What causes cough in children?

A cough in children can be acute, subacute, or chronic. For adults, an acute cough is a cough lasting less than 3 weeks, a subacute cough lasts 3-8 weeks, and a chronic cough is a cough lasting more than 8 weeks.11. In children, a cough is considered chronic if it lasts longer than 4 weeks. 11

The most common cause of acute cough in children is an upper respiratory tract infection due to a virus (like a cold or the flu) 10. Other causes include 1, 2:

  • chest infection with a virus or a bacterium
  • asthma
  • croup
  • pneumonia
  • an inhaled foreign object, such as a toy or food (this is a medical emergency)
     

Common causes of chronic cough in children under the age of 5 include 1:

  • infections
  • gastroesophageal reflux
  • congenital disorder (from birth)
  • asthma
  • protracted bacterial bronchitis, or a persistent bacterial infection
  • passive smoking & environmental pollution
  • inhaled foreign object
    ​​​​​​​

Common causes of chronic cough in children over the age of 5 include 1:

  • asthma
  • infection
  • post-nasal drip
  • protracted bacterial bronchitis, or a persistent bacterial infection
  • passive smoking
  • bronchiectasis, a condition in which one or more bronchi are dilated
  • psychogenic cough, or a so-called “habit cough”

When should I be concerned about my child's cough?

Although it may be upsetting to hear your child cough, coughing is usually nothing to worry about. In fact, studies estimate that a healthy child coughs about 11 times a day when they are well. However, in the cold season, they may cough more frequently due to upper respiratory tract infections that are common during this time of the year 1,11.

Most causes of acute cough in children clear up in a couple of days or weeks. For example, if the cause is a cold, symptoms may resolve in 5–7 days or in 2 weeks in small kids 2. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI) notes that it is not uncommon for children to continue coughing for 2–3 weeks after a viral infection 3. During this time, if your child is drinking, eating, and breathing normally, and there is no wheezing with the cough, the cause isn’t likely to be serious 2.

However, if your child’s cough lasts for more than 2-3 weeks, you should see a doctor 2, 3. Still, it’s important to remember that cough also tend to resolve on their own after several weeks 1, 11.

You should also contact a doctor if:

  • you think your child has an object stuck in their airways 4
  • in addition to a cough, your child has a very high temperature, chills, or feels hot 2
  • the cough persists for a long time, especially at night or after physical activity 2

How do I stop my child from coughing?

For children’s cough, treatment options that may relieve the symptoms quickly, include:

  • honey, either on its own or as a warm drink with lemon 2
  • lozenges may help with sore throat and coughs. However, they are not suitable for kids under the age of 4.
  • non-prescription cough syrups for dry cough (such as Bisolvon Antitussive), for wet cough (such as Mucosolvan or Bisolvon Mucolytic for kids), or for both (Bisolherbal)

What is the most effective cough treatment for kids?

The best treatment for a child’s cough depends on the underlying cause 1. Most of the time, cases of acute cough in children are caused by an upper respiratory tract infection, which you can treat at home with the following remedies, for example 10, 5:

  • resting and staying hydrated with plenty of fluids
  • honey, either on its own or as a warm drink with lemon 2
  • non-prescription cough syrups for dry cough (such as Bisolvon Antitussive), for wet cough (such as Mucosolvan or Bisolvon Mucolytic for kids), or for both (Bisolherbal)
     

In the case of colds and viral infections, children cough because mucus trickles down their throat and irritates it 2. So, clearing out the mucus can also help relieve the cough. For relieving mucus, you can try:

  • using a humidifier or a cool mist vaporizer 5
  • getting your child to breathe in warm vapors from a hot shower or bath 5
  • an expectorant cough syrup such as Mucosolvan or Bisolvon Mucolytic for kids

Cough syrups for kids

Mucosolvan uses the active ingredient ambroxol, which is an established compound that helps clear out mucus from the airways 6. Mucosolvan has a double action: it dissolves the mucus and expels it from the airways 7. It is suitable for children over the age of 2 7.

Bisolvon Mucolytic for kids uses bromhexine, an active compound that has also been shown to clear out mucus from the airways 6. The syrup is suitable for kids over the age of 2.

Finally, you can also try Bisolherbal, a cough syrup that harnesses the power of natural ingredients to soothe coughs in children and adults.

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