vanilla and a little honey. The cocktail should brew for half an hour. It is enough to take the finished product just one tablespoon four times a day;
liquorice root. The root must be mixed with a small amount of linden blossom, as well as rose hips. Pour the ingredients into a glass of water and place it all in a water bath, where everything is steamed for half an hour. You need to take the decoction three times a day, one hundred milliliters.

So, a dry cough in a child is a common phenomenon, the appearance of which can be caused by a number of factors. Treatment depends on the immediate cause. It is worth remembering that cough is not a disease, but only a symptom indicating the presence of some disease. Treatment includes taking medications. The pharmaceutical industry is replete with a large number of safe drugs, including homeopathic ones. Before taking medications, it is important to undergo diagnostics and make an accurate diagnosis. Do not self-medicate, and be sure to discuss all your actions with your doctor.

Many parents have encountered coughing in children and know well how important it is to take timely measures to prevent the disease from developing into a more serious form. Cough is one of the first symptoms that children experience when they have a cold or flu. To avoid complications, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Absolutely every child has had a dry barking cough at least once, so parents must know how to treat it.

What is a barking cough?

Doctors call this form of barking cough, which is observed at the initial stage of some diseases. This name is due to the fact that the cough resembles the barking of a dog. The causative agents of the disease provoke swelling of the larynx, which, in turn, affects the change in voice. He becomes rough and hoarseness appears. The sputum practically does not come out, accumulating in the throat. The attacks are quite severe and painful, especially for young children.

When a dry barking cough begins, the child experiences lethargy, weakness, and loss of appetite. A barking cough is considered absolutely useless from a physiological point of view. It does not protect the throat, does not remove phlegm, but causes severe pain. It is much harder for children to bear than for adults. The barking cough is intrusive. Coughing attacks become a painful ordeal for a child, especially under the age of one year. Children often experience vomiting and sometimes respiratory arrest.

When the throat tissue swells, the airway narrows. At the same time, it is difficult for the child to speak and he breathes heavily. If the swelling increases, it can completely block the airway. In case of severe attacks of sudden dry cough, the child must be hospitalized. To prevent the disease from becoming severe, at the first sign of a barking cough, you should contact your pediatrician.

Causes

A dry cough in childhood can be a consequence of exposure to pathogenic bacteria, viruses or allergens. In most cases, a barking cough is a concomitant symptom with the progression of the following diseases:

laryngitis, pharyngitis, which contribute to the appearance of swelling of the throat;
acute stenosing larengotracheitis, which affects the vocal cords;
influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, respiratory infections affecting the respiratory tract;
whooping cough;
diphtheria.

A barking cough most often worsens at night and in the early morning. This is explained by a decrease in ventilation of the lungs, during which a large amount of bronchodilator secretion accumulates in the respiratory tract.

Types of barking cough and accompanying symptoms

Typically, a dry barking cough occurs in children under 5 years of age. At this age, the larynx is still very narrow and, due to swelling, is almost completely blocked. Air cannot penetrate into the lungs, and attacks of suffocation develop.

Often a dry barking cough is accompanied by an increase in body temperature

There are two types of dry barking cough:

accompanied by an increase in temperature;
at which the temperature remains normal.

In the first case, a barking cough is a symptom accompanying the underlying disease. As a rule, these are bacterial and viral infections that significantly reduce children's immunity, resulting in the rapid development of inflammatory processes in the body. The mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and larynx are particularly affected, as they become an ideal environment for the proliferation of microorganisms. An increase in temperature serves a protective function to combat inflammation.

One of the most serious diseases that provokes a barking cough is whooping cough. During the illness, continuous attacks occur, during which the child turns pale, breathes heavily, sticks out his tongue and makes whistling sounds when inhaling. In such cases, antibiotic therapy cannot be avoided.

Common symptoms of barking cough include the following:

labored breathing;
sore throat;
severe runny nose;
enlarged lymph nodes;
hoarseness of voice;
nausea and vomiting;
swelling and inflammation of the larynx.

Also, with a dry barking cough, the throat becomes very irritated and hurts.

If the attacks are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, then there is a high probability that it was caused by an allergic reaction. The causative agent of allergies can be baby food products, plant flowers, pet hair, and substances included in household chemicals.

In order to finally make sure that the cough is allergic, you need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. For allergies, they will be as follows:

no runny nose;
the cough is harsh and worsens when eating or being near an allergen;
The cough is hard and seasonal, that is, it appears and goes away periodically.

If you have an allergy, it is important to treat it in a timely manner, preventing it from becoming chronic or bronchitis. Allergies in children can have serious consequences for the entire body. The cause of a cough may be the air, which loses moisture when heating appliances operate in the winter.

First aid for a child before a doctor’s visit

If a child’s barking cough begins suddenly and he does not have enough air to breathe, it is imperative to call the attending physician.

