The child coughs in the evening and at night. Strong nocturnal cough in a child: symptoms and treatment methods

Cough is a natural reflex by which the body clears the respiratory system of irritants, such as dust, dirt or mucus in diseases of the nasopharynx. Coughing attacks at night in a child can occur due to pathologies of the lungs, bronchi, stomach, allergic or mental reactions. To fix the problem, you need to find out the cause of the condition by characteristic signs. Consider what the symptom is associated with, how to help the patient with medicines or folk remedies, and in what cases a mandatory visit to the pediatrician is required.

There are 7 common diseases in which this symptom is observed.

Allergic reaction

A common cause of nighttime coughing is considered to be hypersensitivity to bedding - down pillows, wool. The baby inhales small particles of these materials, they penetrate the lungs, and in response to this, a protective mechanism is launched - the cough reflex is activated.

It is easy to suspect this condition. If there are no symptoms during the day and coughing appears only after going to bed, then the most likely allergic origin of the symptom.

Bacterial and viral infections

The cause of a paroxysmal cough may be a cold. These processes are accompanied by increased production of sputum in the lungs. During the day, it accumulates in the bronchial tree. When the baby assumes a horizontal position, sputum moves up the airways and irritates the receptors. Against this background, there is a strong nocturnal cough and runny nose.

ARVI is one of the causes of cough in children

Laryngitis

Inflammatory damage to the larynx leads to the fact that the child begins a strong dry cough, the so-called "barking". The symptom usually worsens in the evening and at night. Other manifestations of laryngitis are sore throat, nasal congestion and hoarseness up to complete loss of voice.

Bronchial asthma

With a severe course of the disease, nocturnal attacks occur. In addition to a strong choking cough, they are accompanied by periods of feeling completely short of breath. The child begins to choke, breathe shallowly and quickly, respiratory arrest develops. The condition requires emergency treatment (for example, the introduction of Pulmicort).

Whooping cough

This is a rare infection, since in Russia universal vaccination against the disease is carried out. However, if the baby has not been vaccinated, it is worth suspecting its presence. The main symptom of whooping cough is a paroxysmal excruciating dry cough that worsens at night.

Reflux of gastric contents

In the absence of symptoms of infection (fever, weakness, headache), gastroesophageal reflux disease should be suspected. This pathology occurs when the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. Gastric juice has an acidic environment, which aggressively affects the mucosa of the organ. Throwing the secret leads to heartburn, sore throat and severe cough.

Tuberculosis

If the baby has been in contact with an infected patient and he has symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Why does a child cough at night?

The appearance of a symptom is explained by the physiological characteristics of the body. With the onset of sleep, the activity of regulation by the nervous system is slightly reduced. This leads to the fact that the severity of clinical manifestations increases.

At night, the child lies almost motionless, which leads to the accumulation of sputum. To prevent blockage of the bronchial tree with a viscous secret, the body triggers a protective cough reflex, which helps to clear the airways. Therefore, in the presence of a symptom, it is not always necessary to use antitussives. It is much more effective to use mucolytic drugs that dilute sputum and contribute to its rapid removal from the bronchi.

Types of cough

There are two main types of symptom in children. Dry implies the absence of sputum, it occurs due to irritation of the bronchi and the reflex reaction of the body. Another reason is the secretion of viscous sputum, which covers the walls of the bronchi and does not come out with cough shocks.

Dry cough is characteristic of the following diseases:

the initial stages of the development of SARS;
pharyngitis;
laryngitis;
early stage of bronchitis.

Wet cough is characterized by active sputum production. Coughing is considered a more favorable prognostic sign for the patient, since during the discharge of mucus, the bronchial tree is cleared and the child recovers. Therefore, usually a wet type of symptom is found in the later stages of pneumonia or bronchitis.

Dry cough: what to do for treatment?

The main method of therapy is the appointment of mucolytic agents. The most effective drugs from this group are Ambrobene, Bromhexine and Gerbion. They thin the mucus and promote its removal from the lungs. Medications turn a dry cough into a wet one, which is much easier to treat. The removal of sputum from the bronchi helps to cleanse the respiratory tract and restore normal condition.

First aid for wet cough

In this case, expectorant drugs are prescribed. These drugs speed up the removal of sputum from the bronchi. Dr. Komarovsky recommends using the following tools:

- a derivative of medicinal marshmallow;
Bronchicum and Pertussin - forms based on thyme;
Bronchophyte - a drug made from wild rosemary;
- syrup containing plantain.

