Dry cough in a child than help quickly. How can a dry cough in children be treated? Possible complications of barking cough in children

Anna Sheveleva, a pediatrician and mother of two children, tells what a dry cough is, why it appears dry, and how to treat it.

Cough is one of the most common symptoms of various diseases that occur in children. Often, when describing a child's cough, it is called dry or wet. What is meant by this description? A dry cough is a cough that does not produce phlegm. With a wet cough, phlegm is formed and secreted.

The most common causes of dry cough in a child are as follows:

Colds. A dry cough with respiratory infections usually occurs in the early days of the illness.

Cough with diseases of the ENT organs. In this case, the mucus flows down the back of the pharynx, irritating the cough receptors.

Cough in acute tracheitis - paroxysmal, dry, painful, with a "metallic" tinge is replaced by a wet cough with scanty sputum.

Also, a common cause of concern for parents is a dry cough (or coughing) after an infection, which can persist up to 2-3 weeks after acute respiratory infections or bronchitis. For example, the kid ran, breathed in cold air - and coughed. The reason for this cough is that the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract has not yet fully recovered from the illness and remains overly sensitive to the smallest irritants.

A few more diseases in which a dry cough can occur in a child:

Pneumonia. A dry, painful cough in a child in the first days of the illness is then replaced by a wet one. Pneumonia is accompanied by shortness of breath, fever, and general malaise.
Foreign body in the airway
Smoking in the presence of a child
Psychogenic cough (stress cough)
Heart disease
Digestive system diseases (reflux disease)
Pleurisy
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Swelling in the chest area
Other

Dry cough in a child. Than to treat.

For the treatment of dry cough in a child, there are the following drugs:

1) Antitussives - drugs that depress the cough center of the brain or reduce the sensitivity of the airway receptors. Drugs in this group are used only as directed by a doctor for diseases such as whooping cough, pleurisy.

2) Expectorants (expectorates) and mucolytics - drugs that increase cough, help thinning and secretion of phlegm. With a dry cough, they are not prescribed.

3) Bronchodilators - used for coughs accompanied by bronchospasm, such as bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis.

Medicines for the treatment of cough are prescribed in combination with other drugs that act on the cause of the disease. It is important to consider that this or that drug should be prescribed by a doctor after examining the baby. To relieve the child's condition before the doctor arrives, give him throat softeners - a warm drink; older children can also be given lozenges to suck in the mouth.

As soon as the baby shows any sign of illness, young mothers begin to panic immediately. So, quite often children have a dry cough. And therefore, each parent must clearly know the answers to questions such as what are the causes of such a cough or how to properly treat it effectively.

A dry cough shows that the mucous membrane of the patient's respiratory tract ceases to produce a secret in an increased manner (this is if a foreign body or dust has got into the throat), or that the secret has increased viscosity and therefore it is produced with difficulty (this occurs with pneumonia) ... At the same time, there may be edema of the vocal cords (this is observed with laryngitis), or a spasm of small bronchi and, as a result, narrowing of their lumens (this symptom is characteristic of an allergic cough).

What are the causes of dry cough in children?

There are several main causes of dry cough in children.

1 Any cases of ARVI disease. After all, this is a viral infection, the viruses of which penetrate the epithelial cells of the human respiratory tract, after which they (the cells) become inflamed and then die. As a result of this action, sensitive cough receptors are excited. People suffering from respiratory syncytial infections, parasitic infections, and influenza especially suffer from the most obsessive cough. In this case, the airways can be affected at various levels. So, for example, with pharyngitis, the pharynx is affected, with tracheitis, the trachea, with bronchitis and bronchiolitis, large and small bronchi, and with pneumonia, the alveoli.

2 Presence of inflammation of the vocal cords. During illness, a person has a decrease in the lumen of the glottis. And, depending on the size of this gap, the child may have a dry "barking cough" or, on the contrary, very quiet, practically inaudible (such a cough is said to be aphonia). Usually, laryngitis is the result of overstrain of the vocal cords, which occurs with microbial and viral infections, with loud screams, allergic reactions, or with inhalation of vapors of any irritating substances.

3 Specific bacterial infections may occur, which include: tuberculosis, which results in a very long-term inflammatory process that occurs in the lungs and in the peri-tracheal lymph nodes, which leads to a reflex cough; diphtheria, as a result of which there is swelling of the tissues of the larynx, neck and throat, while the trachea is compressed; whooping cough. As a result of this disease, pathogenic bacteria pollute the human body with toxins. And those, in turn, cause a sharp increase in the activity of the human cough center. As a result, the patient has bouts of very prolonged coughing, which do not allow breathing and can even lead to suffocation. In addition, a very thick sputum, which in its consistency resembles liquid glass, accumulates in the bronchi. That is why she clears her throat very hard.

