A cough with phlegm or a dry cough in babies can be worrying for parents. The causes ofdry cough and cough with phlegmin infants are different from each other.when you consult a specialist doctor with the complaint of “My baby is coughing“, it is necessary to be able to define cough with phlegm or dry cough, to share information about how long the cough has been going on and whether it is accompanied by fever. We have summarized the causes of cough in infants, which findings should be followed and what should be done.
Cough and Sputum Complaints in Infants
The tiny bodies of babies are one of the most important reasons why we should be more sensitive to them. The moments when babies are weakened in the face of conditions such as colds, flu, flu, colds and coughs can be worrying for parents. One of the most common similar conditions in babies is cough. Complaints such as persistent cough, cough with phlegm, wheezing cough are common in babies. So, what are the causes of cough in babies and what can be done to relieve cough? Let’s take a look at the answers to the questions about cough in babies.
Causes of Cough in Infants
Coughing in babies can have many causes. Coughing can also be a sign of allergy in babies. It is important to check whether your baby is allergic to anything in case of recurrent coughs. In addition, infant reflux is also a common cause of coughing in babies. The most common causes are listed as follows:
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Infant Reflux and Cough
Reflux manifests itself with vomiting in babies. Sometimes it can also prevent the baby from feeding. Symptoms include sudden respiratory arrest, wheezing, nasal congestion, constant restlessness and refusal to feed. As reflux progresses, airway sensitivity increases. As a result, recurrent and prolonged upper respiratory tract infections are observed. Recurrent middle ear infections and dental caries may also be caused by reflux. In reflux-induced coughing in infants, a gushing type of coughing is usually observed.
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Allergy and cough in infants
Allergic cough is mostly in the form of a dry cough. If there is expectoration accompanying the dry cough, it may be caused by infection. In addition ,nasal congestion and runny nose may accompany allergic cough attacks in infants. The physician will tell you what the cough may be related to.
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Respiratory Diseases
Winter is known as the season of illness. In fact, the availability of air conditioners in almost all living spaces has changed this a bit. Respiratory infections are now common in summer as well. The risk of respiratory tract infections increases in summer and winter due to the closed environment, cold air, and air conditioning circulating the air in the environment. In children, upper respiratory tract infections such as colds, throat infections, sinusitis and pharyngitis are also common for these reasons. The difference between children and babies is that babies suffer from these illnesses more severely. For this reason, care should be taken to protect them from the risk of contamination and not to keep them in very cold or closed environments. In infants, respiratory infections can block the trachea and cause coughing.
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Foreign Bodies
Babies react with coughing when a foreign body gets into the trachea. Sometimes leftover food and milk can also cause coughing for the same reason.
A pediatrician will advise you on the best method for the cause and solution of the cough. Therefore, do not rely on what you read, even if it is informative, but on the information given by the doctor specifically for your baby.
What are the Types of Cough in Babies?
There may be different pictures, such as babies who cough dryly, babies who cough with phlegm or babies who cough intermittently. As mentioned above, the causes of coughing in babies are different from each other. Depending on the cause, the shape of the cough may also differ.
It is important to keep track of your baby’s coughs and to know how often and how long they have been going on. Also, if there are any findings accompanying the cough, follow this as well. So, what are the types of cough in babies?
- Dry cough in infants
- Cough with phlegm in infants
- Wheezing cough in infants
- Night cough in infants
Pay attention to which of the above-mentioned types of cough you observe. Share this information with your health professional.
How does a cough in babies go away?
To cure a cough in babies, you need to know why your baby is coughing and act on the information given to you by the health professional. The cough may not go away unless the cause of the baby’s cough is resolved. Coughing is, after all, a reaction of the body. However, as a general approach, some tips can help to reduce coughing. Let’s share them under the heading “What is good for coughing in babies?”.
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What is the Ambient Temperature and Humidity?
An important tip is to ensure that the temperature and humidity in the baby’s environment are at the right level. If the cough is due to dry air, it may help to optimize the air in the environment to improve the situation. You can use humidifiers in the baby’s room for this purpose. Hanging water cans on the heating radiators can also help.
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Clean your nose!
Regular nasal cleansing can help the baby breathe easier. This will also reduce his or her coughing. The use of saline, also known as natural saline, can help.
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Raise Your Cushion!
