How to decode your baby’s cough
It can be very upsetting to hear your baby or toddler coughing, especially if it seems to cause her discomfort and it’s disturbing her sleep.
But despite the fact that it may sound unpleasant and upset your baby, a cough doesn’t always mean that there is something wrong with your baby. In fact, it’s actually a useful self-defense mechanism against germs – the body’s way of clearing the airways of bacteria, mucus and irritating substances. Your baby’s cough can also be a valuable clue as to what exactly is making her ill, and learning to identify how different coughs sound and present themselves can help guide you in how to treat them.
As a rule, if your baby’s cough makes it difficult for her to breathe or she also has a high fever, or the coughing makes her vomit, you should take her to the pediatrician. You also should seek medical advice if her cough is mild but hasn’t cleared up after a couple of weeks.
So what clues could your baby’s cough be giving you?
Common cold
Cough red flag It will be a straightforward cough that may produce mucus but isn’t accompanied by wheezing or breathing difficulties.
Your child will also have all the usual
cold symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and a mild fever. The cough that accompanies a cold usually lasts the entire length of the virus itself and may persist after other symptoms clear, with an obvious gradual improvement and no worsening of the symptoms. A postnasal drip (where mucus from the nose drains down the back of the throat, irritating the membranes and stimulating the cough reflex) can exacerbate your baby’s cough, so if her nose is runny use a bulb syringe to clear it.
Flu
Cough red flag A hoarse cough that tends to occur in bouts and can be non-productive one minute and productive the next.
If your child has
flu she also will run a high fever and will seem lethargic and cranky. She may vomit (not necessarily while coughing) and develop
diarrhea. Her appetite is likely to be poor so it’s important that she takes in plenty of fluids to avoid
dehydration. Having your child
vaccinated against flu can help protect her – it’s a step worth taking, as flu can make young children extremely ill and result in serious complications such as
pneumonia.
Bronchitis
Cough red flag Your baby’s cough will be harsh but initially it won’t produce any mucus (it may do so after a few days).
With bronchitis your baby is also likely to have a runny nose and mild fever but her symptoms should gradually improve over a week to 10 days. As bronchitis is viral infection, antibiotics aren’t necessary.
Bronchiolitis
Cough red flag Your baby’s cough will sound wheezy and will be ‘productive’, which means she will cough up mucus.
Bronchiolitis is an infection of the tiny airways in the lungs called bronchioles, and it’s very common in babies and toddlers. They’re especially vulnerable to it if they have had
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Other telltale signs include cold symptoms and a fever. If your baby seems to be struggling to breathe it’s vital that you call e pediatrician or take her to the ER, as some babies become so ill they need to be admitted to hospital and given oxygen.
Pneumonia
Cough red flag Your baby’s cough may be accompanied by a fever, rapid or labored breathing, and may be hard enough to make her vomit.
Pneumonia can develop out of a severe cold or the flu, or from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so if your baby has recently had one of these illnesses, take her to your pediatrician or the ER if her fever is high and her breathing is affected by the cough.
Croup
Cough red flag The cough that accompanies
croup is very identifiable because of the barking sound it makes, not unlike a seal (if your child has never had it you will know instantly if she does develop it). It’s also more likely to occur at night.
Croup makes the airways swell up and you may also notice your child’s breathing is noisier than usual or that she makes a harsh sound when she inhales. Crying can make croup worse, so try not to panic as this will only panic your child. Take her into the bathroom and run the shower or the hot faucet – the moist air will soothe her inflamed airways and make it easier for her to breathe. If this doesn’t work, taking her outside into the cool night air might instead, but if the croup continues unabated take your baby to the ER.
Whooping cough
Cough red flag Like croup, whooping cough has a very distinctive sound: a severe dry-sounding coughing spell that lasts 20-30 seconds is followed by a whooping noise as your baby draws breath afterward. You may also see mucus bubbling from your baby’s nose as she coughs.
Whooping cough has become more prevalent in recent years because fewer parents are getting their children immunized due to worries over
vaccine safety. As with pneumonia, whooping cough can be so harsh it makes a child vomit.
A cool mist humidifier placed in your baby’s room can help ease whooping cough but be prepared for it to continue for several weeks, even if your child is prescribed antibiotics.
Asthma
Cough red flag Your child only coughs when she’s racing around or only at night, or the cough lasts for more than a few weeks especially if you have a family history of asthma.
Asthma causes the small airways in the lungs to swell and narrow, and also results in a build up of irritating mucus. Your child also may wheeze, have a constantly congested chest and difficulty drawing breath if a fit of coughing strikes. Her cough may worsen after she’s been outside and exposed to pollen, or if she spends any time in the presence of a smoker or in a home where a pet dog or cat also lives.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
Cough red flag A persistant wheezy cough that comes on after your child feeds or eats and worsens if she is lying down.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) results when a weak sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach allows stomach acids to spill out into the esophagus. If the acids get into your child’s lungs, they can irritate the tissue and cause coughing. If your child is diagnosed with GERD, keeping her upright for half an hour after she feeds may help. With older children who are weaned, a diet of bland foods and timing meals so she doesn’t eat within two hours of bedtime can help. Your pediatrician also may prescribe medication.
Inhaling a foreign object
Cough red flag A chronic cough with no other symptoms of illness, such as a runny nose or fever.
Babies and toddlers are notorious for putting things in their
mouths and if your child has an ongoing cough but doesn’t appear to be unwell in any other way it’s possible she might have swallowed or inhaled a foreign object that has lodged in her throat or lungs. Often this can result in pneumonia if the foreign object becomes lodged in the lungs – your doctor may discover it if she suspects pneumonia and orders an X-ray of your child’s chest.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Related Articles
Last Modified: 04/01/2009