4 The manifestation of allergies in the form of respiratory diseases. If a child has a cough, but there is no temperature, and, as a rule, if it appears in the autumn-spring period, then we can say that the patient is allergic to animal hair, for example, or to flowering plants. This cough is very often accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes. The most severe form of this disease is bronchial asthma.

5 Pleurisy or inflammation of the pleura is also accompanied by a reflex painful cough.

6 Reflux gastroesophageal. As a rule, with this disease, coughing fits occur after eating. Most often - in the supine position during sleep. The reason for this is the flow of the acidic content of the human stomach into the oral cavity and after that, the accidental inhalation of this acid.

7 Very rarely, but still there are situations when a dry cough in a child appears due to a tumor of the lungs, bronchial lymph nodes, aortic aneurysm, inflammation of the respiratory tract, decompensated heart defects.

How to treat a dry cough in a child?

How to treat children if they have a dry cough? Moreover, it is known that children under two years of age cannot use medication. This is due to the fact that there is always a risk of drug overdose. Older children may be given medications for dry coughs to block the cough reflex. But for babies, you need to use other procedures that reduce irritation in the throat. But, podriya this or that drug treatment for a child, you must first of all pay attention to the side effects that are inherent in this drug. These effects usually include drowsiness and dizziness. So, if the medicine is selected, then just in case it is best to give it before bedtime.

Today, if you talk to mummies, you can conclude that the most popular medicine for treating dry cough is Robitussin, which blocks cough reflexes, and Delsim, a special suspension that has a long-term effect. Experts say that this drug can relieve a child of a dry cough for about 12 hours. In the event that home treatment is chosen, then the most optimal is the use of steam inhalation. It must be emphasized that such inhalations should be used with an automatic humidifier. Thanks to the action of the cool steam from this hydration, it opens up the nasal passages and noticeably relieves irritation in the throat. If parents want to use homeopathic remedies, the following recipe is best. Take one spoonful of honey and mix it with a spoonful of freshly squeezed lemon juice. And do not forget that during illness, the child must be given as much fluid as possible in order to remove toxins from the body. At this time, the child can eat chicken soup, hot tea (as often as possible). It is imperative to gargle with warm salted water. If the child is over four years old, then he can already be given cough lozenges.

Rules for caring for a sick child

1 The air in the room must be humidified. The fact is that dry air leads to attacks of dry cough. To do this, you need to do wet cleaning more often, you can hang a wet towel on the battery, or place dishes with hot water everywhere in the room.

2 It is important that the room is 20-22 0 C.

3 It is necessary to exclude all irritating odors such as the smell of any smoke (including tobacco), any detergents and all other chemical odors.

4 A sick child must be provided with a special drinking regimen. This means that he should drink a warm alkaline liquid as often as possible, which includes milk, tea, still water.

5 At this time, the child should not be forced to eat a lot, he should have a sparing diet. On the table there should be only light, non-nutritious dishes, such as jelly, jelly, fruit puree. Mashed potatoes made in milk with the addition of ghee are perceived very well by a sick child.

6 Warming compresses can be used. They should be located on the chest area. But after the compress is removed, the child must be warmly dressed.

7 You can teach your child to breathe warm, moist air. To do this, you need to go into the bathroom, close the door tightly behind you, turn on the shower and inhale the moist warm air that will come from it.

Folk remedies for the treatment of dry cough in a child

Today, there are many different folk recipes that make it possible to treat dry cough in children. Below are the most delicious, healthy and safe ones.

1 Take a spoonful of sugar and boil the syrup in it until it turns dark yellow. After that, dilute this caramel in water and treat the baby's cough with it. If the child is large, then he can simply be given to dissolve the resulting frozen syrup, as if it were a lollipop.

2 You can take black radish juice and mix it with honey, then drink using dessert spoons. This recipe can be used only if the child is not allergic to these components.

3 Pour a glass of milk into a container and dip a small onion into it and boil it over low heat. After that, strain the milk and drink it warm, but only in small sips.

4 You can give your child medicinal tea, which will consist of a decoction of marshmallow herbs, marsh rosemary, peppermint, thyme flowers, licorice root, thermopsis, coltsfoot. Moreover, you can brew both herbs separately, and make a collection of them.

Whatever disease worries the baby, at this time he should have a half-bed mode. And from food it is necessary to remove exotic seasonings and various hot spices. And yet, even if mommy considers herself a serious specialist in the field of treating her child, she must be shown to the doctor so as not to miss any serious illness and prevent the development of any dangerous complications.

