Causes and solutions for severe coughing in babies

Some babies are prone to coughing, especially at night, and sometimes the cough is more severe. As parents, we need to treat the symptoms. For example, if the cough is caused by upper respiratory tract infection, we need to keep the air moist and take the child to see a doctor in time. If the cough is caused by lower bronchitis, we need to take cough suppressants in time to avoid greater harm to the child's respiratory system.

1. Cough caused by upper respiratory tract infection

Symptoms: Mostly irritating coughs, occurring at any time of day or night, not accompanied by wheezing or shortness of breath. The baby is sleepy and has a runny nose, sometimes accompanied by fever, with the body temperature not exceeding 38℃; he is in poor spirits and has a poor appetite. The symptoms disappear after sweating and fever reduction, but the cough may continue for 3-5 days.

Cough relief: To keep the air in the room moist, you can use a humidifier, hang a wet towel, mop the floor with water, or place a basin of clean water in the room to increase the humidity of the air. If your baby's cough and nasal congestion symptoms persist for a week and do not improve, you should take your baby to see a doctor as soon as possible.

2. Cough caused by lower bronchitis

Symptoms: Bronchitis usually follows a cold and is caused by a bacterial infection. The cough is accompanied by phlegm and is sometimes severe. The coughing is usually more frequent at night and there is a wheezing sound. The worst time for coughing is two hours after the baby falls asleep, or around 6 a.m.

Cough suppression: Go to the hospital for treatment and take children's cough suppressants. In addition, babies should not eat foods that are too sweet or too salty, otherwise it will aggravate night coughing.

3. Cough caused by pharyngitis

Symptoms: Hoarseness, purulent sputum, and most of the little that can be coughed up is swallowed. Older babies will complain of sore throats, while babies who cannot express themselves often become irritable, refuse to feed, and make "hollow, hollow" sounds when coughing.

Cough relief: If this type of cough occurs, mothers must not treat it by themselves at home. They should seek medical attention in time and ask the doctor to make a clear diagnosis and provide symptomatic treatment.

4. Allergic cough

Symptoms: Continuous or recurrent severe cough, mostly in paroxysmal attacks, more obvious in the morning. The cough will also worsen when the baby is active or crying. The baby will sneeze and cough when exposed to cold air, but with very little sputum. Coughing at night is more severe than that during the day and lasts longer, usually for 3 months. Allergic coughs often occur during the pollen season or when the weather turns cold.

Cough relief: Try not to let your children catch colds. If an allergic cough occurs, see a doctor as soon as possible to find the allergens, make a clear diagnosis, and prevent it from developing into asthma.

5. Inhalation of foreign objects causes choking and coughing

Symptoms: If the baby has no previous symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, sneezing or fever, and suddenly has severe choking and coughing, difficulty breathing, and a bad complexion, especially for younger children, it is possible that the baby has put a foreign object in his mouth and accidentally entered the throat or trachea.

Cough relief: After inhaling foreign objects, parents should encourage their children to cough, and never use their hands to pick around in their mouths, so as to prevent the foreign objects from getting deeper and deeper and completely blocking the airway. If nothing is coughed up and the baby coughs or wheezes repeatedly, it means that the foreign body has reached the lower respiratory tract and the baby should be taken to the hospital immediately to remove the foreign body in time.