Medicines for children are herbal, so they rarely cause side effects.

How to relieve an allergic cough

Hypersensitivity reactions are dangerous conditions that require emergency treatment. They can be manifested by swelling of the larynx, which will cause an asthma attack that is dangerous to health, so it is important to start therapy in a timely manner.
With an allergic origin of the symptom, the patient is prescribed treatment aimed at removing the cause of the disease. It is necessary to establish the specific allergen to which the reaction has developed. After that, treatment with special drugs is prescribed - antihistamines (Suprastin or Tavegil). Their use inhibits the development of allergies and eliminates sharp clinical manifestations.

How to help with a neurological cough

With strong coughing shocks that are not stopped by conventional drugs, it is worth suspecting neurogenic genesis. If the symptom occurs due to a malfunction of the brain, centrally acting antitussives (for example, Codeine,) are prescribed. They affect the area of the brain that stimulates the cough reflex. Means quickly alleviate the patient's condition.

Drugs with a central effect have contraindications. They must be taken into account during treatment. Before starting therapy, you should consult with your doctor.

What symptoms should you call an ambulance for?

Signs of anxiety in which it is urgent to take the child to the doctor include:

An attack of suffocation.
Swelling of the larynx.
Severe rash all over the skin.
A sharp rise in temperature.
Severe headache.
Incessant vomiting and constant nausea.

These symptoms indicate serious violations of the vital organs, so when they appear, you need to call an ambulance. At night, parents should monitor the condition of the child. The presence of episodes of suffocation is a reason to hospitalize the baby, since it is not always possible to quickly respond to an attack without the intervention of a doctor.

How to help at home

Self-treatment is permissible only with a mild cough. In more severe cases of pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous because home methods usually only eliminate the symptoms of the disease. They blur the picture of the infection, the parents think that the child is better. In fact, the pathology continues to progress. Prolonged course without specific therapy can lead to severe consequences.

A baby with a nocturnal cough must be shown to the doctor. After examination and diagnosis, the specialist prescribes specialized treatment. You can use additional folk remedies, but only together with therapy, and not instead of it.

Sufficient indoor humidity

Coughing can occur due to dry air in the bedroom. The bronchial tree is irritated by dust particles that enter the respiratory tract, which leads to the appearance of a symptom. Therefore, before going to bed, it is recommended to ventilate the room, do a little wet cleaning. At the time of airing, you need to take the baby to another room so that it is not blown out. You can use special humidifiers that provide a quick saturation of the bedroom with moisture.

Bathing

Immediately before going to bed, it is necessary to carry out water procedures. They have a beneficial effect on the body. The layer of dust and dirt that inevitably accumulates during the day is removed from the skin. Bathing also has a positive psychological effect. After water procedures, the child calms down, which reduces the likelihood of neurogenic coughing. To achieve this effect, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the water, which have a calming effect on the baby.

Inhalations

Inhalation of saline solutions moisturizes the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree, reducing the severity of dry cough. The procedure directly affects the respiratory tract, helping to eliminate sputum. Regular use of the technique calms the child, so he falls asleep faster.

Parents should understand that, pneumonia or colds. In other pathologies, they are ineffective. It is forbidden to carry out procedures for laryngitis and allergic reactions. A contraindication to inhalation is a severe fever.

Folk remedies

Home treatments include:

Warm. The solution warms the throat, stimulates local blood circulation.
Plentiful drink (compotes, tea with raspberries, fruit drinks). The intake of fluid into the body reduces the severity of intoxication.
that are placed on the chest. The agent has a mild effect on the condition of the respiratory tract.
Rubbing. The procedure warms the skin, accelerates blood circulation in the lungs.

Pharmacy preparations

For the treatment of coughing, medications are used that have an expectorant and mucolytic effect. Without a doctor's prescription, you can buy pastilles or children's syrups in a pharmacy. The most effective drugs are Mukaltin, Ambrobene, Travisil. Regular use of these remedies stops the progression of the symptom and helps to clear the bronchial tree by thinning the sputum and coughing it up.

What to do when coughing for no apparent reason?