What to do if a child has a dry cough without fever?

There are situations when a child has a strong dry cough and no more symptoms of the disease - temperature, runny nose, weakness - are not observed. In such a situation, the easiest way is to assume that the baby just got something in the throat. It can be anything - from dust to a small part of a toy. As a rule, this cough develops very sharply, without any symptoms, and may even be accompanied by suffocation. In this case, the parents must act very quickly, but carefully so as not to scare the baby. For this, the baby should be placed on his knees, face down. You can clear the throat with a few glancing blows, which the parents apply from top to bottom between the baby's shoulder blades. In the event that a stuck object jumps out of the throat, it is best to show the baby to the doctor anyway to check the airways and make sure that they are not damaged.

In some situations, children's dry cough in the absence of fever occurs in infants. It usually starts in the morning. This happens in order to free the child's airways from the phlegm that has accumulated overnight. Therefore, if the baby is coughing, but there is no temperature, then this is all within normal limits.

When should you take serious action for a dry cough in a child?

In the event that, after following all the recommendations prescribed by your doctor, the child does not have a dry cough, then you need to contact a more narrow specialist - an otolaryngologist. If this cough is protracted, then serious laboratory tests are necessary. In addition, consultations with a phthisiatrician and a pulmonologist must be appointed. Anything can be the reason for such a long dry cough - tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma. In the event that a prolonged cough occurs in a child in the autumn and spring periods, then it may turn out to be a helminthic invasion, or chronic allergic inflammation. In any case, the treatment should be prescribed by specialists.

A dry cough is a very unpleasant and painful symptom that is characteristic of many respiratory diseases.

A dry cough gives a child a lot of torment, disrupts his sleep, negatively affects mood and general well-being. To get rid of this type of cough, it is necessary to correctly establish the cause.

In some cases, the nature of the cough has nothing to do with the respiratory system. For example, a paroxysmal cough without sputum discharge can be observed in children suffering from esophagitis or gastritis, therefore, independent attempts to make a diagnosis can result in an incorrect prescription of treatment and a deterioration in the child's well-being.

A cough is a reflexive contraction of the muscles of the chest, as a result of which the pulmonary system is cleared of harmful bacteria, mucus, phlegm. If a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, the first symptom of pathology will also be a cough.

The cough can be moist, accompanied by the release of mucus and phlegm containing toxins and waste products of pathogenic microorganisms. If little or no mucus is produced during the cough, this is called a dry cough.

A dry cough is unproductive, as it does not lead to sputum discharge. Most often, it appears during inflammatory processes in the organs of the oropharynx, but sometimes frequent, non-painful bouts of dry cough may indicate that the air in the room is dry and must be humidified.

This type of cough can get worse at night, reducing the quality of sleep or even depriving it completely.

Symptoms

A dry cough can be persistent or paroxysmal. A constant cough in a child without fever and sputum discharge is a signal for parents about the need for more thorough wet cleaning in the room.

If the correct moisture level is maintained in the children's room, but the cough persists, the child may have an allergy. This may be indicated by the following signs:

lacrimation;
nasal congestion;
discharge of mucus from the nasal passages;
redness of the eye sclera;
the appearance of skin rash and itching.

With allergies, the cough is usually of moderate intensity. It is not too painful, but in some cases it can cause attacks of asphyxia (suffocation), therefore, at the first symptoms of a possible allergic reaction, parents should show the baby to a specialist.

A paroxysmal, wheezing cough that resembles a dog's barking may indicate viral or bacterial laryngitis. Laryngitis cough worsens at night, interferes with sleep, causes severe pain, injures the respiratory tract.

With bronchitis, pneumonia, a dry cough is one of the first symptoms of the disease. Usually it is accompanied by fever, deterioration of health, chills, pain in the chest area.

Important! If a child has a sudden attack of dry cough, while breathing is difficult, and there is an uncharacteristic pallor, it is necessary to urgently call the emergency team, since the cause may be a foreign body entering the trachea.

From the video, you can learn from a young mother how an attack of dry cough stops in a child.

Possible causes of pathology

The causes of dry cough in children and adults are most often respiratory diseases, which can be infectious and non-infectious in nature.

In children, the most common causes of an unproductive cough, doctors consider the following pathologies:

laryngitis - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx and epiglottis;
pharyngitis is an inflammatory process localized in the pharynx, in which mucous membranes and lymphoid tissue are affected;
bronchitis - inflammation of the membranes covering the bronchi, or the individual areas of the bronchial tree;
whooping cough is an infectious lesion of the respiratory tract (a characteristic symptom is a constantly increasing dry cough, which is paroxysmal in nature);
diphtheria is a severe infectious disease of the oropharynx with a high mortality rate, often complicated by inflammatory processes in the lungs;
tuberculosis is a disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex group.

