Coughing up phlegm in a baby

Cough in a child - should you sound the alarm? What disease can this symptom indicate? If a child develops a cough with phlegm, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician in order to determine the real causes of the disease.

However, it is important for all parents without exception to know general information about this type of cough.

[ 1 ]

Causes of cough with phlegm in a child

What causes can provoke a cough with phlegm in a child:

• common cold;
• ARI, ARVI, other respiratory infections;
• bronchial asthma;
• inflammation of the bronchi (usually chronic);
• external irritants – inhalation of the smell of paint, dust particles, tobacco smoke;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• oncology of the respiratory system;
• lung abscess.

Sometimes a cough can appear in a completely healthy child. Such a cough appears when the air in the room is excessively dry, after prolonged crying, when there is a large accumulation of dust in the room, etc.

The cause is difficult to determine on your own. As a rule, this will require a series of diagnostic tests.

[ 2 ]

Symptoms of cough with phlegm in a child

If a cough with phlegm is a symptom of a disease, it may be accompanied by the following signs, which should alert parents:

• high body temperature;
• difficulty breathing;
• small coughs develop into attacks;
• decreased appetite;
• apathy, drowsiness, fatigue;
• pain behind the breastbone;
• wheezing when breathing;
• increased coughing at night;
• secretion of purulent sputum (green);
• secretion of bloody sputum (pink or streaked with blood);
• prolonged persistent cough (more than 10-20 days).

If at least one of the listed symptoms appears, you must immediately contact a pediatrician.

Diagnosis of cough with phlegm in a child

When visiting a pediatrician, the doctor will first of all pay attention to some features of the disease:

• When did the cough appear?
• Under what circumstances does the cough get worse?
• was there a temperature?
• Does a child have allergies?

The doctor will then proceed to conduct other research methods. This may include:

• chest x-ray;
• monitoring respiratory function;
• tracheobronchoscopy (possibly with biopsy);
• computed tomography method;
• examination of the cardiovascular system;
• ENT examination;
• examination of the digestive tract.

In addition, a blood test for the presence of antibodies to viral and bacterial infections, a biological analysis of sputum, allergy tests, etc. may be prescribed. An additional consultation with an otolaryngologist or allergist is possible.

Cough with phlegm can accompany various diseases, so a large number of examinations are associated with the exclusion of one or another pathology.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Treatment of cough with phlegm in a child

In children, sputum is not as easy to remove as in adults. This is because the secretions in children have a thicker consistency, and the muscles of the respiratory organs, which are designed to push out sputum, are not fully developed.

Long-term non-discharge of sputum is undesirable for the baby, because bacteria can accumulate in the respiratory tract, which can later lead to complications and a protracted course of the disease. For this reason, the number one task is to ensure full discharge of sputum.

Drug therapy most often involves the use of mucolytics (drugs that facilitate the formation of sputum) and expectorants (medicines that make viscous secretions more liquid).

Expectorants can be herbal (chest collection, solutan, Doctor Mom, pectussin) or artificial (ACC, lazolvan, bromhexine, etc.).

Herbal remedies are good, but when taking them, you should take into account that they can cause allergic reactions in the child.

Artificial drugs act faster and allow you to cope with even very viscous sputum.

In case of cough with sputum production, the use of antitussive drugs (sinekod, stopussin, libexin) is contraindicated: suppression of the cough reflex will lead to excessive accumulation of sputum in the lumen of the bronchi, which can cause obstruction (blockage) of the bronchi.

For infants, it is recommended to massage the chest from the front and back to improve the discharge of sputum.

Children over 5 years of age are recommended to inhale steam using decoctions of medicinal plants, baking soda, and boiled potatoes.

As an additional treatment, you can give your child the following drinks:

• a cup of hot milk boiled with figs and dates;
• raspberry or cranberry tea with honey;
• viburnum jelly;
• chamomile tea with honey.

You can rub the chest with a mixture of essential oils: menthol, eucalyptus, pine. It is recommended to add badger fat to the rubbing. After rubbing, the child should be warmly wrapped up and given a warm drink.

Prevention of cough with phlegm in a child

In order for the baby not to get sick and not to cough, it is recommended to conduct hardening sun and air baths. Neither hypothermia nor overheating of the child should be allowed. Walk in the fresh air more often, even in winter.

Do not allow smoking in the room where the child is. Do wet cleaning in a timely manner, ventilate the room, but do not leave the baby in drafts.

• The child's room should be warm and clean, without dust, chemical smells, paints and perfumes.
• It is necessary to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the apartment, especially during the heating season – 50-60%.
• At the first signs of a cough, offer your child to drink more often: this will facilitate the formation and removal of phlegm.
• During illness, the child should not lie motionless: allow him to move, play, do light physical exercises with him.

If someone in the family has a cold or flu, do not forget to wear gauze bandages to prevent the spread of infection, and also ventilate the room more often.

If your child does get sick, don’t waste time: a timely visit to the doctor will speed up recovery and improve the prognosis of the disease.

Prognosis for cough with phlegm in a child

The prognosis for a child's cough with phlegm depends on the disease that causes the cough. Of course, it is good if coughing is done without problems and phlegm comes out freely: this means that the child is already close to recovery.

However, the cause of the cough must be determined in any case, otherwise a severe cough can exhaust the child, deprive him of his appetite and even lead to a gag reflex. An exhausting cough can provoke the appearance of a hernia (umbilical or inguinal) or spontaneous pneumothorax.

For these reasons, it is very important to see a doctor in a timely manner and ensure treatment of the disease, regardless of whether the child has any other symptoms besides a cough.

It is not recommended to take cough medicines on your own: most medications are not intended for use by small children. Moreover, without determining the underlying cause of the cough, treatment can often be ineffective.

A cough with phlegm in a child may be a sign of a common cold, but it can also be a symptom of serious illnesses. Therefore, it would be much wiser to consult a doctor and listen to his recommendations.