Barking Cough - Chronic Cough Treatments in Toddler at Night

Cough in children may arise from causes anywhere along the airway, from the nose to the alveoli. Cough is a nonspecific reaction to irritation anywhere from the pharynx to the lungs. Childhood coughing is a common problem that can cause anxiety in parents. There are important differences from adult cough in terms of likely causes and management guidelines.

Barking Cough - Chronic Cough Treatments in Toddler at Night

Chronic Cough in Toddler

Chronic cough is typically defined as a cough lasting more than four weeks. This is because most acute respiratory infections in children resolve within this interval. Other schemes define chronic cough as one that last more than eight weeks but also recognize that a relentlessly progressive cough often warrants evaluation prior to eight weeks.

The evaluation of a child with chronic cough should include a detailed history, physical examination, chest radiograph, and spirometry . If the initial evaluation provides clues suggesting a specific cause of cough, further evaluation is focused on that diagnostic possibility (algorithm 1). The steps are detailed in a separate topic review.

The causes of chronic cough in children are quite different from that of adults, so evaluation and management of children should not be based on adult protocols. The most clinically important causes of cough in children and the initial steps in management are reviewed here. Adolescents 15 years and older may be evaluated using guidelines for adults

Children cough : Common causes and treatment

Cough is usually a sign that your baby's body tries to get rid of the irritation, foreign body of mucus. Common causes of coughing include:

1. Infection. Colds, flu and cough can cause all outstanding cough for children. Colds tend to cause mild to moderate cough. Heavy flu sometimes, dry cough; and diphtheria has a "barking" cough with noisy breathing.
2. Acid reflux. The symptoms may include cough in children, frequent vomiting / spit, bad taste in the mouth, and heartburn. Treatment of reflux depends on the child's age, health, and other issues. Try these three tips: Remove the trigger foods from their diet (often chocolate, peppermint, fried, and spices, and fatty foods, and soft drinks). Eating before bedtime at least two hours. And eating snacks. See your doctor if you are concerned about your children acid reflux.
3. Asthma can be difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms vary from child to child. But coughing and wheezing, which may be worse at night, is one of the many symptoms of asthma. Others may cough that arise with increasing physical activity or while playing. Asthma treatment depends on what is causing it, and can include avoiding triggers such as pollution, smoke, or perfume. See your doctor if you think your child suffers from asthma symptoms.
4. Allergy / sinus infection can cause prolonged cough and itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, or skin rash. Talk with your child's doctor about allergy testing to determine the allergens causing the problem, and seek advice on how to avoid allergens. It can include causing food allergens, pollen, pet dander, and dust. Your doctor may also recommend allergy shots or allergy medicine.
5. Featuring whooping cough, also called pertussis, through back to back coughing, followed by inhalation, which has a "whooping" sound. And may include other symptoms runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever. Whooping cough is an infectious disease, but it is easy to prevent vaccine. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics.
6. Reasons other children cough: You may also cough and children of the habit after illness with a cough. After inhaling foreign objects such as food or small toys; or after exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke or pollution from the fireplace.

Chronic Cough Treatments

Recognizing specific cause, and elimination or treatment of the cause, could result in improvement of chronic cough. Diagnostic testing may include allergy skin testing, lung function testing known as spirometry and GI evaluation for GERD.

Chronic cough treatment aims to eliminate the underlying cause. Each type of treatment is tried separately, one after another, until the cough is resolved. Seeing which treatment works best helps to figure out the underlying cause. Here are some examples of treatment choices for different causes of cough.

For Post Nasal Drip:

If your cough is related to postnasal drip, it may improve with the use of a decongestant, nasal or oral antihistamine, or a nasal spray. The best chronic cough treatment (or combination of treatments) depends upon your chronic cough symptoms and medical history. As an example, if you have nasal allergies, medications are chosen to control allergy symptoms. Oral antihistamines — Antihistamines that are taken as a pill can sometimes cause side effects such as drowsiness and drying of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Most oral antihistamines are available over the counter. (Antihistamines that are less likely to cause sleepiness, such as Claritin (Loratadine) or Allegra (Fexofenadine) are also less likely to help with cough.) Decongestant — A decongestant that improve nasal congestion. Nasal antihistamines — Prescription nasal antihistamine sprays can relieve symptoms of post-nasal drip, congestion, and sneezing. Nasal sprays — Nasal sprays like Atrovent (Ipratropium Bromide) can relieve runny nose, postnasal drip, and sneezing. Nasal steroids – Nasal steroids are the main stay in the treatment of postnasal drainage due to allergies.

For Cough Variant Asthma:

If your cough is due to asthma, you will be given the standard treatment for asthma, which includes an inhaled bronchodilator, like Albuterol, and inhaled glucocorticoid, like Pulmicort or Flovent.

For Acid reflux:

Lose weight if you are overweight, Stop smoking, Avoid eating for two to three hours before lying down, Elevate the head of the bed three to four inches.

For Eosinophilic bronchitis:

Eosinophilic bronchitis is treated with inhaled glucocorticoids, like Pulmicort or Flovent. These medications are also used for asthma and work to decrease inflammation in the airways.

If you have questions about Chronic Cough, feel free to contact our offices. One of our staff would be happy to answer your questions about Chronic Cough and discuss different treatment options offered at Allergy & Asthma Clinics of Ohio.