Dry cough in a child: how to treat at home?

Coughing is a fairly common symptom that accompanies a cold in a child. With the penetration of the virus into the children's body, damage to the respiratory organs occurs. Because of this, the baby begins to tickle in the throat of the baby, a feeling of mild irritation forms, a natural desire to clear the throat appears. The symptom cannot be ignored so as not to aggravate the problem.

When a child develops a catarrhal disease, sputum production occurs in the body, which softens the throat. However, after some time, when the manifestations of the disease disappear, a slowdown in sputum production will be observed, the larynx will dry out, resulting in a dry cough.

What is the danger of a dry cough in a child?

A dry cough is a reaction of a child's body to an infection that has settled in it. You should know that, oddly enough, but a cough is considered useful, because it helps the patient so that he can get rid of harmful substances - microbes, viruses, mucus. However, when breathing is hard, the airways cannot be released, the baby does not manage to cough. In the body of a child with weakened immunity against the background of the disease, all metabolic processes, in particular protection against infectious diseases, are difficult.

A dry cough leads to the fact that the child recovers much more slowly, since there is no removal of mucus from the lungs, but drying and absorption into the body of the child. This is the danger of dry cough. Therefore, it must be started to be treated as soon as possible.

What diseases can a dry cough be?

• acute rotavirus infections;
• pleurisy;
• tracheitis;
• laryngitis;
• whooping cough;
• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• swelling in the respiratory system;
• the presence of a foreign object in the lungs or respiratory tract.

Parents must pay attention and immediately show the baby to the doctor if he develops an angry barking cough after eating. This is a sign of food particles getting into the airways. If nothing is done, he will reach the paths in the respiratory organs or branching of the bronchi and block them. In addition, if stuck in any area, such a piece will not go through the process of chemical cleavage, as a result of which it will rot.

Dry cough that occurs in children during sleep can be a manifestation of sinusitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, heart failure, while attacks in the morning usually indicate a chronic form of bronchitis, a violation in the functioning of the digestive tract. The doctor should understand the diagnosis.

Signs of Dry Cough

It is usually quite easy to find a dry cough in a baby. Attacks occur several times a day, can be intrusive, then they can not be held. Moreover, it is similar to a dog barking, therefore it is called barking in a different way.

Basically, seizures begin abruptly, unexpectedly, accompanied by spasms.Sometimes they do not pass for a long time.

Such a cough disrupts a child’s night sleep, may be accompanied by fever, but this does not always happen. In some cases, vomiting occurs due to a severe attack.

How to treat dry cough?

When a child develops a dry cough, it is necessary to take him to the pediatrician as soon as possible so that he prescribes the appropriate treatment. It is impossible to select medicines on your own in this case, otherwise dangerous consequences can be provoked. The treatment method should be selected only by the doctor. The following are the most effective and most commonly used treatments.

Medicines
In pharmacies, many dry cough remedies are sold.

1. One of the most effective of them is Broncholitin syrup. Its composition includes plant components, so it does not pose a danger to the crumbs. The drug begins to act on the third day. For this reason, experts advise starting the application immediately after the first manifestations of dry cough are detected.
2. Another effective remedy is Paxceladine syrup. It eliminates spasms in a short time, helps to soften the throat. Suitable for treatment and wet cough.
3. Biocalyptol. The release form of this antitussive is syrup, which is intended for children, so it has a pleasant sweet aftertaste.
4. If the coughing baby does not have body temperature, when choosing a cough medicine, you should give preference to such a medicine, whose action will be aimed at reducing spasm, eliminating sputum from the lungs, and softening the throat. Similar drugs of combined action include Codelac, Codterpin. You can use them to treat cough in children older than two years.

Along with drug therapy, it is recommended to use traditional medicine, which will help accelerate the healing process.

Inhalation
A method of treating dry cough, which has been tested by more than one generation, is the use of inhalation. They are considered a very effective procedure, during which attacks are reduced, the throat is softened. You can use a nebulizer for these purposes, or simply breathe above the steam.

In order to carry out the procedure, you need to use medicinal plants to make a healing broth. Sage, chamomile, eucalyptus are well suited for these purposes. You need to take dried grass, pour boiling water and cover with a lid. After insisting (after about half an hour) pour 500 ml of decoction into a saucepan, add a small amount of boiling water and carry out a procedure during which the child should breathe over the steam. At the same time, he needs to cover his head. It is necessary to explain to the baby so that he breathes as deep as possible.

Compresses
This method of treating a long-term dry cough is suitable if the child does not have a fever. But we must remember that the procedure is allowed only after coordination of this issue with the doctor, who, after listening to the baby, will say whether he can be warmed up or not.

The dry cough compress is made on the basis of potatoes, which must first be crushed, honey and vegetable oil. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed, after which the composition is applied to the chest. Top should be wrapped with cling film and a warm scarf. The compress must be left at least four hours. Allowed not to remove it all night. Mustard plasters have a similar warming effect.

