After the flu, a cough appeared. Residual cough in a child: how to treat? Causes of cough after colds

A lingering cough after a recent acute respiratory viral infection is a situation familiar to everyone. Even if it does not cause serious inconvenience, this is a reason to consult a doctor. This is necessary if annoying cough doesn't work longer than a week. Cough is in a natural way clear the airways of mucus, but without adequate treatment it can develop into chronic form. This symptom may indicate an inflammatory process or a bacterial infection in the bronchi.

Symptom Definition

Most often, it is a consequence of the flu or a cold. His attacks most often intensify towards night, making it difficult to sleep. If it continues longer than a month, then becomes chronic.

You cannot use “cough suppressants” for self-medication, that is, they suppress the cough reflex. They can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

May additionally be accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as:

Dizziness;
Fast fatiguability;
Heavy sweating;
Headache;
Frequent urination;
Nagging pain in the chest;
Runny nose;
Sore throat;
Dyspnea;
Labored breathing.

Sometimes a chronic cough can even be wet. Most often, this may be a sign of a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Without adequate treatment, it can lead to serious complications.

Chronic cough is often a consequence of an untreated or suffered cold.

The most common mistake when treating a cough, it is not to pay attention to this symptom, believing that “it will go away on its own.” Without adequate treatment and creation of suitable external conditions he risks turning around serious problems for good health.

Causes

The most common cause of cough after a seasonal cold or viral infection. It may be a variant of the norm, since it is with its help that the remaining mucus and dead cells are removed from the body.

If even irregular coughing attacks last longer than 3 weeks, this is a clear reason to consult a doctor.

Moreover, a chronic cough may not even be directly caused by a cold, viral or bacterial infection. Frequent causes of its occurrence may be:

Smoking(");
Bronchial asthma;
Heart pathologies;
Lung pathologies;
Benign or malignant neoplasms in the lungs.

In this case, a previous cold or viral infection simply worsens the situation. The inflammatory process increases the sensitivity of the mucous membrane respiratory tract, causing a reflex cough.

The only exception is bronchial asthma, in which coughing is caused only by contact with an allergen.

An untreated cold itself can cause a reflex cough caused by hypersensitivity. In this case, it is enough to complete the treatment to remove all unpleasant symptoms. Reflex cough after a cold or viral infection, in each case it goes away in its own time. It depends on the level of immunity, the climate in which a person lives and whether he has bad habits.

Quite often, the causes of residual cough can be problems such as:

Secondary bacterial infection;
Dry and hot air in the house;
Lack of fluid in the body;
Abuse of nasal sprays and vasoconstrictor drops during illness;
Stress().

Define exact reason A cough can only be treated by a therapist who, if necessary, will refer you to other specialists. You cannot treat just the cough itself, since it is only a symptom of many problems.

Possible diseases

The most common reason emergence chronic cough is a seasonal cold or viral infection. Post-infectious cough can last more than a month, being a variant of the norm. But this can only be confirmed by a doctor after conducting the necessary examination.

You cannot diagnose yourself and “prescribe” medications yourself.

The most possible complications viral infection, causing cough are:

Tracheobronchitis;
Pneumonia;
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
Bronchiectasis.

All these diseases usually cause chronic moist cough accompanied by the discharge of clear mucus. Exist unusual reasons chronic cough, which may become more complicated during infectious inflammation respiratory tract:

Mycoplasmosis;
Gastroesophageal reflux;
Tumor of the mediastinum;
Interstitial lung diseases;
Laryngeal candidiasis;
Pneumocystis;
Chlamydia;
Chronic diseases nervous system.

A symptom of all these health problems is a non-productive dry cough. It causes not only irritation of the respiratory mucosa. An exhausting dry cough leads to a general deterioration in health.

If the cough does not go away for more than 7 days, this is a reason to seek help from a specialist. This is especially important when it comes to chronic cough in a child.

Diagnosis and treatment methods

Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of a symptom such as chronic cough after a comprehensive examination. This should be done as early as possible to avoid a large number serious complications. This will allow for a timely diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment. This will help you quickly recover normal condition mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

If a cough caused by a cold does not go away after a week, it can lead to complications.

To determine the reasons lingering cough The following studies may be needed:

Clinical blood test;
Biochemical blood test;
Fluorography;
X-rays of light.

If necessary, more complex and expensive research methods may be added to this list, such as:

MRI of the chest;
CT scan of the chest;
Sputum examination.