A dry cough is not always a symptom of colds. Very often this symptom appears with pronounced helminthic invasion with a high degree of intoxication of the body.

In this case, the child will also experience pallor of the skin, circles under the eyes, decreased or lack of appetite. Bronchial asthma is another possible cause of a painful, paroxysmal cough without sputum discharge.

Important! In about 7-10% of cases, a chronic dry cough of moderate intensity indicates a disease of the digestive tract, so parents should not engage in self-diagnosis. The best solution would be to see a specialist in a timely manner.

Diagnostic measures

After examining the child, the doctor will definitely give directions for additional examinations, which usually include:

chest x-ray (if tuberculosis or pneumonia is suspected);
urine and blood tests;
stool analysis (to exclude helminthiasis);
ECG (if necessary);
bacterial sputum culture (to determine the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to various drugs from the antibiotic group).

Depending on the clinical picture obtained, the child may be assigned consultations of narrow-profile specialists: a neurologist, an allergist, an immunologist, a gastroenterologist and an otolaryngologist.

Treatment of dry cough in children with syrups and drugs

In order to properly prescribe the treatment of dry cough in children, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence. The basis of therapy for infectious diseases is antiviral and antibacterial drugs that destroy the pathogenic flora.

Of the antiviral drugs, children are most often prescribed drugs "Viferon" and "Genferon Light" in the form of rectal suppositories. They are usually used according to one of the following schemes:

1 suppository before bed for 10 days;
1 candle 2 times a day (morning and evening) for 5 days.

Arbidol has a good antiviral and immunomodulatory effect. For young children, the drug is available in the form of a suspension.

Antibiotics should only be prescribed by a specialist after sputum culture. Depending on the type of pathogen, the following medications may be prescribed to the child:

means of the penicillin series based on semisynthetic penicillin - amoxicillin (suspension "Augmentin", "Amoxiclav", tablets for preparation of suspension "Flemoxin Solutab");
macrolides (suspension "Zinnat", "Hemomycin");
cephalosporins ("Ciprofloxacin").

Important! For the prevention of intestinal dysbiosis, taking antibiotics must be combined with the use of prebiotics. The most effective drugs in this group, experts consider "Normobact", "Bifidumbacterin", "Bifiform" and "Linex".

For the symptomatic treatment of cough, drugs of three main pharmaceutical groups are used.

Antitussive medicines.

Their mechanism of action is to act on the cough center and block cough receptors. One of the most effective reflex drugs with instant antitussive action is Sinekod. It comes in the form of a vanilla-flavored syrup, so young children usually drink it well.

The effect comes almost instantly - usually 5-15 minutes after ingestion. You can take "Sinekod" only as prescribed by a specialist, as it has certain contraindications.

Mucolytics.

Drugs in this group thin the thick and viscous phlegm and facilitate its removal from the respiratory tract. In pediatric practice, the following means of this group are usually used:

"Fluimucil";
Rinofluimucil;
"ACC 100";
"Bromhexine for Children";
"Lazolvan";
Ambrobene;
Ambrohexal.

Important! Drugs with a mucolytic effect should not be taken simultaneously with reflex antitussive drugs.

Expectorant drugs.

Stimulates an increase in mucus and makes it easier to pass. The drugs in this group are most often represented by herbal medicines. These include:

"Alteika";
"Mukaltin";
"Liquorice root";
"Pertussin";
"Gedelix";
"Doctor IOM";
"Dry cough medicine."

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a combination of mucolytics and expectorant drugs, but self-administration of combined treatment regimens is categorically unacceptable.

How to treat with inhalation?

Inhalation with saline or drugs has an excellent therapeutic effect. The main task of therapy is to increase the effectiveness of the use of drug methods of treatment and to ensure the maximum penetration of active substances into the respiratory tract. Preparations and dosages for inhalation should be prescribed by a doctor.

Standard treatment regimens usually include the use of Erispal, Berodual, and other drugs that help relieve inflammation and ease sputum discharge.

It is necessary to treat inhalations 2-4 times a day for 10-30 minutes (depending on the child's age and the severity of the pathological process).

If a child is afraid of an inhaler, you can use a children's device, which is made in the form of a train or a car.

Treatment of dry cough with folk remedies

If the child is not prone to allergic reactions, you can use non-traditional, traditional methods of treatment. Almost all of them are safe for the child's body and are not inferior in effectiveness to traditional medicines.