Phytotherapy
Medications can help get rid of coughing in the shortest possible time. However, they are not suitable for some children. This usually happens when a child has an individual intolerance to the components of certain drugs. In this case, herbs will come to the rescue, which are sometimes equally effective.

Plants that have an expectorant and mucolytic effect are thyme, coltsfoot, licorice.They help remove mucus from the lungs. From the listed herbs, infusions and decoctions are made. For an effective treatment, it is enough to pour boiling water and wait until it is infused, a couple of tablespoons of one of the specified plant. In a similar way, it is possible to cure a dry cough in a child. During therapy at home, not only herbal remedies can be used, but also other traditional medicine.

Folk remedies for cough

It is necessary that the means by which the child will be treated are absolutely natural, then they will not harm a sensitive child's body. Time-tested alternative methods of dry cough therapy meet this requirement.

But still, before embarking on such treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor. In addition, you must first make sure that the baby is not allergic to the product that is planned to be used.

Milk
This tool - of course, takes a leading position among all who help get rid of a debilitating cough. Important - only warm milk can be used. The following treatment options are available:

1. Milk with butter. 250 ml is taken a tablespoon of oil. For these purposes, you can use butter or cocoa butter. If desired, honey is added.
2. Milk with honey. For babies, a small amount of honey is added to warm drinks, and for older children, the addition of nutmeg, cinnamon and other spices is allowed. Added baking soda (¼ tsp) will also benefit, but not all children will like this drink.
3. Milk with mineral water. Drinks are mixed in equal proportions. It should be noted that the mineral water should be taken alkaline, or soda should be added, but this will significantly spoil the taste of the finished product.
4. Milk with figs. This recipe allows the use of both fresh and dried fruits. In the first case, approximately three pieces are required per 250 ml of milk, adding which to the product, it is necessary to boil for one minute and, having cooled, you can drink. In the second, the fruits should be put in cool milk for 30 minutes, so that they soften and only after that put on the fire for two minutes.
5. Propolis. With non-passing seizures, you can use this tool, but only if the baby is older than one year. A couple of drops of propolis water tincture is taken and added to a third of a glass of milk.
6. Ginger root. The product is crushed with a grater and poured with one and a half liters of fresh milk, a couple of tablespoons of green tea is added. Put the composition on the stove and wait until it boils. Insist half an hour. Breast babies cannot be treated with this tool.
7. Milk and banana. Fresh fruit is crushed to a puree state, milk is added. A tasty and effective cough medicine is ready.
8. Coniferous milk. To prepare such a tool, pine buds will be required. 50 grams of raw materials must be boiled in 500 ml of milk for 15 minutes. Take in small doses - a couple of sips after equal intervals throughout the day. The daily dosage is one glass of funds.
9. Milk with garlic. Although such a drink cannot boast of taste, it is one of the best in its effectiveness. A few cloves of garlic must be peeled and boiled in a liter of milk until they are softened. Add oil if desired. For the treatment of cough in very young children is not recommended.

Mogul
Mogul-mogul is an effective and harmless remedy that helps to quickly get rid of attacks of dry cough. For cooking, you need yolk, a small amount of honey and granulated sugar. Before you start cooking, you need to make sure the freshness of the product. The yolk is whipped with sugar until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. A delicious medicine the baby should drink up to four times a day for a dessert spoon.The tool helps to soften the throat, relieve irritation. The recommended dose is diluted in 100 ml of warmed milk so that the child drank. If he does not have allergic reactions to bee products, honey can be added. Children over three years old are allowed to add a spoonful of cocoa powder to the medicine. This tool helps to improve sleep, accelerate the healing process.

Dry Cough Massage

Using cocoa butter, the coughing baby is massaged by gently rubbing it in the chest and back. If the baby is more than two years old, you can melt the lard, add a few drops of camphor oil and honey, and massage with this composition. Usually, after using such a remedy, an improvement occurs quickly. The chest and back are massaged, tissue napkins are applied upstairs and left for three hours. After this time, with the help of cotton swabs, the remains of the composition are removed, the skin is thoroughly wiped.

Compresses with potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese, as well as massage of the chest, feet, and hands have a calming effect on the respiratory organs.

Cough lozenges

The crumbs who do not know how to suck candy can dissolve such sugar in boiling water in a ratio of 1:20. The resulting syrup is offered to the baby in the amount of one tablespoon after a meal. If desired, you can add berry juice or honey to the lollipops.

Dry cough temperature rises

Not in all cases, if a child coughs dryly, his temperature rises. Treating such a cough at home is allowed only until it increases. If a similar symptom occurs, you must immediately call a doctor. High temperature suggests that the process of absorption of mucus into the baby’s blood has begun, because of which it can affect the internal organs. In this situation, without fail, the doctor will prescribe the baby antibacterial drugs. When choosing an antibiotic, factors such as possible individual intolerance, age, body weight of a small patient, and the cause of the deterioration of the condition are taken into account.

If you keep a dry cough in a baby for a week, if signs of recovery do not occur, you need to visit a doctor. Children's health is the most expensive that parents have, so you need to take care of it and treat it with all responsibility and care.

Video: cough medicine for children