If there is chest pain when breathing or coughing, in addition to the basic methods, the doctor may carry out such specific types research like:

Auscultation of the lungs;
Percussion of the lungs.

After all necessary research and establishing an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe correct treatment. Depending on the situation, it may be aimed at eliminating cough as a symptom or treating a specific disease.

Trust the choice correct method Treatment should only be done by a specialist.

In order to alleviate a person’s condition when coughing and reduce irritation of the mucous membrane, the following are most often used:

Plenty of warm drinks (a large number of fluid restores water balance in the body and promotes easy removal of phlegm);
Balanced diet(should contain a large amount of vitamins);
Inhalations(help reduce inflammation of the respiratory mucosa, make sputum more liquid);

Expectorants may contain substances that relieve inflammation and promote regeneration of the respiratory mucosa. But all these drugs have a lot of serious side effects Therefore, they should only be prescribed by a specialist.

Humidified air helps relieve a cough, as it prevents the mucous membranes from drying out. To do this, it is worth using special air humidifiers that allow you to maintain humidity at 60 - 70%.

If we are talking about dry nonproductive cough, to alleviate the condition, antitussive drugs are prescribed. People call them “cough” medicines. They act directly on the cough center in the brain, inhibiting it. They act directly on the symptom without affecting the very cause of the cough. It is strictly forbidden to use cough medicines simultaneously with expectorants. This leads to stagnation of sputum in the lungs or even such serious consequences as airway obstruction.

Only a specialist can determine the real reason cough after conducting the necessary research and prescribing adequate treatment. If the cough still does not go away after 2 weeks of treatment, you should inform your doctor. At the same time, any medications and folk remedies can be used only for their intended purpose.

A lingering cough after a viral infection is a fairly common situation in adults and children. Even if he doesn't call severe discomfort, it is worth consulting a doctor. This will help you choose adequate therapy and avoid chronicity of the process.

Causes of residual cough after ARVI

If the immune system cannot cope pathogenic microorganisms, on days 3-5 of illness, all sorts of complications develop. These include inflammatory lesions trachea, tonsils, ear. If the disease takes more complex nature, pathologies of the nervous system, heart and blood vessels develop.

There are also other reasons for a lingering cough after a cold:

smoking;
asthma;
formations in the organs of the respiratory system.

Cough, which is a manifestation, is also dangerous. The narrowing of the bronchi persists for a long time and does not go away after the symptoms of the disease are eliminated. Such patients cough constantly.

Kinds

Depending on the nature of the cough, you can put accurate diagnosis. That's why it's so important to determine clinical picture illness.

Dry or barking

Chronic is considered to be one that is present for more than 8 weeks (2 months).

This symptom may indicate the development of the following disorders:

neurological pathologies;
asthma;
tumor lesion of the mediastinum;
interstitial lung pathologies.

Don't rule it out allergic nature illness. Common factors include exposure to dust, fur, bird feathers, and mold. Other causes may include building materials, pollen, etc.

Wet

This type of cough is accompanied by secretion of different nature. It may be mucous or purulent. Sometimes sputum contains bloody streaks. Worsens at night. indicates the following complications:

Chronical bronchitis;
pulmonary obstruction;
bronchiectasis;
tuberculosis;
cystic fibrosis;
oncological lesions of the bronchi.

If cough is present long time, it is important to contact an experienced doctor and undergo a detailed examination.

Dr. Komarovsky talks about the causes of cough and its treatment:

Should I see a doctor, what tests should I undergo?

To determine the causes of a chronic cough, you should consult a doctor who will comprehensive examination. This will help avoid dangerous complications. To carry out diagnostics, the following studies are prescribed:

general blood analysis;
biochemistry;
X-ray of the lungs;
fluorography.

If necessary, they can be carried out additional research. This category includes computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and sputum analysis. If chest pain occurs during coughing, the doctor should perform percussion and auscultation of the lungs.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

How to get rid

To cope with this condition, it is very important to adhere to the following recommendations:

observe drinking regime– you need to drink 2-2.5 liters of liquid per day;
doctors advise drinking mineral water– it makes sputum more liquid and facilitates its removal;
walk more often and systematically ventilate the room;
select medications depending on the type of cough and its duration.

Can be applied medicines. The most commonly prescribed categories of drugs are:

mucolytic agents - bromhexine, ;
medicines based plant extracts– broncholitin;
syrups and lozenges – phyto, ;
throat sprays – , .

Among folk remedies, rinsing is considered the most effective. saline solutions. At normal temperature Mustard plasters can be placed on the body.

