Cough with phlegm in the baby

Coughing in the child - is it worth it to sound the alarm? What kind of disease can this symptom speak? If there is a cough with phlegm in a child, you should definitely seek advice from a pediatrician in order to determine the real causes of the disease.

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

[1]

Causes of coughing with phlegm in a child

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

• commonplace cold;
• ARI, ARVI, other respiratory tract infections;
• bronchial asthma;
• inflammation of the bronchi (often chronic);
• external stimuli - inhaling the smell of paint, dust particles, tobacco smoke;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• oncology of the respiratory system;
• pulmonary abscess.

Sometimes a cough may appear in a completely healthy child. Such coughing occurs with excessively dry air in the room, after prolonged crying, with a large accumulation of dust in the room, etc.

The reason is difficult to determine independently. Typically, this will require a series of diagnostic studies.

[2]

Symptoms of coughing with phlegm in a child

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

• high body temperature;
• difficulty breathing;
• small coughs become seizures;
• a decrease in appetite;
• apathy, drowsiness, fatigue;
• soreness behind the sternum;
• wheezing when breathing;
• increased cough at night;
• discharge of purulent sputum (green color);
• allocation of bloody sputum (pink or with blood veins);
• prolonged persistent cough (more than 10-20 days).

At occurrence of even one of the listed signs it is necessary to address urgently to the pediatrist.

Diagnosis of cough with sputum in a child

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

• when there was a cough?
• under what circumstances is the cough worse?
• was the temperature?
• Whether there is an allergy at the child?

Then the doctor will start other methods of research. It can be:

• roentgenogram of the chest;
• observation of respiratory function;
• tracheobronchoscopy (possible with biopsy);
• method of computed tomography;
• examination of the cardiovascular system;
• examination of ENT organs;
• examination of the digestive tract.

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

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

[3], [4], [5]

Treatment of cough with phlegm in a child

Sputum in childhood does not depart as easily as an adult does. This is due to the fact that the detachable in the children has a more dense consistency, and the muscles of the respiratory organs, which are called to expel the sputum, are not fully developed.

Prolonged absence of sputum is undesirable for the baby, because bacteria can accumulate in the respiratory tract, which in the future can lead to complications and prolonged course of the disease. For this reason, the number one task is to ensure a complete sputum discharge.

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

Expectorants may have a plant base (breastfeeding, solutan, doctor Mom, pectussin) or artificial (ACS, lazolvan, bromhexine, etc.).

Herbal remedies are good, but when taking them, it should be borne in mind that they can cause allergies in the child.

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

When coughing with sputum, the appointment of antitussive drugs (sinecode, stoptussin, libeksin) is contraindicated: the oppression of the cough reflex will lead to an excessive accumulation of sputum in the lumen of the bronchi, which can cause obstruction (blockage) of the bronchi.

Breast children are recommended to do a chest massage in front and behind to improve sputum discharge.

Children from 5 years of age are shown inhalation by steam using decoctions of medicinal plants, baking soda, boiled potatoes.

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

• a cup of hot milk, cooked on figs and dates;
• crimson or cranberry tea with honey;
• potassium jelly;
• tea made from chamomile with honey.

You can rub the chest with a mixture of essential oils: menthol, eucalyptus, coniferous. It is recommended to add badger fat to grinding. After rubbing the child should warmly wrap and give a warm drink.

Preventing cough with phlegm in the child

In order for the baby not to ache and not to cough, it is recommended to perform hardening solar and air baths. You can not allow both hypothermia and overheating of the child. Walk more often outdoors, even in winter.

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

• The child's room should be warm and clean, free of dust, smells of chemistry, paints and perfumes.
• It is necessary to maintain the optimum moisture level in the apartment, especially during the heating season - 50-60%.
• At the first signs of coughing, more often offer a child to drink: it will facilitate the formation and excretion of phlegm.
• During illness the child should not lie without movement: let it move, play, do with it easy physical exercises.

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

If the child does get sick, do not take the time: a timely call to a doctor will speed recovery and improve the prognosis of the disease.

Prognosis of cough with phlegm in the child

The prognosis of coughing with phlegm in a child depends on the kind of disease caused by this cough. Of course, it's good if the cough goes without problems and the sputum freely comes out: it means that the child is already close to recovery.

However, the cause of the cough in any case, it is necessary to find out, otherwise the expressed cough can bring the child to exhaustion, deprive him of his appetite and even bring to a vomiting reflex. Exhausting cough can provoke the appearance of a hernia (umbilical or inguinal) or spontaneous pneumothorax.

For these reasons, it is very important to contact the doctor on time and provide treatment for the disease, regardless of whether the child has any other symptoms other than cough.

It is not recommended to take cough medications independently: most medicines are not intended for consumption by their young children. Moreover, without determining the underlying cause of cough, treatment can often be futile.

Cough with phlegm in a child can be a sign of an ordinary cold, but it can also become a symptom of serious illnesses. Therefore, it is much more reasonable to consult a doctor and listen to his recommendations.