When a child or toddler coughs up phlegm or mucus, it is the main symptom of a wet cough in a child. A runny nose, sore throat, and exhaustion are some of the other symptoms. One of the causes of wet cough is postnasal drip, which feels like mucus pouring down the neck or chest.
Dry coughs are caused by upper respiratory tract irritation, such as environmental irritants or chronic diseases. Children may develop a dry cough as a result of leftover mucus after a cold or illness.
A wet cough, also known as a productive cough, produces mucus or phlegm. Wet cough in kids is commonly associated with the common cold and can be relieved with plenty of hydration and rest. However, in infants, a wet cough should still be evaluated by a pediatrician to ensure that a serious underlying problem such as influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, or asthma is not to blame.
Treatment of Cough in Toddlers
Make use of saline nasal drops. These over-the-counter nasal drops are available in pharmacies. You may also take some best medicine for wet cough by consulting a doctor.
- Provide fluids
- Provide honey
- When your youngster is asleep, elevate his or her head.
- Use a humidifier to add moisture.
- Take a walk in the cool air.
- Use vapor rub.
- Make use of essential oils.
What’s the Difference between Wet and Dry Coughs in kids?
Cough in babies that is dry
A dry cough does not generate much mucus or phlegm, which is why it is also known as an unproductive cough. Dry coughs are more commonly caused by allergies and asthma than by seasonal illnesses. However, because there is residual mucus in their lungs after a cold or the flu, children can develop a dry cough.
Wet Coughing
Phlegm comes in a variety of colours, including white, yellow, and green. Wet coughs are sometimes accompanied by postnasal drip, which feels like mucus dripping down the throat or chest. Toddler wet cough at night is also the main problem.
How to recognize the different types of cough in children
Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes coughing in children of all ages. The sickness causes fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing (rapid, laborious breathing). Most children recover in two to three days, but it can take up to ten days. Other treatments are dictated by your child’s condition.
Croup, unlike bronchiolitis and asthma, affects the upper airway rather than the lower airway. Croup begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses to enlargement of the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). This can result in a harsh noise as the kid breathes in, known as “stridor.” The stridor is typically worse at night, with a peak on the second or third night.
When to See a Doctor for a Child’s Cough
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child’s cough) persists after a few weeks or if it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms: coughing up greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. The doctor will give you cough syrup or cough medicines.
