Cough in children is most often caused by respiratory tract infections caused by viruses or disease-causing bacteria. However, allergies can be a fairly common cause of coughing.
How to recognize: additional symptoms
The fact that the nature of the cough is most likely allergic can be suggested by the following features of this symptom:
- Allergy coughs are often barking and dry.
- Such a cough appears in a child suddenly in the form of seizures.
- The cough is often prolonged and lasts up to two to three weeks.
- As a rule, there is no temperature with such a cough.
- The cough often appears at night.
Cough is often not the only symptom of an allergic reaction. In addition to coughing fits, a baby may have:
- Runny nose.
- Sneezing.
- Sore throat and itching in the throat and nasopharynx.
- Lachrymation.
- Discomfort after coughing up.
- Inhalation pain.
Differences between allergic cough and cough with bronchitis or whooping cough
A cough of an allergic nature is similar to the coughing fits that occur with whooping cough or with acute bronchitis. This is often a dry cough called barking. Sputum with it is separated with difficulty, and before an attack, the child may feel suffocation (complains of lack of air) caused by swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Unlike a cough caused by an infection, the general condition of the child is almost not disturbed, and the body temperature remains within normal limits. In addition, a cough of an allergic nature can often be associated with the action of an allergen, for example, it occurs during the flowering period of certain plants, after sleeping on a pillow with fluff, or after talking with a pet.
The difference between an allergic cough and an infectious one is also the effectiveness of the use of antiallergenic drugs. If you give such a drug to a child, the intensity of an allergic cough immediately decreases until the attack stops completely.
Type of cough
Dry
In most cases, a child with allergies suffers from a dry cough. Such a cough is exhausting for the baby, it can last for a long time in the form of attacks and very often manifests itself at night. In many cases, systematicity is noted in the appearance of a cough, for example, it occurs in the spring or winter.
Wet
A wet cough of an allergic nature is much less common than a dry one. If phlegm is released during a cough caused by an allergic reaction, then it is transparent and does not contain pus. Because of its transparency and high viscosity, it is called glassy.
Diagnostics
With a prolonged dry cough of a child, it is important to show the pediatrician. The doctor will confirm the absence of an infectious cause of the appearance of a cough and recommend tests that will help identify allergens. The child will do:
- Complete blood count (pay attention to the number of eosinophils).
- Blood chemistry.
- Determination of IgE level in blood.
- X-ray examination of the chest.
- Sputum analysis (with wet cough).
- Respiratory function tests.
- Skin tests for allergens (in children over 3 years old).
- Immunoassay for allergens.
How to treat?
Since the appearance of an allergic cough is caused by the ingress of a certain allergen into the child's body, the basis for treating such a symptom is getting rid of this allergen, as well as stopping the body's reaction.
If food allergy is the cause, cough-provoking foods are removed from the diet.
Dust is a common allergen, therefore, when an allergic cough occurs, it is important to regularly ventilate the room and carry out wet cleaning.
If you are allergic to a pet, you should decide on its contact with the child.
Drugs for treatment
Medicines prescribed for children with allergies are a group of antihistamines. These include:
- Zyrtek - drops are used from 6 months, tablets - from 6 years of age.
- Ketotifen - syrup from 6 months of age, tablets - from 3 years.
- Zodak - drops are allowed from a year, tablets - from 6 years.
- Erius - syrup is prescribed for one-year-old children and older, and tablets - from 12 years old.
- Cetrin - syrup is given from 2 years old, tablets - to children over 6 years old.
- Fenistil - drops are given to children over 1 month old.
- Suprastin - used from 1 month.
In addition to antihistamines, the child can be prescribed sorbents, for example, Enterosgel, activated carbon or Polysorb, as well as drugs that relax the bronchi.
How to relieve a coughing fit?
