What to do if your seven-month-old baby coughs

Parents must be very concerned about their children to the point of wanting to be absolutely sure of everything. They keep an eye on their baby's every move, especially for babies. Even a cough will be taken seriously by parents. After all, the baby's body is very fragile, and it is good for parents to be more careful. So what might be the cause of your baby's cough? What should you do if a seven-month-old baby sneezes? Let's talk about this issue below.

one,

Cough symptom 1: A strong dry cough with a very clear sound, similar to the roar of a seal, usually occurring at midnight. This sound is different from any cough you have heard before.

Other symptoms: Worse at night. He may have a low-grade fever. In severe cases, he may make a high-pitched wheeze when he breathes in, a sound similar to the sobs of a baby after a long period of crying.

The suspect: croup, a contagious viral infection that causes the throat and windpipe to swell and shrink. The virus usually strikes babies between six months and three years old. (Adults and older babies have wider windpipes, so swelling doesn't affect their breathing as much.)

Treatment: Hold your baby and sit in a steamy bathroom for 5 minutes. The humid air can help clear the mucus in the baby's lungs and calm the cough. When the baby coughs at night, parents can open the bedroom window to let fresh air into the room while ensuring that the baby is warm. The relatively humid cold air can help relieve the symptoms of respiratory expansion. If his cough becomes more and more severe or he has difficulty breathing, you should take him to the hospital immediately. The baby may need to take some antibiotics, but in any case, this needs to be decided by the doctor.

Note to parents: Cough suppressants. If your baby is coughing and can't fall asleep, suppressants may help. Ask your doctor what kind of suppressants to choose. However, we should know that suppressing a cough can sometimes make the condition worse or prolong the illness.

Expectorants: These agents work by reducing phlegm, but studies have shown that they are not very effective. Long-term practice has shown that water is a good expectorant.

Broad-spectrum cold medicines: Since these medicines are formulated with more than one ingredient, be sure to read the instructions carefully before giving them to your baby. These medicines may have some side effects, such as insomnia (common with antihistamines) or allergies (common with decongestants).

Throat lozenges: Taking cough syrup can increase saliva secretion, thereby lubricating the throat and relieving cough. However, doctors advise that babies under 4 years old should never be given throat lozenges. Because throat lozenges can be like hard candies and can cause choking.

Feeding medicine: When feeding your baby medicine, be sure to use a container such as a measuring spoon or measuring cup to ensure the correct amount of medicine is given.

two,

Cough symptom 2: Coughing with phlegm, not accompanied by wheezing or rapid breathing, regardless of day or night.

Other symptoms: lethargy, runny nose, watery eyes and a mild fever (usually no higher than 38.6 degrees Celsius).

Suspects: Common cold, viral infection of the nose, sinuses, throat and main airways of the lungs. Usually, the cough symptoms will last throughout the cold process (about 7 to 10 days), and sometimes the cough will last longer (about half a month to 20 days), but the symptoms will be relieved every day.

Treatment: Try to keep your baby's nasal cavity clean. Nasal congestion or runny nose will aggravate the coughing symptoms. For infants or young children who cannot blow their noses, parents can use saline nasal drops or a bulb nasal aspirator to help the baby clear the nasal cavity. If the baby's cough and nasal congestion symptoms persist for 10 days and do not improve, you should take him to see a doctor. He may have sinusitis (a bacterial infection caused by a cold) or some other diseases, such as asthma, allergies, pneumonia or swollen lymph nodes.

three,

Cough symptom 3: Violent and hoarse coughing fits - up to 25 coughing fits per breath. The baby will make a sharp roaring sound when he inhales hard.

Other symptoms: Before the cough, there was a week or so of cold symptoms, but no fever. The baby's condition may be more serious, sometimes even with nasal bubbles. It may also cause symptoms such as convulsions, and respiratory arrest when the baby is tired.

The suspect: whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial infection of the throat, trachea and lungs. Babies who haven't been vaccinated against whooping cough are more likely to get the disease. (Babies are routinely vaccinated at 2, 4 and 6 months, again between 1 and 18 months old, and once more between 4 and 6 years old. Adults who get whooping cough only experience a mild cough.)

What to do: If your baby's cough persists for a week, parents should take him to see a doctor. Babies with whooping cough usually need to be hospitalized to control the coughing symptoms and have the doctor clear the phlegm in the throat. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, and the coughing symptoms usually last for weeks or even months.

Yes, there are many reasons why a seven-month-old baby sneezes, such as floating debris in the air or an itchy throat, which can cause the baby to cough. According to the introduction above, parents can learn some judgment skills. Parents should be good at judging the cause of the baby's cough and whether it is serious based on the sound and symptoms of the baby's cough.