Dangerous signs and manifestations

If a dry or wet cough persists for more than 15 days or other symptoms occur, complications of the disease can be suspected. These include the following:

tracheitis;
sinusitis;
bronchitis;
pneumonia;
empyema.

Typically, after ARVI, complications affect the upper and middle respiratory tract. This causes bronchitis,

Treatment for a cold is behind you, but you still can’t get rid of your cough? The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract in a child recovers slowly after an acute respiratory viral infection and, along with a weakened immune system, an unpleasant residual cough appears. How dangerous is this to health and how to cure a child’s cough?

Why does residual cough occur in children?

Curing a viral infection, bronchitis, pneumonia is only the first step on the path to recovery. Weakened by illness children's body, especially after taking antibiotics, it takes time to recover. And all this time the sensitive bronchi use the most common defense mechanism– a cough that prevents the airways from becoming clogged with phlegm, mucus or pus. Therefore, parents need to know the causes, symptoms and how to properly treat residual cough in a child.

Causes

Constant cough in a child after past illness respiratory tract, is more likely to be a variant of the norm than to a rare occurrence. It takes the baby’s body some time to recover and develop immunity. The viruses remaining after the illness are no longer so strong, but still continue to irritate the bronchi and trachea, causing a residual cough, which, when proper therapy should go away in two to three weeks. Among other reasons, when a child has coughing without temperature:

relapse of inflammatory or infectious disease;
reaction of the respiratory tract to contact with cold air, excessive physical activity;
allergies to dust, pet hair, cigarette smoke;
foreign body;
stress, nervousness;
rare disease stomach - gastroesophageal reflux.

Symptoms

A situation when there is a feeling that the cold is not going to go away and the child does not stop coughing for a long time should alert parents. At this moment, using some signs, you need to be able to determine where the new disease began, and where the baby has stopped getting sick and is only susceptible to residual effects. The most common symptoms of a persistent cough:

periodic manifestation of a residual phenomenon, when the cough itself is shallow, there is no sputum, more often appears in the morning;
there is no fever, snot, intoxication or other signs of a cold;
within three weeks after completing the course of therapy, the cough becomes less intense and rare;
The baby’s immune system, recovering, weakens the cough and copes with it, even without treatment.

When is a child’s cough dangerous after an illness?

A situation that should cause concern is when a child has a loud cough that does not go away for a month, a fever develops, or the child complains of pain. You must be able to distinguish any of these symptoms from residual effects and, if you suspect, contact your pediatrician so that the baby can get better. additional examination. What are the dangers of prolonged or persistent cough in children? There may be development behind this chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, pneumonia or chest injury that makes inhalation and exhalation painful, tuberculosis will begin. In these cases, serious health care.

How to treat residual cough

If you are sure that this is residual effects after suffering from acute respiratory viral infection or any other viral infection, then drug treatment may not be needed. After a few weeks, the functioning of the respiratory system will normalize, the mucous membranes will clear and the residual cough will go away if you frequently ventilate the room, do wet cleaning, and use an ultrasonic humidifier. Then how to treat residual cough in a child? I will help you quickly get rid of an obsessive cough using folk remedies, inhalations, special cases- taking medications.

Drug treatment

In order for the baby's airways to quickly clear the phlegm or mucus that accumulates during a cold, a therapy program to eliminate residual effects may include taking medications. According to the nature of the cough and overall assessment condition of the child’s body, the pediatrician will prescribe thinning (dry cough) or expectorant (wet cough) agents or drugs with spasmodic or enveloping properties. The following help reduce irritation of the mucous membrane and cope with residual effects:

Folk remedies

If a child coughs a lot, then the conspiracy is unlikely to help influence the process. Among folk remedies there are others healthy recipes, which help relieve a child’s dry, frequent cough using decoctions prepared in a special way products, compresses. How to cure residual cough in a child traditional methods:

