Failure to help your baby cope with an overcoming illness is a terrible dream for any parent. One of the most frightening symptoms in a child is a dry cough without fever. What are its causes and how to deal with it - we will analyze these issues in more detail.
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Causes of barking lingering cough
The cough reflex is a normal reaction of the body aimed at getting rid of foreign particles, microbes and accumulated mucus. Most often, such a cleaning process occurs in the morning. However, when a pathology occurs, the cough becomes more frequent, becomes stronger and longer.
The main causes of prolonged dry cough are:
- Diseases caused by infection (SARS, flu).
- The latent course of inflammatory processes.
- An allergic reaction to an irritant.
- Bouts of asthma.
- Foreign body aspiration. In this situation, the symptom appears suddenly against the background of the baby's well-being. Its intensity usually increases rapidly.
- Psychosomatic factor. Often after stress or in connection with congenital shyness, the baby has a nervous cough in difficult situations for him.
- Lack of humidity in the room. This is especially true for the cold season due to the activity of heating devices. Therefore, you should often air the nursery or install a humidifier in the room.
For an accurate diagnosis, consult a specialist. Often, a periodic dry cough can remain after a serious illness, turning into a bad habit.
What diseases indicates
Depending on the intensity and frequency, coughing can be a symptom of completely different pathological processes.
- Laryngitis. This disease is characterized by a sharp dry cough.
- Sinusitis and inflammation of the adenoids. Other signs of these ailments: thick discharge from the nose, dry nasopharynx, shortness of breath.
- Whooping cough. About the disease will say a very strong painful cough, reaching the gag reflex.
- Bronchial asthma. In this situation, severe dyspnea and nocturnal cough in a child are especially typical.
- Allergy. Asymptomatic coughing can be observed in the presence of allergenic things.
- Congenital heart failure.
- Nervous strain. Often this symptom indicates that the child is experiencing discomfort or severe stress.
It is possible to identify a specific cause after consulting a pediatrician, as well as other specialized doctors, as well as after conducting a proper examination.
Diagnostic measures
The standard examination procedure includes listening to the patient for wheezing and other symptomatic manifestations with a visual examination of the upper respiratory tract. If signs of hidden pathology are detected, the doctor prescribes additional diagnostic procedures. Informative methods are radiography and ultrasound, which help to establish serious diseases of the lower respiratory tract, as well as possible deviations in the work of the heart muscle. If there are suspicions of ingestion of foreign particles, then an endoscopic examination is performed.
How to treat a dry cough without fever in a child
Expectorants, the active component of which is of plant origin, are very effective in treating coughs without fever in a child:
- Althea root syrup;
- Gedelix;
- Prospan;
- licorice syrup.
Before using them, it is important to consult with your doctor, as there are many contraindications and side effects. Particular care should be taken if the baby has allergic reactions to drug components.
Very well proven in the fight against this symptom of inhalation. You can use a regular kettle by inhaling steam through the spout. However, a procedure with a special nebulizer inhaler is more effective. As a medicine, mineral water, soda with water or saline are suitable. But here it is important not to overdo it so as not to burn the mucous membrane.
If the child coughs heavily as a result of rhinoinfection, then a quick result is a nose wash with saline.
The cough reflex remaining after a serious illness such as whooping cough is usually eliminated by acting on the corresponding center in the brain.
Medicines of this action have narcotic substances in their composition. In this regard, their use is permissible only after the permission of the attending physician and under his strict supervision.
These include:
- Tussal;
- Methylmorphine;
- Codeine.
In extreme cases, it is permissible to take medications that have a similar effect, but that belong to the non-opioid category. They are safer. However, they are also prescribed for very serious pathologies with constant medical supervision.
- Glaucin;
- Butamirad;
- Sedotussin;
- Sinecode.
For children under 3 years old, medications that affect the cough reflex are prohibited.
An allergic cough usually goes away after the irritant is eliminated.
Antihistamines are used to suppress the symptom:
- Zirtek;
- Suprastin;
- syrup Erius.
There is a group of anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve irritation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. They also reduce cramping and relax smooth muscles in the bronchi.
Here you can highlight:
- Stoptussin;
- Ventolin;
- Levopront;
- Broncholitin;
- Libexin.
With an unproductive lingering cough, funds are often prescribed for a better discharge of sputum:
- Ambroxol;
- Bromhexine.
To eliminate the symptom, you can use a folk remedy - a collection of healing herbs. It is known that plants are no less effective pharmacy medicines.
As the main components are suitable:
- eucalyptus;
- mint;
- sage;
- coltsfoot;
- St. John's wort
- oregano;
- Ledum.
The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, poured with boiling water and infused for an hour. Especially effective is the use of such a means in the form of inhalation. To do this, the broth is poured into a kettle and boiled. A funnel is inserted into the nozzle, through which the child inhales steam. The duration of the procedure is no more than 20 minutes.
For children, antibiotics for coughing are prescribed as a last resort and provided that the disease is of bacterial origin. Abuse this drug group is not worth it, despite its effectiveness. In addition to the known negative effect on the immune system, these drugs can lead to the emergence of bacteria resistant to their action. Special care is required in the presence of allergic reactions.
Possible consequences
The most common consequences of a prolonged dry cough in children are:
- Bronchitis. This ailment requires timely treatment. If you do not respond to alarming symptoms in time, then you will most likely have to give your child antibiotics. It is also important to complete the treatment. Otherwise, the disease will become chronic.
- Tracheitis. Inflammation of the trachea, which in the absence of proper measures can get into the bronchi. At the same time, coughing attacks are quite lengthy (up to 2 hours), occur more often at night. Poor appetite and general apathy are observed.
- Pneumonia. A very dangerous disease. It can be triggered by an infection from the bronchi or usual hypothermia. In addition to the standard symptoms, blue fingertips are observed. The lips turn dark red. Treatment usually takes place in a hospital setting. Part of the therapy is taking antibiotics.
- Laryngitis. The main symptoms are a slight coughing and a hoarse voice. Characteristic deterioration at night. This is due to narrowing of the lumen of the airways. During an attack, the baby should be seated immediately. Food with this disease should be neutral, so that the acid or salt does not cause additional irritation of the mucosa.
Prevention
Sometimes it’s enough to follow a few simple rules to prevent the occurrence of unproductive lingering cough.
- More often walking in the fresh air.
- It’s good to cover your throat before a walk, especially in strong winds.
- Avoid crowds during seasonal illnesses.
- Include more fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables in your children's diet.
- Take care of hygiene. Hands should be washed only with soap.
- If the room is too dry, install a humidifier there.
Such, at first glance, a harmless symptom, such as a dry cough, can precede many serious diseases. Therefore, it is important to take it seriously and consult a doctor on time.
