Dry Cough In Children: Causes And Treatments

Dry cough is incredibly common in children. If you have been wondering why your child coughs for no apparent reason in the morning or when you go to bed, it is probably a dry cough.

A dry cough is considered a cough where no mucus comes up. In other words, it is a non-productive cough, because nothing comes up.

Dry cough is very common in children. In fact, doctors estimate that a child can catch around eight colds a year, so a dry cough will never be particularly far away. However, you should always go to the pediatrician and follow the instructions before attempting to diagnose the cough yourself.

The difference between a productive and non-productive cough

If something were to be “stuck” in your airways, the mucous membranes would be irritated by it and provoke the cough reflex to try to get rid of what is blocking the air intake.

This is known as a productive cough because it prevents you from suffocating and thereby getting up what prevents you from breathing.

A dry cough also tries to open up the airways. But even if the mucous membranes are irritated, there is nothing there that bothers. This is when you start coughing compulsively; you try to “get rid” of the irritation in the airways, but instead the opposite happens.

Causes of dry cough in children

There are many things that can cause dry cough in children:

• Allergic reactions
• Dust in the environment
• Very dry environments, from for example air conditioning
• Reflux
• Irritation due to cold, flu, laryngitis or bronchitis

Types of dry cough in children

There are two types of dry cough in children:

1. Acute cough. It lasts no longer than 2 weeks, and is usually due to a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract.
2. Chronic dry cough. This type usually lasts between 3 and 4 weeks. The cough may be specific or nonspecific, depending on whether there is another underlying problem.

It is difficult to say what type of cough your child has or what the cause is. Do not hesitate to go to your pediatrician when your child has a cough.

Medicines for dry cough in children

Given that a dry cough can be very irritating for your child, the best thing you can do is address it right away with your pediatrician.

Here are the most common recommendations for the treatment of dry cough in children:

• Cold drinks (water or citrus juices). The drinks do not have to be ice cold, but at least at room temperature or a little colder.

• Humidifier. A humidifier in your child’s room increases the humidity, which moisturizes the air that the mucous membranes come in contact with and thus reduces irritation.
• You can add essential oils to the humidifier: eucalyptus and bay leaves, among others.

• Steam bath. The steam also opens up the airways. The most effective treatment for your child is a steam bath at least 20 minutes long.
• 1 tablespoon of honey with lemon before your child goes to bed, but only if the child is over a year old (otherwise the child runs the risk of ingesting botulism bacteria, which babies can not protect themselves against)! Your child will probably have the most cough attacks during the night. This is because when you are in a horizontal position, the irritation increases and mucus builds up. A spoonful of honey goes down the throat and relieves the irritated mucous membrane.

Even if there are home remedies for dry cough, you must go to the doctor with your child if the cough does not improve within 10 days, or if the child also shows other symptoms.