In some cases, the occurrence of coughing is not associated with infectious diseases - colds or flu. The appearance of a symptom for no apparent reason confuses parents and leads them to use cough medicines uncontrollably. This cannot be done, since symptomatic treatment does not affect the factor that caused the clinical manifestations.

When coughing occurs, which is not associated with obvious causes, it is necessary to take the child to the pediatrician. The doctor will ask the parents in detail about the complaints, conduct an examination and prescribe an examination. Based on the results of the tests, it will be possible to determine why a pathological cough appeared. This will allow you to start profile treatment and eliminate an unpleasant symptom.

Eliminate the possibility of allergies

The appearance of a symptom for no apparent reason is caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to a substance. This is especially true for bedding, for example, coughing often occurs due to down pillows.

The situation when a child coughs at night, but not during the day, causes concern for parents. This may be a symptom of a specific disease of the lungs or throat, or a reflex bronchospasm with a cold. This condition is harmful and signals health problems when coughing attacks become more frequent.

Cough is an unconditioned reflex, the rapid expulsion of air from the lungs. Even healthy children need such cleansing of the respiratory tract from dust and microbes during the day and night. If the child coughs at night much more often than usual, and during the day the symptoms are mild? Diagnosing the disease in this case is problematic. Most often, the main causes of night cough lie in the problems of the respiratory system.. Seasonal flu, tonsillitis, bronchitis are accompanied by irritation of the respiratory tract with foreign particles, thick mucus that forms plugs.

An acute cough starts suddenly and is most often caused by a cold, flu, or sinus infection (it resolves in about 3 to 4 weeks). Subacute or "post-infectious" - lasts from 3 to 8 weeks, chronic - lasts more than 8 weeks. Dry cough without mucus is considered unproductive, wet - with sputum - productive.

If there is chest pain, a temperature above 38.3 ° C, or serious breathing problems in a child, you should immediately seek medical help.

Diseases in which the child coughs during sleep:

acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI);
pleurisy - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the lungs;
upper respiratory infections;
acute or chronic bronchitis;
bacterial sinusitis,
pneumonia;
tracheitis.

Seasonal colds are often accompanied by sore throat and muscles, fever. After these symptoms disappear, coughing at night and in the morning after sleep persists for several weeks. Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses as a result of a bacterial or viral infection. When the sinuses are blocked for various reasons, mucus runs down the back of the throat at night, causing itching and coughing.

Coughing only at night with respiratory diseases often manifests itself along with other symptoms:

runny or stuffy nose, mucus secretion;
difficult, wheezing breathing;
headaches, muscle pain, fever;
burning sensation, sore throat, chest;
clear or gray-green sputum;
hoarseness.

Some diseases, for example, chronic tonsillitis, tonsillitis can occur without fever, the child looks almost healthy. Why does cough occur? During the day, the baby swallows the mucus that accumulates in the throat, and when he sleeps, the sputum flows down the back of the throat. Irritation of the mucous membrane causes a reflex cough.

In acute bronchitis, the child also coughs very strongly at night due to the accumulation of mucus in the airways. In chronic bronchitis, coughing with sputum occurs for at least 3 months. Night cough after whooping cough lasts up to six months, all this time it is necessary to use means that alleviate the child's condition.

Methods for the treatment of night cough in a child

Nasal breathing is difficult from snot, especially during sleep, so the child breathes through his mouth. In this case, poorly purified and insufficiently warmed air enters, which increases the load on the lungs. The swelling of the mucous membrane that occurs during a runny nose will help remove drops "Nazivin", "Vibrocil", "Otrivin", "Tizin Xylo". It is necessary to use vasoconstrictor drugs and nasal sprays for no longer than 7 days, so as not to cause the mucous membrane to dry out.

Colds, allergies, or other illnesses can affect the normal functioning of the body. In search of how to help, if the child coughs heavily at night, parents go around pharmacies. In some cases, to get rid of a cough for a sick child, it will be enough to take an over-the-counter syrup recommended by a pediatrician. During the examination, the doctor listens to the bronchi and lungs. If a cough appeared at night due to an acute respiratory infection, then the specialist prescribes treatment.

It is necessary to contact an ambulance if you have difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or neck.

The structure of the respiratory system of children under 1 year old is distinguished by the weak development of the bronchi, so it is more difficult for them to get rid of sputum. How to help the baby? To thin sputum, remove mucus from the respiratory tract, cough syrups "Flavomed" based on ambroxol, "Prospan" with ivy extract are given.