A warm drink made with milk, and this product is combined with honey, soda, butter, figs, goat fat, mineral water. For one glass of heated liquid, take a tablespoon of another ingredient, and dilute the milk with mineral water in a 1:1 ratio. This treatment of cough in children using folk remedies is considered the most popular, and if given warm drink baby at night, this helps improve sleep, remove barking cough, cure your throat.
Yolks (chicken, quail) ground with sugar are the well-known eggnog. If a child coughs until he vomits and a whistle is heard, then this is folk remedy will not help, but such a sweet treatment can soften a hard cough. To make the taste even more pleasant, honey, cocoa, and citrus juice are added to the mashed yolks, but provided that the baby is not allergic to these products. To prepare a serving you need to take one yolk and a tablespoon granulated sugar, grind thoroughly to a fluffy white mass, and then add any of the additional ingredients up to a teaspoon.
Herbal infusions are prepared in the evening; a thermos is used for this, and the proportions are simple: take 1 tbsp per glass of boiling water. l. vegetable raw materials. To make cough treatment in children faster, take chamomile for infusion, Linden blossom, St. John's wort, sage, green cones.
Instead of mustard plasters and ready-made pharmaceutical ointments It is better to do rubbing at night, if the child has a wet cough, with pork, goat, badger, bear fat, and then wrap the baby well.
Compresses are another good folk remedy if a child’s dry cough does not go away for a long time, and for procedures will do boiled and mashed potatoes, bread crumbs, cabbage leaf with honey.

Inhalations for dry cough without fever

Video

Cough after a cold (ARVI) is what many people encounter after eliminating the main symptoms inflammatory process in organism. Of course, such a reaction of the body raises a lot of questions, doubts and worries.

Experts say that after infection, the bronchial receptors are quite vulnerable, so any irritant, be it dust, cold or dry indoor air, can cause an intense cough. But in some cases, a cough that lingers after an acute respiratory viral infection in an adult signals the development of complications.

Let's understand the reasons

Weakened immune system after past illness – main reason residual cough. If a person has an acute respiratory virus more than five times a year, there is nothing strange or surprising in the fact that he is haunted by residual effects of bronchitis.

ARVI affects the upper respiratory tract, resulting in an active process of destruction and exfoliation of the epithelium of the bronchi and trachea. Most methods of fighting colds and flu are aimed at eliminating the most pronounced symptoms: fever, swelling of the bronchi, spasms and intoxication of the body.

In order to restore damaged tissue, it takes time. This is why a cough after a cold can persist for 2-3 weeks.

Dry and wet cough. A wet cough accompanies the removal of sputum - a special stage of cleansing the bronchi. Normally, this process can last about two weeks; with a longer duration, there is a high probability of developing pathology.

A dry cough is most often defensive reaction to an irritant, does not pose a threat to human health for a short duration.

Moreover, the duration and intensity of a dry cough are affected by the following irritants:

tobacco smoke;

alcohol;

dry air;

hypothermia.

In order not to provoke the development of complications in any way, you must first eliminate all sources of irritation.

Secondary infection in Lately is becoming a fairly common cause of cough. ARVI actually weakens the human body’s immune system so much that, having barely recovered, it is again exposed to infection.

Is there any cause for concern?

Residual cough after a cold - quite normal phenomenon. This opinion is shared by the majority of therapists in the world. Most likely, after a few days the cough will go away on its own without additional treatment. And here it is important to distinguish between the concepts of residual cough after ARVI and the development of serious complications.

The following symptoms may be a cause for concern:

presence of fever, weakness, poor health;

secretion of sputum of an unusual and uncharacteristic color for a common cold;

cough lasting more than 3 weeks.

The duration of the residual cough can tell a lot about its nature and character.

Normally, residual manifestations of the disease in an adult should disappear within 2, maximum 3 weeks. If you notice any bothersome symptoms, you should seek help from a medical facility immediately.

Diagnosis of pathology

If residual manifestations of the disease continue for more than 3 weeks, or unpleasant symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor. Based on the results of the examination, he will prescribe a comprehensive examination and refer you for tests necessary to identify the cause of such a clinical picture.

The initial diagnosis is made by general analysis blood and urine. Bronchial secretions are highly informative, so quite often doctors take them for examination. Bronchoscopy allows you to assess the condition of the bronchi and trachea, determine the stage of damage and destruction.

It is extremely important to undergo a comprehensive examination and follow all doctor's instructions. Unfortunately, many self-medicate, trying to diagnose themselves.

It's no secret that such behavior threatens to further aggravate the situation. If the diagnosis reveals the development of complications, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment, the specifics of which will be primarily related to the test results. If no pathology is detected, the patient should make every effort to strengthen immune system and restoration of the epithelium of the bronchi and trachea.

How to help your body

If you tried to overcome ARVI at home and followed all the doctor’s instructions, most likely your sick leave will be closed when the main symptoms of the viral infection disappear.

Of course, residual manifestations such as cough, for example, are not included in their number. Your task is to get rid of the cough as quickly as possible and help your body recover.

