Common Cough: What to do about it

Cough In Babies Coughing is inevitable in children, especially during the winter. You can not do anything to prevent it, even if you want. In reality, the cough is healthy, because it helps to clean the throat or the child's chest of something that should not be there, for example, a piece of fruit, the piece of a toy, or an infection. Therefore, your job is not necessarily to stop the cough, but to discover its cause. It is important to note the characteristics of the cough and how your baby breathes and acts to find out what is happening.rnTo help with your "detective" work, the most common types of cough and their origins have been identified. Keep in mind also that coughing alone rarely causes problems for children over 1 year, but can quickly weaken a child, so you need to pay close attention when your baby begins to cough. Cough during a cold.rnThe simplest colds are accompanied by a dry or secreted cough, which can last even if the other symptoms have disappeared. No need to worry. However, consult your pediatrician immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:rnThe child coughs so much that his lips take on a darker shade and present difficulty breathing.rnThe coughing attack ends with a "whistle" (see "Cough with strange sounds when the baby inhales," below).rnYour baby has a fever of 38 ° C or higher for more than 48 hours. Fever is common when it comes to respiratory infections and should not cause concern, unless it is high, lasts a long time, or the child really does look sick.http://www.mypkworld.com/rnYour baby breathes quickly (more than 40 or 50 times a minute), or your skin "sinks" between your ribs every time you breathe (you can watch him remove his shirt). - The child is less than 4 months old. Cough that starts suddenly.rnThe cause of this cough is usually something in your airway and you should not be there, for example, a piece of hard food, a toy, remnants of vomit or a coin. Babies who can catch things are at increased risk, especially if they have older siblings who want to "feed" them or share their toys with them. If you suspect the child has something stuck in his throat, do not insert his fingers (unless the object is still in his mouth and you can easily see him). Perform a Heimlich maneuver, if you know how to do it to a child. Otherwise, keep him quiet and calm and immediately call your pediatrician or emergency service in your area for precise instructions.