Beware of coughing in children! – Health news
Pediatrics and Children’s Diseases Dr. Burak Emre Demir warned that children should see a doctor in case of cough accompanied by fever, weakness, chest pain and respiratory distress.
Infectious diseases increased with the arrival of the winter months. Fever, sore throat, cough and fatigue are among the most common complaints. Coughing is one of these complaints and coughing in children worries families.
Kepez Municipal Health Center Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Burak Emre Demir talked about the causes of coughing complaints in children and which treatment method should be followed. Dr. Demir listed the causes of cough manifesting during the winter season:
“Cough is not actually a disease, it is a response to protect the body against threats such as foreign objects, sputum, inflammation and secretions entering the airways. It is the right treatment to eliminate the conditions that cause coughing, not to stop the cough.”
Dr Demir said: “From mild conditions such as colds and nasal congestion in children, more serious respiratory conditions such as flu, ear infections, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma can cause coughing. Apart from these, factors like foreign body, allergy, smoking, reflux, cystic fibrosis, tumor can also cause cough. The features of the cough guide the diagnosis. If the cough is bark style, it is suspicious for croup, if it sounds like a sigh, for whooping cough, if accompanied by wheezing, it is suspicious for asthma/bronchitis. If the sudden onset of cough is accompanied by bruising, you think of foreign body infiltration in the airways. Coughing due to upper respiratory infections may increase at night due to nasal discharge. Coughing can also cause gagging and vomiting.
Dr. Demir: “The diagnosis looks at the time of the cough (phlegm, dryness, barking), how it started (suddenly, after eating and exertion, against dust and allergens), which complaints accompany the child (fever, wheezing breathing, shortness of breath). breathing, nasal congestion, vomiting) conditions such as weight loss, night sweats) should certainly be questioned.”
“If the cough lasts more than 2 weeks, if it is seen with wheezing, if the child has no fever, if it persists, if it recurs, if there is sneezing, nasal congestion and itching, the cause of the If it lasts more than three days, if it gradually increases, if it is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath and bruising, if it starts suddenly and has a barking cough, a doctor’s examination is absolutely necessary.
Explaining how the cough passes, specialist Dr Burak Emre Demir lists the precautions and what needs to be done for families.
Children who are in good general condition and have no fever or respiratory distress can be monitored at home. The best cough syrup in such cases is warm water. Plenty of water and fluid intake provides relief by soothing the child’s throat.
If there is a stuffy nose, it can be opened with saline.
Since dry air can also be a cause of coughing, you can use water vapor to provide the right humidity.
Keeping the humidity in your home at 50 percent will reduce your children’s and babies’ coughing problem. If you use a cold steam machine to humidify the house, you should maintain and clean these devices regularly.
Dr Demir said: “Cough needs to be monitored very carefully in babies less than 6 months old.” say. Otherwise, the underlying disease causing the cough may cause more serious problems.
“Although it may seem like a simple cough, a cough in babies can turn into bronchitis or pneumonia if neglected. Therefore, families with small babies should take their children to the doctor in case of a cough.”
Pediatrics and Children’s Diseases Dr. Demir also explained natural methods for coughing.
“By consuming plenty of warm liquids, herbal teas soothe the throat and relieve coughs.
If your child is older than 1 year, honey is very useful. Honey can be given plain or mixed with ginger and turmeric. You can also give it by making honey syrup with warm water or milk.
Likewise, molasses can be given.
Dried mulberry tea is also beneficial. However, these methods should never preclude the treatments recommended by a doctor’s study.
Specialist Dr. Burak Emre Demir also listed the situations in which a doctor should be consulted.
“If your child has a high fever, seems lethargic and tired, says his chest hurts, breathes often, has wheezing, has a blue color change in the face or lips, has difficulty breathing, has a tight feeling in the chest and ribs .If it happens, if there is a groaning breath and blood comes out when coughing, you should definitely get it checked out by a pediatrician.