Lemon honey mixture

Grind 3 lemons with a blender or meat grinder and add 100 ml of natural honey. Weakened children can add mashed dried apricots, figs and prunes to the recipe. You need to take this mixture 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day until the symptoms disappear completely.

Carrots with honey

To prepare the medicine, you must use freshly squeezed carrot juice (an industrial product will not work). For 300 ml of juice, use 100 ml of honey. For a strong cough, it is better to use buckwheat or lime honey. Mix all components thoroughly and put in the refrigerator. Take 10-15 ml 4 times a day after meals.

Note! The prepared mixture can be stored for no more than 48 hours at temperatures from + 2 ° to + 6 °.

Badger or goose fat

It is used to rub the chest 2 times a day (morning and evening). Rubbing should be done 1.5-2 hours after eating and only if the child does not have a fever. If the body temperature is more than 37.2 °, the use of any warming agents, which include badger and goose fat, is contraindicated.

Fig decoction

5-6 figs must be placed in a saucepan with milk, brought to a boil and cooked over very low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly so that the milk does not burn. After the broth has cooled, strain it.

If the child refuses to drink the product, you can add a little sugar to it. You need to take the medicine in 150 ml in the evening. Before giving a decoction to a child, it must be warmed up.

Prevention measures

Prevention of dry cough consists in strengthening the body's defenses and observing hygiene standards. From an early age, a child should be taught to wash his hands with soap and water before eating, after the street and after going to the toilet. Compliance with the drinking regime is of great importance.

The child should always have clean drinking water available at all times. A special children's cooler with a volume of 2 liters is perfect for this purpose. Children usually enjoy imitating adults and enjoy using the device.

Active walks should be daily and long, and the child should be dressed appropriately for the weather conditions. Wet cleaning and airing the room where the child is most of the time should also be regular.

By following these simple rules, you can strengthen your baby's immunity and protect him from infectious diseases. Of course, it will not be possible to completely protect the child from viruses and bacteria, but a strong body can easily cope with most pathogenic microorganisms on its own, therefore hardening, good nutrition, frequent walks and age-appropriate gymnastics are the best preventive measures at any age.

A child's cough is an alarming symptom for parents. If it occurs as a result of damage to the respiratory tract by a viral or bacterial infection, then untimely treatment is fraught with its spread to nearby tissues, the transition of inflammation in the respiratory organs to a chronic form and the development of other complications. Dry cough treatment is prescribed after finding out its cause. In most cases, it appears at the beginning of acute respiratory infections, gradually turning into a wet one. Allergies, whooping cough, gastroesophageal reflux, asthma, and disturbances in the central nervous system can also cause such a symptom in a child.

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Treatment principles

Cough refers to the unconditioned protective reflexes of a person, the function of which is to clear the respiratory tract from all sorts of irritants (foreign bodies, viruses, bacteria, allergens, mucus, phlegm). A dry or unproductive cough is a cough that does not produce phlegm due to no phlegm or a too thick consistency. Unlike wet, it is rather painful, exhausting, does not allow the child to sleep normally, disrupts his psycho-emotional state and does not bring relief. In babies, as a result of a hacking dry cough, irritation of the delicate mucous membrane of the respiratory tract with the appearance of bleeding wounds or cracks is possible.

The main cause of dry cough is colds, acute respiratory viral infections, or rather inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract (pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis) occurring against their background. With pharyngitis, a child has irritation of the mucous throat, a feeling of dryness, sore pain and soreness, with tracheitis - pain behind the sternum and in the pharynx, increased coughing attacks with a deep breath, crying, laughing, changes in air temperature. With bronchitis, a dry cough is loud, chest, at the initial stage accompanied by the release of a scant amount of sputum, pain in the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and behind the sternum.

If a dry cough occurs in a child, parents should contact a pediatrician to find out the cause and choose the means for treatment. This is especially true if there is no confidence that dry cough is associated with acute respiratory infections, that is, when, in addition to coughing, the child does not have a runny nose, or sore throat, or other characteristic clinical signs of this group of diseases.

The principle of combating dry cough that has arisen against the background of acute respiratory infections is to soften, relieve inflammation in the throat cavity and create conditions to prevent further spread of the inflammatory process down the respiratory tract. If the infection has entered the bronchi and bronchitis has developed, agents are used that promote the transition of dry cough into wet, which will effectively clear the respiratory tract of accumulated mucus and sputum.

In some children, a dry cough may occur only in the morning and not be a sign of any pathology. In most cases, it is caused by the wrong temperature and humidity level in the room where the child sleeps.