If your baby is older than 4 months, it may help to raise the pillow a little. This can help to reduce the cough caused by nasal discharge.
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Plenty of Fluid Consumption is Important
If your baby is older than 6 months and the specialist recommends it, liquids such as water and herbal tea can also help. This is because liquids help to thin the mucus, which makes it easier to clear. It is very important that the baby is older than 6 months.
How Long Does a Cough in Babies Last?
You may want your baby’s cough to go away immediately. However, depending on the situation, it may be normal for the cough to continue for a while. For example, a cough caused by a cold usually subsides within 3-4 days. It has been observed that a cough caused by a virus lasts longer. In this case, your baby’s cough may last 7-10 days on average.
Pay Attention to Other Symptoms Accompanying Cough!
Sometimes the cough goes away on its own. Changing the ambient air, opening the nose or drinking enough fluids relieves the baby in a short time. Sometimes, if there are some symptoms, it is absolutely necessary to consult a specialist doctor without delay. so, what are those symptoms?
- Difficulty breathing and lasting more than one or two days,
- Persistent fever with night sweats and accompanying weight loss,
- Don’t have too much difficulty eating,
- Bruising on the baby’s skin, tongue or lips
It is normal to worry when babies or young children cough. But what causes the cough and what exactly is a cough? For a solution and the right approach, it is first necessary to know what a cough is. Cough is a sudden explosive expiratory maneuver that occurs both voluntarily and involuntarily reflexively, which protects the lungs from aspiration and allows the removal of excess bronchial secretions. This is how medical science defines cough. This definition shows us that coughing is actually a reaction. So, what does coughing occur in response to? It is this cause that needs to be known and solved. Therefore, eliminating the cough should not be the goal alone. With this awareness, it is important to follow the coughs of babies, consult a specialist physician when necessary and apply the necessary methods.
Cough Complaint in Babies by Month
Night cough and other cough complaints are common in infants. In order to relieve these complaints, it is important to monitor the situation well, consult a physician in case of persistent cough and apply the necessary treatment. The complaint of cough in infants is handled according to the type of cough and how old the baby is. up to 6 months, cough complaints in babies can be handled as follows.
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Newborn Cough
Newborn babies may sneeze and cough. The fact that the baby is so small is worrying for the parent. It can be difficult to manage the process. You can get information about what to do by consulting a specialist physician. By following the instructions given, you can overcome the condition that causes coughing in the newborn.
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cough in 1 Month Old Baby
1-month-old baby may complain of coughing . This reaction may occur with the effect of the air that the baby is trying to get used to. Many factors such as swallowing air, exposure to wind, air-conditioned environments, having a cold can cause coughing. You should consult a specialist physician without delay.
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cough in 2 Month Old Babies
coughing in a 2-month-old baby can occur for different reasons. It is more important to understand the cause of the cough than the baby’s cough. For this purpose, it is absolutely necessary to consult a specialist physician and act according to his/her recommendations. if you have a complaint such as “My 2-month-old baby coughs and sneezes”, you should share your observations with the physician and proceed with his/her recommendations.
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cough in 3 Month Old Babies
when you consult a specialist with the complaint “My 3-month-old baby coughs and sneezes”, he/she will ask when your baby’s cough started, how often it happens, whether there is sputum and fever. This information is important to understand the cause of the cough. Because, as mentioned above, coughs can have different causes. Therefore, it is important to observe the situation well before going to the doctor.
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cough in 4 and 5 Month Old Babies
The fourth and fifth months are similar in terms of development. The first thing you should do for a cough in your baby during these months is to monitor the situation. if the cough persists after 3 days, it is recommended that you take your baby to a specialist doctor. In this observation, the frequency of the cough, when it started and what kind of cough it is are also important.
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cough in 6 Month Old Babies
Coughing in six-month-old babies can be caused by different reasons such as colds, respiratory infections, viruses, dust, allergies, dry air. However, six-month-old baby cough may also be related to the transition to solid food. This condition, which may be caused by infant reflux, can be detected by a physician. In addition, getting food or liquid into the trachea during feeding can also cause coughing.
Sources
The following articles were used in the preparation of this content:
–https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/colds-coughs-and-ear-infections-in-children/
- ASS.DR.MERVE NUR DİLAVER, Cough Complaint in Primary Care,