Decoding Your Child’s Cough

     It’s always distressing to hear your little one cough, especially in the middle of the night. Still, as common as this wintertime symptom is, it’s helpful to know that it often sounds worse than it really is. “Coughing is the body’s way of clearing and protecting the airways from irritating mucus and other secretions,” says Charles Shubin, M.D. Coughs also provide valuable clues about your child’s illness. Follow the guide below to figure out what’s worrisome and what’s not- and help your child feel better fast without over-the-counter cough and cold medications, which the FDA strongly recommends against for children under age four because of the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. 

Cough Clues: A distinctive, shrill, dry, seal-like bark, which frequently starts in the middle of the night. “The sound is unlike any cough you've ever heard before,” says pediatrician Mark Widome, M.D., author of Ask Dr. Mark.

Other Symptoms: The illness follows a circadian rhythm: better during the day, worse at night. She may have a slight fever. In severe cases, she may develop stridor, a harsh, high-pitched sound every time she inhales, similar to the noise kids make after a long crying jag.

Likely Culprit: CROUP, a contagious wintertime viral infection that causes the throat and windpipe to swell and narrow. It typically affects kids between 6 months and 3 years. (Adults and older children have wider windpipes, so swelling is less likely to affect breathing.)

What to Do: Sit with her in a steamy bathroom for five minutes; the humidity will help move mucus from her lungs and calm her cough. At night, bundle her up in warm pajamas, open her bedroom window, and run a humidifier in the room; the cold, moist air may reduce airway swelling. Call your doctor right away if her cough worsens or she’s having trouble breathing. She may need medicine to reduce inflammation. Otherwise, croup often runs its course in three to four days. 

Cough Clues: A wet cough without wheezing or fast breathing, day or night.

Other Symptoms: Sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes and a mild fever (usually less than 101.5 degrees F).

Likely Culprit: COMMON COLD, a viral infection of the nose, sinuses, throat and large airways of the lungs. Coughing usually lasts the entire length of the cold (about seven to ten days) but can linger twice as long, with mild improvement each day.

What to Do: Keep nasal passages as clear as possible; congestion and postnasal drip worsen his cough. For babies and toddlers who can't blow their nose yet, use nasal saline drops and a bulb aspirator to suction a runny nose. If the cough and stuffy nose persist for more than ten days without improving, see your doctor. He could have sinusitis (a bacterial infection that’s often brought on by a cold) or another problem such as asthma, allergies or even enlarged adenoids, which inhibit breathing. 

Cough Clues: Dry, hacking coughing fits- as many as 25 coughs in a single breath. When she inhales sharply to catch her breath, she makes a high-pitched whooping sound.

Other Symptoms: Before the cough starts, she has a week of cold like symptoms but no fever. In infants, the illness can be severe and cause mucus to bubble from the nostrils. It can also lead to convulsions and make a baby stop breathing if she gets tired.

Likely Culprit: Whooping Cough (also known as pertussis), a highly contagious bacterial infection of the throat, windpipe, and lungs. Children who haven't received their immunizations are most vulnerable. (Babies routinely get their shots at 2, 4 and 6 months and additional booster between 12 - 18 months and again between 4 - 6 years. Immunity wanes as we get older. Therefore, adults may carry pertussis but get only a mild cough.)

What to Do: Call your doctor if her cough worsens instead of getting better after a week. Babies usually need to be hospitalized to control the cough and have mucus suctioned from their throat. The illness is treated with antibiotics, though the cough can last for many weeks or even months.  

Cough Clues: A wheezy, crackly, persistent cough after your child eats. Coughing episodes typically worsen when she’s lying down.

Other symptoms: She may feel a burning sensation or may vomit or belch when swallowing. A baby might be fussy or have been labeled as colicky. Toddlers may develop wheezing and picky eating habits.

Likely culprit: GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), caused by a weak or immature band of muscle between the esophagus and stomach that allows acid to flow back up. Sometimes the irritating juices can enter the lungs, causing a chronic cough.

What to do: See your pediatrician if her wheezy cough lasts longer than two weeks. He may recommend keeping your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after feedings and elevating the head of her mattress while she sleeps. Prescription medicine can also control GERD symptoms. 

Cough Clues: A persistent cough that’s often whistling or wheezy, lasts longer than ten days, and worsens at night or after he exercises or is exposed to pollen, cold air, animal dander, dust mites or smoke.

Other symptoms: Your child is wheezing or has labored, rapid breathing.

Likely culprit: ASTHMA, a chronic condition in which small airways in the lungs swell, narrow, become clogged with mucous, and spasm, making breathing difficult. Common asthma triggers include environmental irritants, viral infections, and exercise. “Children with asthma, in essence, have sensitive lungs,” says Dr. Widome.

What to do: In mind asthma cases, a chronic cough may be the only symptom, Dr. Widome says. See your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Mention any family history of allergy, asthma, or eczema, which can increase his likelihood of the disease. 

Cough Clues: A mildly hoarse, throaty cough that comes in frequent spells and can be either wet or dry.

Other Symptoms: He feels listless and complains that his throat is scratchy and sore, his head hurts and the muscles in his back and legs ache. He may also have a runny nose, fever, and nausea.

Likely Culprit: FLU, a viral respiratory illness that’s most common from November - April.

What to Do: Call your doctor if he has a fever above 101.5 degrees F, is throwing up, has diarrhea or is uninterested in eating or drinking (your doctor will recommend steps to prevent dehydration). Give him plenty of fluids, and use a humidifier to alleviate congestion in his airways. To ward off future bouts of the flu, ask your pediatrician about getting him an annual flu shot; experts recommend the vaccine particularly for children 6 months old and up. 

Cough Clues: A phlegmy or wheezy cough that’s often accompanied by fast, shallow or difficult breathing.

Other Symptoms: She starts out with cold symptoms, such as sneezing or a stuffy nose, that last about a week, and may develop a fever up to 103 degrees F. She’s lethargic and makes a wheezing sound when she exhales.

Likely Culprit: Bronchiolitis, an infection of the tiny lower airways in the lungs called bronchioles. It’s usually caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and most often occurs from late fall to early spring. Not to be confused with bronchitis (a frequent upper-respiratory infection in older kids and adults), bronchiolitis is common among babies and toddlers. “Almost all kids will get a bout of it by age 3,” says Susanna McColley, M.D., division head of pulmonary medicine at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital.

What to Do: Call your pediatrician right away if she seems to be struggling to breathe or is too irritable to eat or drink. Infants with bronchiolitis sometimes need to be hospitalized to receive oxygen treatment. If her symptoms are mild (a wheezy cough without breathing trouble), put a cool-mist humidifier in her room to help loosen mucus in her lungs, and make sure she drinks plenty of fluids.