With dry cough, as well as for its prevention, the organization of proper child care is of great importance. It includes:

plentiful warm drinks (alkaline non-carbonated mineral waters, warm compotes, fruit drinks, herbal teas);
walks in the open air;
frequent airing and wet cleaning in the house;
maintaining the humidity in the apartment at a level of at least 50%;
temperature control (no more than 20 ° C) in the room where the child is and sleeps.

It is with the organization of proper care that the treatment of cough in children, especially small children, for whom the use of many drugs can pose a potential threat to the child's health due to the development of severe side effects, should begin. According to foreign doctors, drinking plenty of fluids is no less effective means for liquefying and facilitating the evacuation of sputum than taking mucolytic agents, to which pediatrician Komarovsky E.O. draws the attention of parents.

Medicines for children

Prescribing drugs for dry cough to a child should be done by a doctor based on an examination of the throat, auscultation of the chest and the results of general clinical tests. Depending on the cause of the disease provoking a dry cough, the following are prescribed:

topical medications for sore throat;
antitussives;
mucolytics;
expectorants.

In addition, antispasmodics, antihistamines, sedatives, antibiotics are included in the complex treatment of dry cough in children.

Of particular difficulty is the appointment of drugs for dry cough for babies under the age of two. This is due to the fact that, due to the weakness of the respiratory muscles, they still have a poorly developed cough reflex, so the child is not able to effectively clear his throat.

An excess amount of sputum in the respiratory tract, formed when taking mucolytics and expectorants, in this case is dangerous for the baby. The resulting cough can provoke bouts of vomiting in a child and lead to the fact that the baby will choke on the resulting mucus. In addition, the list of relatively safe drugs approved for use in children in the first years of life is rather limited.

Topical throat medications

If the cause of dry cough is irritation of the throat mucosa, then local therapy is recommended for its treatment, which has a softening, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing effect. Depending on the age of the child, rinses with water-salt solutions, herbal decoctions, inhalations, irrigation of the throat with sprays, lozenges, lozenges or lozenges with herbal extracts may be prescribed to him.

Medicines approved for children for sore throat and their dosages depending on age

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Lizobact (tablets)	from 3 to 7 years old	1 tab. 3 times a day
	from 7 to 12 years old	1 tab. 4 times a day
		2 tab. 3-4 times a day
Ingalipt (spray)		2-3 injections 3-4 times a day
Tantum verde (tablets)		1 tab. every 3 hours
Strepsils (lollipops)		1 lozenge every 3 hours
Septefril (tablets)		1 tab. 3-4 times a day
Septolet (pastilles)		1 lozenge up to 4 times a day
Septolet (pastilles)		1 lozenge - up to 8 times a day
Hexoral (spray)		1 injection twice a day
Faringosept (lozenges)		1 tab. three times a day

Antitussives

The funds of this group are given to children only as prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of a painful cough, accompanied by pain, sleep disturbances and other unpleasant consequences. The mechanism of their action is to suppress cough in a child due to a depressing effect on the cough center, reduce irritation of the inflamed mucous membranes, and reduce the susceptibility of peripheral cough receptors to irritating factors. They also have a mild anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, bronchodilator and expectorant effect. With a dry cough against the background of their intake, the child may experience stagnation of mucus in the respiratory tract, so medical supervision is necessary.

Drugs for the treatment of dry cough

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Sinekod (drops, syrup, pills)	syrup from 3 years old	three times a day, 5 ml
	syrup from 6 years old	three times a day, 10 ml
	syrup from 12 years old	three times a day, 15 ml
	drops from 2 months to 3 years	according to instructions
Libexin (tablets)		according to ¼ table. 3-4 times a day
		½ table. 3-4 times a day
		1 tab. 3-4 times a day
Bronholitin (syrup, combination drug)		5 ml three times a day
Bronholitin (syrup, combination drug)		10 ml three times a day
Glauvent (tablets)		10 mg 2-3 times a day

Mucolytics

Mucolytics are drugs that change the physical properties and chemical composition of sputum, which leads to a decrease in viscosity and dilution of bronchial secretions, or contributing to the production of a more fluid part of it.

Mucolytics to get rid of dry cough in children

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Ambroxol and its analogs ambrobene, lazolvan, ambrohexal (produced in the form of syrups, tablets, solutions for inhalation and internal use)	syrup up to 2 years	2.5 ml twice a day
	syrup from 2 to 5 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	syrup over 5 years old	5 ml 2-3 times a day
ACC and its analogs mukobene, fluimucil (dosage forms - syrup, effervescent tablets, granules for the preparation of a solution for oral administration)	syrup from 2 to 5 years	5 ml 2-3 times a day
	syrup 6-14 years old	5 ml 2-3 times a day
	syrup over 14 years old	10 ml 2-3 times a day
Bromhexine (tablets and syrup)		daily dosage - 12 mg
	from 6 to 14 years old	daily dosage - 24 mg
	over 14 years old	daily dosage - 24-48 mg

Long-term use of mucolytics by a child is fraught with hyperproduction of sputum, they are usually used until the dry cough becomes moist, and then canceled.