To quickly eliminate an attack, modern antihistamines are used. At the same time, we note that only a doctor should choose the right remedy that will help your child. Suprastin is often used, since an injection of this drug helps to remove a cough in 5-10 minutes (the tablets last a little longer - about 20 minutes).
If allergic symptoms are caused by exposure to pollen or dust, the baby's nose spray can improve the baby's condition. These can be drugs Cromohexal (from 5 years old), Levocabastine (from 6 years old), Allergodil (from 6 years old).
How to do inhalation?
Inhalation, for which a nebulizer is used, can quickly cope with an allergic cough.
The device can be filled with saline or mineral water. This procedure will moisturize the lining of the airways, which will ease coughing.
There are also inhaled forms of drugs that affect the bronchi.
With pulmikort
This drug belongs to the hormonal agents often used for bronchial asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system, in which breathing is difficult. It is noted for its ability to relieve bronchial edema, reduce inflammation and prevent spasm of the smooth muscles of the bronchial tree.
Before inhalation with Pulmicort, you should consult your doctor, since the dose for each child is selected individually. The drug is prescribed from 6 months of age. The required amount of medicine is diluted with saline, poured into a nebulizer and a procedure is performed, the effect of which will be noticeable within ten minutes.
With berodual
The drug is used for dry allergic cough, in which the sputum is very viscous. Its main action is the expansion of the bronchi by relaxing their smooth muscles. Before using it, consultation with a pediatrician is required to determine the correct dosage. The medicine in the required dose is diluted with saline to obtain 4 ml of solution. Pouring it into a nebulizer, let the child inhale. The procedure is repeated 4 times a day.
Komarovsky's opinion
The renowned pediatrician emphasizes that only a specialist can figure out whether a prolonged cough for several weeks or months is caused by an allergy, or whether it is caused by a sluggish infection. However, in case of acute manifestations of allergy, parents are able to distinguish it from infection on their own.
Komarovsky emphasizes that poor appetite, drowsiness and lethargy, as well as an increase in temperature, should give parents the idea of infection. In addition, with ARVI, symptoms will not be limited to coughing only. The child will complain of a runny nose, pain when swallowing, or headaches.
If there is no fever or other manifestations of infection, and the general condition has practically not changed, Komarovsky advises parents to reflect on what preceded the illness. Did the child go to a new place (to visit or to the dacha), did the parents buy something new, did they treat the child to an unfamiliar dish, did they change the brand of household chemicals, and so on. Allergies, according to Komarovsky, should also be considered if only a child is sick, and all other family members are healthy.
For more details, see the program of Dr. Komarovsky.
Folk remedies
- Several times a day, especially when returning home after a walk, it is advised to rinse the nasopharynx, mouth and throat with warm water. Small amounts of sea salt can be added to the water.
- If the child is not allergic to honey, you can make a folk remedy based on bay leaves. Leaves (8-10 pieces) are boiled for 5 minutes in half a liter of water, then a tablespoon of baking soda and honey is added to them. When coughing attacks appear, the medicine is given 1/4 cup a day.
- Make a syrup of garlic (two to three cloves) and sugar or honey for your child with an allergic cough. The mixture should be infused for two weeks, after which the syrup is given in the morning for a tablespoon, as well as during coughing attacks.
Prevention
The best way to prevent allergic coughs is to keep your child as safe as possible from possible allergens. Even during the period of bearing a child, the mother is advised to exclude allergenic foods or significantly limit them. Also, a pregnant woman should walk more.
When a child is born, you need to carefully examine his skin and at the first manifestations of diathesis, immediately consult a doctor. Such a problem should not be considered a harmless condition that will go away on its own and does not require medical intervention.
For information on how to quickly find the source of allergies, see Dr. Komarovsky's program.
The child's room should be regularly wet cleaned, and direct contact with pets should be limited. Use hypoallergenic cosmetics and household chemicals that are safe for babies.
Remember that any allergy symptoms require a reaction from both parents and doctors, since inaction can lead to complications, for example, bronchial asthma.
