cough symptoms in children

overview

a cough that is more noticeable when your child is lying down is usually caused by mucus running down the back of the throat (post-nasal drip) from an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, sinusitis, or allergy. a child usually has a runny or stuffy nose, may be irritable, and may have a fever. home treatment is usually all that is needed to provide relief for this type of cough.

a cough during the night that sounds like a barking seal may be a sign of croup. your child may sound hoarse with a high-pitched sound (stridor) when breathing in. home treatment may be all that is needed in most cases. but a barking cough that continues through the day or occurs with difficulty breathing can be more serious.

a child may cough in response to emotional issues (psychogenic cough). this type of cough is present without other symptoms.

any cough in a baby younger than 3 months, even without other symptoms, needs to be taken seriously. if the cough occurs with a change in feeding habits or decreased activity level, your child needs to be evaluated by a health professional. if your child is acting normally in every other way, simply watch him or her closely for 24 hours.

a cough that is persistent, interrupts sleep, or slows your child down needs to be watched closely. a cough is more likely to be serious if it:

• occurs with difficulty breathing.
• is persistent, especially if it interferes with sleep or other daily activities.
• produces mucus that appears to be from the lungs (sputum) or brings up bloody sputum.
• persists after a choking episode. vomiting may also occur.
• comes in spasms, especially if your child is unable to catch his or her breath.

a cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks is usually a sign of an allergy, sinus infection, asthma, or reflux. but it may mean a more serious problem. a visit to your child's doctor is needed when a cough is persistent.