Expectorants

With a dry cough, syrups based on medicinal herbs are often prescribed, which dilute the accumulated phlegm and accelerate its excretion by irritating the cough center and increasing the production of liquid bronchial secretions. They contain plant extracts, which have not only expectorant, but also antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, healing effect. These remedies are relatively safe for health, but children prone to allergies can provoke hives, dermatitis, or other allergic reactions during treatment.

Some of the used dry cough syrups and their dosages

Drug name	Age	Dosage
Doctor IOM		three times a day for ½ tsp.
		three times a day for ½ – 1 tsp.
		three times a day for 1-2 tsp.
Herbion with plantain	from 2 to 7 years old	1 scoop three times a day
	from 7 to 14 years old	1-2 scoops three times a day
	after 14 years	2 scoops 3-5 times a day
Bronchicum C	from 6 to 12 months	2.5 ml twice a day
	from 1 to 2 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	from 2 to 6 years old	5 ml twice a day
	from 6 to 12 years old	5 ml three times a day
Gedelix	from 2 to 4 years	2.5 ml three times a day
	from 4 to 10 years old	2.5 ml 4 times a day
	over 10 years old	5 ml three times a day

Inhalation

In the complex treatment of dry cough, inhalation gives a good therapeutic effect. They are performed by inhalation of vapors or using a nebulizer. When using a nebulizer, inhalations are made to a child with solutions of drugs (lazolvan, ambrobene, ACC, fluimucil, sinupret, dekasan and others), saline, and soda buffer. The advantage of this method of treating cough is the ingestion of drugs directly into the respiratory tract.

For steam inhalation with dry cough, decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs (sage, St. John's wort, chamomile, eucalyptus, coltsfoot), ready-made herbal preparations for coughing (Ingafitol, Eukarom), baking soda solutions, mineral water are used. The temperature of the solution when the child performs inhalations should not be higher than 40 ° C in order to avoid burns to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and respiratory tract.

Folk remedies for cough

When treating dry cough in children, do not forget about simple folk remedies, the effectiveness of which has been tested for decades. These include massages, compresses, herbal teas and decoctions. Herbs that help fight dry cough include licorice, marshmallow, coltsfoot, elecampane, and wild rosemary.

With a dry cough at night, it is effective to give the child warming compresses. Good results are obtained by using the following formulations:

sunflower oil, honey and vodka, mixed in equal proportions;
apple cider vinegar (1 part), water (3 parts) and 1 tsp. honey;
honey, mustard powder, flour, vegetable oil, vodka, mixed in equal proportions.

Tea with currants, raspberries or honey can help a child with a dry cough against the background of ARVI. A well-known folk remedy for sore throat and cough is warm milk with honey or baking soda and butter. This drink has a softening and warming effect, and the antiseptic properties of honey help the child's body fight against pathogenic microflora. It should be borne in mind that honey is a highly allergenic product, therefore it must be used with caution, especially in babies and children prone to allergies.

A dry cough can occur for a variety of reasons. Its duration can vary from three days to several weeks, but even in a short period of time it is capable of incredibly exhausting a person.

Attacks are very painful because they do not clear up the phlegm as they do with a wet cough. Experts say that the appearance of a dry cough is a signal that the lungs and bronchi cannot independently clear themselves of sputum that irritates their mucous membranes.

When a dry cough appears, you should try with all your might to make it moist. It will be much easier to get rid of it.

Possible diseases

Young mothers should pay special attention to this type of cough, since it may not always signal the presence of only ARVI. Sometimes it can become a symptom of some other, more dangerous diseases. Their list can include the following:

Pneumonia. The cough in this case lasts a long time and is accompanied by a sufficiently high temperature.
Pharyngitis. Along with the cough, there is still pain or sore throat.
Inflammation of the larynx is most often accompanied by a barking dry cough. It is very dangerous and if you find it, you must immediately contact the clinic.
Lung cancer, tuberculosis. With the development of these diseases, the cough turns out to be not only dry, but also deaf, unproductive, in which there is no expectoration of sputum.
Bronchial asthma, whooping cough. These diseases are characterized by a debilitating obsessive cough that provokes gag reflexes.

A persistent dry cough can actually signal the development of more serious diseases than a cold.

Therefore, if it is found in a child, you should immediately consult a doctor. Identifying and treating it in the early stages will allow you to get rid of many complications and protect the child's health from more serious diseases.