Without wasting time, parents can help their child stop the attack. In this situation, the actions should be as follows:

It is necessary to remove the child's clothing if it is compressing the chest.
Try to distract and calm him down. In an excited state, attacks may intensify.
In order to avoid dehydration during prolonged coughing, you need your child to drink as much fluid as possible. In this case, warm boiled milk, juice, compote or water is best. Before giving your child something to drink, you need to wait until the attack is over so that he does not choke.
Coughing attacks are stopped by exposure to moist air. If you suspect false croup in a child, it is important to let him breathe hot, moist air. Such conditions can be created in the bathroom by running hot water into the bath. After inhaling air, the attack should stop.
If a child coughs, but the temperature is not elevated, you can wrap his calves in mustard plasters and warm his feet in hot water.

Features of the treatment of barking cough in children

A child's barking cough should be treated by a pediatrician (we recommend reading:). To prescribe medications and therapeutic measures, it is necessary to determine which disease led to the unpleasant symptom. The main goal of treatment is to reduce swelling and increase mucus discharge from the throat.

One of the main rules when treating a cough is to ensure that the child drinks plenty of fluids and prevents dehydration.

In addition to taking medications, parents must provide the baby with a calm environment, surround him with love and care. You should also give your child plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. You need to exclude hot and spicy foods from your diet, which can irritate the inflamed walls of the larynx.

Drug therapy

For treatment, drugs should be used that will help turn a dry cough into a wet one, as well as suppress the development of infection. The following groups of drugs are indicated:

Antibiotics. They should be used only after an accurate diagnosis of the disease, since each of them has different activity against individual pathogens. Thus, with laryngitis and pharyngitis, the causative agent is a virus, and the use of antibiotics will not have the desired effect, but will only harm the beneficial microflora of the stomach and intestines. The course of antibiotics should not be stopped prematurely.
Antitussive drugs. They reduce the cough reflex, but do not have a therapeutic effect. The use of these medications is dangerous because mucus with pathogenic microorganisms will no longer come out. This drug can be prescribed if necessary. For example, with a prolonged dry cough accompanied by vomiting, or pleurisy.
Mucolytics. Drugs in this group are good at liquefying accumulated mucus. They are used in the treatment of coughs accompanying infectious diseases, when the sputum is thick and difficult to separate. Good results are observed with treatment with Bromhexine, Ambroxol, ACC, Fluimucil. Taking mucolytics and antitussives at the same time is contraindicated.
Medicines with expectorant action. Promote the release of sputum, increasing the activity of tissue epithelium in the respiratory tract. At the same time, the amount of sputum does not increase. When using such drugs, you need to be prepared for the release of all the mucus that has stagnated in the respiratory tract. For maximum effectiveness they should be applied every 3 hours.

Children are usually prescribed herbal expectorants. A good expectorant effect was noted when taking Mucaltin, Pertusin, Gedelix. It is easier for children to give medicines in the form of syrups (for example, licorice or marshmallow root syrup).

Inhalations

If a child has a hard cough, then inhalations can be used as treatment. It should be remembered that if you have a barking cough, steam inhalations are prohibited. They can burn inflamed vocal cords. For inhalation, it is better to use medications that promote bronchodilation.

Drugs that will help quickly clear the airways:

Berodual. Belongs to the category of bronchodilators. Children under 6 years of age are prescribed inhalations in the form of drops, which are diluted in saline in the following proportion: 10 drops of medicine per 2 ml of solution.
Berotek. Used in the treatment of children from 6 years of age. Inhalations are done 3 times a day until complete relief.
Pulmicort. Can be prescribed from 6 months of age. Has a good analgesic effect. Cope with cough in a short time.

You can do inhalations with mineral water. Having an alkaline effect on the walls of the respiratory tract, it gives an anti-inflammatory effect.

Folk remedies

For the effective treatment of barking cough, which is also called barking cough, there are many folk remedies.

Syrup made from radish and honey has proven itself to be beneficial for dry, barking coughs.

Some of them are not inferior in effectiveness to modern medicines:

A decoction of milk with pine buds. You need to boil the milk and add the kidneys to it. For half a liter of milk, 2 tbsp is enough. kidney After an hour, the resulting infusion can be given to the child to drink.
A decoction of calamus root. Add dry calamus root to boiling water and cook for 15 minutes, then filter and cool. The child can be given the decoction 30 minutes before meals, half a glass at each time. Promotes coughing and mucus drainage. Drink the decoction 3 times a day.
Radish and honey syrup. You need to take a radish fruit and cut off the top. Inside the root vegetable, cut a hollow into which you need to pour a couple of tablespoons of honey. Then the fruit is covered with a cut cap and left for 10 hours. The resulting syrup is given to children 30 minutes before meals.

Possible complications of barking cough in children

After an illness, children may experience complications, since a barking cough poses a particular threat to the child’s body and in some cases can be fatal. If left untreated, serious complications can occur:

asthmatic diseases;
occlusion;
the appearance of respiratory failure.