The simplest measures will help with this:

Healthy lifestyle

After an illness, you shouldn’t go to great lengths, hold off on drinking alcohol, stop smoking, as these bad habits have a detrimental effect on an irritated throat. Spend as much time as possible on fresh air, dress appropriately for the weather, and regularly ventilate the air in the room.

The diet should be enriched with protein-containing foods. Protein is the main source of amino acids involved in the structure of connective tissues, which is so necessary for the affected epithelium of the bronchi and trachea.

Air humidification

During the heating season, the indoor air is often dry. It's no secret that dry air is the main irritant for the bronchi. In order to fill the room with the necessary moisture, you can resort to modern technologies and use household humidifiers.

A worthy budget alternative to expensive appliances would be an ordinary towel soaked generously in water. They should hang the radiator in the room - moisture will gradually begin to spread throughout the space.

Traditional medicine methods

To date, no more effective remedy for colds and flu has been invented than inhalation. In addition, they help in the fight against cough, reducing its frequency and intensity. Inhalations based on propolis, chamomile and sage demonstrate good effectiveness.

By inhaling evaporation vapors, it is possible not only to soften the irritated bronchi, but also to warm them up well, this is what is needed in the fight against residual manifestations of the disease. If you are suffering from a wet cough, you can prepare inhalations based on medical product- Lazolvan. It helps to liquefy mucus and facilitates the process of its removal.

It is enough to devote 5-15 minutes daily to inhalations, and after a few days the cough will disappear.

At frequent cough, both dry and wet, you need to drink as much fluid as possible. It is advisable that this is not plain water, and drinks enriched with vitamins. Great option will become a rosehip decoction. You can buy it at the pharmacy breast collection– an excellent remedy for softening the bronchi and trachea, with an expectorant effect.

Syrups based on medicinal herbs and plants. Sinekod, Erespal, Libexin. To combat dry cough, doctors most often prescribe mucolytics and expectorants: ACC, Mucodin and others.

Traditional medicine methods

Warm compresses are an excellent remedy to help minimize residual manifestations of the disease. For compresses you can use an old proven remedy.

Radish with honey is another effective remedy that we inherited from our mothers and grandmothers. The enrichment of radish with vitamin C helps fight infections and eliminate all its manifestations.

Few people pay enough attention breathing exercises, but it helps strengthen the respiratory muscles and restore its normal functioning.

Traditional medicine offers many others, no less effective means From cough:

milk with figs - a tasty and sweet drink coats the throat, soothes irritated bronchi;

eggnog - quail eggs included in medicinal drink, strengthen protective forces body;

carrot juice is an excellent remedy in the fight against dry cough. To freshly squeezed carrot juice You can add radish juice and a teaspoon of honey for taste.

Prevention

Competent preventive actions will prevent the recurrence of cough. Avoid hypothermia: keep your feet warm and dress appropriately for the weather. A residual cough can be evidence of a certain malfunction in the body, which is why it is so important to strengthen its protective properties.

Strengthen yourself, play sports, eat right and enrich your body with vitamins and microelements. Remember that your health is in your hands, prevent the development of infection in your body and strengthen your immunity. And then you will not be afraid of colds, flu and ARVI.

You are a fairly active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to exercise, lead healthy image life and your body will delight you throughout your life. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and strong emotional overload. Try to minimize contact with sick people; if forced contact, do not forget about protective equipment (mask, washing your hands and face, clearing your respiratory tract).

It's time to think about what you are doing wrong...

You are at risk, you should think about your lifestyle and start taking care of yourself. Physical education is required, or even better, start playing sports, choose the sport that you like most and turn it into a hobby (dancing, cycling, Gym or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu promptly, they can lead to complications in the lungs. Be sure to work on your immunity, strengthen yourself, and be in nature and fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations, treat lung diseases initial stages much simpler than in a neglected state. Avoid emotional and physical overload; if possible, eliminate or minimize smoking or contact with smokers.

It's time to sound the alarm!

You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the functioning of your lungs and bronchi, have pity on them! If you want to live a long time, you need to radically change your entire attitude towards your body. First of all, get examined by such specialists as a therapist and pulmonologist, you need to take radical measures otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the doctors’ recommendations, radically change your life, perhaps you should change your job or even your place of residence, completely eliminate smoking and alcohol from your life, and make contact with people who have such bad habits to a minimum, toughen up, strengthen your immune system, spend time in the fresh air as often as possible. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely eliminate everything from everyday use aggressive means, replace with natural ones, natural remedies. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and ventilation of the room at home.