Differences

Wet and dry coughs are not the same thing, and therefore they manifest themselves slightly differently.

The main differences are as follows:

In the presence of a dry cough in the throat, perspiration may periodically occur due to irritation of the mucous membranes. In the case of a wet cough, mucus will be coughing up.
The drugs that treat this or that type of cough are different. With a dry type of cough, special preparations are used that thin the phlegm, while with a wet type, means are used to remove it.
As a rule, at the initial stage of a cold, it is a dry cough that appears, which can later turn into a wet one.
A wet cough is characterized by a feeling of heaviness in the chest, but its attacks are not so painful. When dry, they are more exhausting.

Don't know which one to choose? We have prepared an overview of the most popular and effective mixtures, which will most likely help you decide on the choice and buy what is right for your baby.

Does your baby cough without a fever? Do not panic ahead of time, we are considering possible causes and methods of dealing with such symptoms.

The child has a dry cough, what are the reasons?

There are many reasons for this type of cough. In the first place, of course, are various viral diseases of the respiratory tract. But a cough is just a symptom of a more serious illness, so a comprehensive treatment should be chosen.

It can develop in children and due to more serious diseases, such as various diseases of the cardiovascular system, the development of tuberculosis and even cancer.

If a child has a cough, it is not worth delaying treatment. You must immediately visit a pediatrician who will prescribe the appropriate treatment after examining the baby.

Treatment of dry cough in children

Drug treatment

Treatment for dry cough in children will be different from treatment for wet cough. As mentioned above, it must be converted into wet form, and for this you need to use funds that help thin phlegm.

In addition, a course of antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to treat the infection or illness.

If more serious diseases are detected, the course of treatment will be radically different and will be selected individually. Children's dry cough syrup can significantly speed up recovery. Or an alternative solution is a dry cough syrup that you can dilute yourself.

Folk remedies for dry cough for children

Any doctor will say that daily inhalations are the way to quickly get rid of a viral dry cough and, as a result, to complete recovery.

That is why every mother needs to pay due attention to this procedure. Interestingly, it can be done even for children over the age of four. The main thing is to know if the child is allergic to this or that inhalation solution, because various herbs and essential oils will be used in its creation.

The solution for this procedure is easy to make yourself. To do this, you need to purchase a collection of medicinal herbs at the pharmacy. Best of all, if it is chamomile, thyme, St. John's wort, sage and coltsfoot. Pour the herbs over with boiling water and add two to three drops of eucalyptus or lemon oil to the solution.

In addition to inhalations, you can make a decoction of herbs, which can be used to rub the child's body in the lungs, or give the baby half a glass a day to drink.

Features of dry cough in children

A lingering and persistent dry cough can occur in children of any age. It is especially bad if an infant suffers from it, since not every medicine is applicable in this case.

The best way to get rid of a cough can only be advised by a doctor after an in-person consultation and examination of the baby. You should not listen to the advice of other mothers, even if they are more experienced, because the baby may have any peculiarities or he may be allergic to this or that drug.

A dry cough at night in a child is not an easy test. Often such attacks of obsessive, annoying coughing torment the child not only at night, but also make his life unbearable during the day. Due to too frequent attacks, his head and chest in the area of \u200b\u200bthe bronchi may begin to hurt, therefore, from the very first days of detecting this symptom, you need to start treating it.

Barking

A dry, paroxysmal cough in a child (barking dry cough) is most common in children of two or more years of age. At this age, they have more contacts with their peers, from which they can become infected.

But if a child under one year old has a very weakened immune system, then this type of cough can also develop in him. It is more dangerous than an ordinary dry cough, because if it is not cured in time, it can even be fatal.

It can be recognized by the following features:

Swelling and redness of the larynx;
A cough that sounds like a dog barking;
Child complaints of shortness of breath;
Difficulty breathing
Possible temperature rise.

Allergic

Frequent dry cough can also occur due to allergies. It will differ from other types of cough in that it can occur in children of all ages.

When a cough is caused by an allergy, the temperature rises only in severe cases, reddening of the skin of the face and places in contact with the allergen occurs. Often, eyes can water, as well as a sneezing reflex.

Let's sum up

If you find a dry cough, you should immediately consult a doctor;
Treatment should be tailored to the type of cough and the specialist's recommendations;
Three to four inhalations should be carried out daily;
Dry nocturnal cough (barking) requires particularly careful attention;
If the child's condition worsens, you need to seek medical help.

Remember that even a rare dry cough can be one of the symptoms of the development of serious illnesses that pose a serious risk to your child's health!

Html and don't get sick!