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| Main > Symptom Guide > Coughing
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Coughing
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Coughing is a common symptom in children and usually accompanies an infection with the common cold virus, but it can indicate a more serious disorder, especially if your child is having difficulty breathing. Usual treatments can include air humidification, eliminating cigarette smoking exposure and exposure to other common irritants, and short term use of a decongestant and/or cough suppressant if your child is not have difficulty breathing (especially if the cough is interrupting sleep).
- allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or postnasal drip syndrome. Cough, plus clear runny nose, congestion, sneezing, itchy and/or watery eyes. May be seasonal.
- asthma: children with asthma often cough or wheeze during or after play or physical activity or after being exposed to cold air, and they may have a dry, nonproductive cough at night.
- bronchiolitis: a viral infection that can cause wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing, especially in younger children. Usually occurs after your child has had cold symptoms for a few days.
- bronchitis: a viral illness that usually begins with symptoms of a runny nose and cough, which gradually worsen over three to four days and your child may then develop a frequent, nonproductive, dry, hacking cough. The cough will continue to worsen and may become productive and he may have a low grade fever and decreased energy level. Symptoms gradually improve over the next five to ten days and do not respond to antibiotics.
- cough variant asthma: this is a form of asthma in which children only have a cough and do not have wheezing. These children have a nonproductive cough that is worse at night, may be made worse by exercise and cold air, may be seasonal and is made better with bronchodilator treatments that are usually used to treat asthma.
- croup is caused by a virus that produces a very characteristic cough that sounds like a barking seal. It usually begins in the middle of the night, especially in younger children and can cause difficulty breathing.
- cystic fibrosis: children with CF can have a chronic cough, frequent infections, poor growth and greasy, foul smelling stools.
- foreign body aspiration or ingestion: cough usually follows an episode of choking on something (food, etc). X-rays can be helpful to find metallic objects, otherwise comparing x-rays when your child is breathing in and then when he is breathing out (inspiratory and expiratory films) can help to determine if non-metallic objects have been aspirated. Sometimes it is necessary for a specialist to look down the windpipe with a scope to see if anything is there. Call your local emergency services if your child is choking and can't breath.
- irritation: children can cough if their airways are exposed to irritants, especially smoke, air pollution, strong smells, etc.
- pneumonia: can cause a productive cough and difficulty breathing.
- psychogenic cough: a chronic dry, hacking cough can sometimes be a habit, especially in adolescents who have a lot of stress, and in whom the cough disappears when he is sleeping. A brief trial of cough suppressants may help break the habit.
- reflux: in some children who have bad gastroesophageal reflux, the spitting up can trigger a cough and/or wheezing.
- sinusitis: symptoms include a yellow or green runny nose that has persisted for more than ten to fourteen days, a cough, which may be productive, and he may also have facial pain, fever and bad breath.
- upper respiratory tract infection: the common cold is usually accompanied by a runny nose (which may be yellow or green), cough, and fever, and usually lasts up to about ten days.
- other infections: including tuberculosis (usually accompanied by daily fevers, night sweats, weight loss and recent contact with someone who had TB), pertussis (whooping cough), Mycoplasma (walking pneumonia).
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