Cough, cough, cough!
The cough that came with my 5-year-old's cold won't seem to go away. She has been coughing for about a month now. At times she seems to improve, and then there will be a bad spell for days or a week. There are no other signs that she is ill, and she is not having any trouble breathing. Should she see a doctor or does this just need to run its course? Thanks!
A cough that persists beyond two weeks is usually worth checking out. It is highly unlikely she has pneumonia, bronchitis, or something else serious, so it’s not urgent, but a cough from a cold should typically resolve in two weeks.
What could it be, then? Well, she could be getting one cold after another and, in fact, it is different infections presenting the same symptom over and over again. School-aged children will get an average of 11 colds a year and they are typically sandwiched between November and March. If your average cold lasts two weeks, you can see how it might seem like the same infection, but they are actually different ones blending together. This is likely the case since she does have days where it almost gone and then returns.
The cough also could be allergies. Indoor allergies—like dust, mold, and pet allergies—usually worsen during the winter months because we are so cooped up. Try opening her windows for a few hours each day and airing out the room. Make sure stuffed animals and other places where dust mites can live are kept to a minimum. And consider trying an antihistamine at bedtime to see if it helps the cough.
A sinus infection can make you cough for a long time, but those are not as common in kids as many people think. They are accompanied by other symptoms, including chronic congestion, headache, postnasal drip, and fatigue. These infections are treated with antibiotics, and you should see your healthcare provider to be evaluated for that treatment.
Finally, it could be asthma. A child with mild to moderate asthma will sometimes present with a persistent cough after an upper respiratory infection. This cough will typically worsen at night and will sometimes be aggravated by exercise. If you see those symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider.
In addition to any of the above treatments, it is always good to take a few safe and easy measures to make those winter coughs/infections easier on your child. Moist, cool air makes it easier to breathe and calms irritated airways. Turn down the heat. Run a cool mist humidifier in their bedroom. Consider nasal washing products like saline sprays. Vicks children’s vapor rub helps to dilate nasal passages. Get enough sleep and eat well. Homeopathic cough medicines with honey as their active ingredient have been shown to have some efficacy in calming irritant coughs caused by viruses. And based on available information, they are safe for the over-two crowd!
