Coughing and wheezing in children

Coughing and wheezing are common symptoms of childhood illness. They do not usually mean your child has a serious condition, although they can sound awful and may be distressing for you and your baby . Coughing is a normal, healthy and important reflex that helps clear the airways in the throat and chest.  Chronic cough is typically defined as a cough lasting more than four weeks. This is because most acute respiratory infections in children resolve within this interval. Other schemes define chronic cough as one that last more than eight weeks but also recognize that a relentlessly progressive cough often warrants evaluation prior to eight weeks. 

Your child may have a dry cough that does not produce any phlegm but in a chest infection this will develop into a more obvious cough and the child will bring up phlegm that may be green or yellow in color. It can become bloodstained. Younger children may be off their food and may suffer from diarrhea. Older children will complain of chest pain when they breathe. The pain is usually sharp and worse on taking a big breath in. The breathing may be shallow and rapid.

Children diagnosed with a chest infection and who don't need hospital care, need plenty of fluids (in small doses and served often). Most children will take sips of preferred liquids if they are offered often, or try feeding liquids on a spoon, e.g. breast milk, water, diluted fruit juice or milk. Ice blocks can be good as can the old-fashioned remedy of warm lemon drink. Fruits which contain lots of liquid like watermelon or oranges are also useful.

Children will also need plenty of rest and should be kept at home and away from large gatherings. It is also suggested to feed your child whenever hungry, rather than at set times.Phlegm is mucus from the chest and upper airways. Coughing is useful to get rid of this. Most young children swallow sputum rather than spitting it out and sometimes this causes them to vomit up the swallowed phlegm. Older children can be encouraged to spit it out.There is not really any solid evidence for any method of reducing cough. However, some people have found that tilting the mattress to raise the head higher than the chest can assist (though be careful not to cause your child to roll). Also a cool mist vaporiser in your child's bedroom may help to keep the air more humid.

After bronchiolitis, the cough can go on for up to four weeks. However, if your child fails to improve or gets worse, then don't hesitate to take them back to the doctor.

 Causes of coughing and wheezing

There are different reasons why your child may cough or wheeze. Possible causes include:

• Colds and other viruses – this is a very common cause of coughing.
• Choking – the coughing is sudden and the child has not been unwell.Croup – this tends to cause a barking, hoarse cough.
• Bronchiolitis – this is a chest infection, which can cause coughing and wheezing.
• Smoke – smoking around babies can cause them to cough and should be avoided.
• Hay fever – this may be caused by dust mites, animal hair or moulds. As well as coughs, other symptoms may include sneezing and a runny nose.
• Allergy – this can cause coughing after exposure to specific substances.
• Asthma – coughing tends to be worse at night or after exercise. The child may also wheeze.
• Whooping cough – a contagious infection, which can be prevented by immunization.
• Pneumonia – this causes a sudden onset of cough, high fever and fast breathing: it can be prevented by immunization.

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