What to do if a child coughs at night:

Syrups with expectorant action "Gedelix", "Doctor Mom", "Breast Elixir" help with bronchitis, tracheitis.
Antitussive lozenges, lozenges that soften the throat, appoint children older than four years with angina.
When you go to bed give drops for dry cough "Sinekod", "Gerbion. Plantain syrup».

Parents need to pay attention that some cough syrups are prescribed to a child who is already 2 years old, take such funds for no more than two weeks. Antitussives "Codelac neo" and "Bronholitin" are given to a child if his age is 3 years or more. When the treatment prescribed by the pediatrician does not improve the condition of the baby, the doctor sends for a medical examination to identify the true cause of the ailment.

Cough in children occurs with various diseases. Medical attention is required if the child has a fever, when a cough occurs at night in an infant less than 3 months old. Parents should monitor the condition of the kids so as not to miss the deterioration in well-being.

Asthma and Allergies Cause Nighttime Coughs

A child with a latent allergy to dairy products constantly coughs at night due to a glass of milk drunk before bedtime. Exposure to the allergen at night causes the accumulation of mucus in the airways. With asthma, breathing is difficult, a dry cough appears. This condition is also characteristic of inflammation of the airways in children predisposed to asthma. Even if the disease is mild, whistles can be heard when coughing.

Dry air in the room where the baby sleeps also significantly affects the irritation of the larynx.

Cough at night occurs with allergic rhinitis caused by dust, pollen, down, animal hair (hay fever). Reflex spasm of the bronchi accompanies an allergy to washing powder, pillow fillers, mattress. Parents using humidifiers need to be careful not to recirculate pathogenic microbes and/or allergens.

Only a doctor prescribes tests and anthelmintic therapy.

Cause of night cough - disorders of the digestive tract

Reflux esophagitis is accompanied by irritation of the esophagus as a result of the upward movement of acid from the stomach. There is a burning sensation in the chest and throat, dry or wet cough. Diet, sleeping on a high pillow, and antacid medications relieve reflux symptoms. The child should be put to bed 2-3 hours after eating to avoid coughing at night.

Cough may appear after feeding, when children erupt teeth and increase the secretion of saliva, irritating the throat. Parents should pay attention to the diet of the baby. A lack of iron in the diet can cause irritation or inflammation of the throat, then the child begins to cough at night. In this case, micronutrient supplements will help.

7 home remedies to relieve a nighttime cough

Warm tea with a teaspoon of honey and a slice of lemon(contraindications: age up to one year, individual intolerance to bee products and citrus fruits).
Warm compress before going to bed (boil and mash potatoes, attach to the baby’s chest on a cloth napkin).
Salt water for gargling and rinsing the nose before bedtime (1/2 tsp. salt per 150-200 ml of water).
Buckwheat honey for resorption in the mouth at bedtime (1 tsp).
Vitamin teas, fruit drinks facilitating the expulsion of mucus.
Compresses from liquid honey, apple cider vinegar for the night.
Steam inhalation with soda solution in evening time.

To get rid of a night cough, you should take care of air humidification using a special device. Almost the same effect is obtained when installing an open wide dish with water over a radiator. You need to change bed linen more often; Change old feather and down pillows that contain strong allergens. To facilitate breathing, the baby is laid on its side in the crib, at night they help to change position so that less mucus enters the trachea.

Attacks of a strong nocturnal cough deprive the sick child and his parents of strength, leaving none of them with any chance of a full, uninterrupted, deep sleep. When the baby wakes up and starts coughing incessantly, until vomiting, it is very difficult for moms and dads to remain indifferent. Most often, wanting to help the baby, they use folk remedies, syrups and antitussive pills, forgetting that coughing is, first of all, a normal protective reaction of the body to inflammation of the respiratory tract and bronchi: thanks to it, the body gets rid of pathogens. bacteria. Meanwhile, knowing the causes that cause a child’s nighttime cough, parents can avoid many mistakes and provide the baby with timely and complete assistance.

Causes of night cough in children

Many parents, for sure, are interested in the question, why does the child's cough worsen at night? The answer to it is quite simple: the sputum that accumulates in the nasopharynx and in the lungs of a lying baby resolves extremely slowly, clogs the airways and, thereby, provokes a reflex cough. In addition, an attack of nocturnal cough in a child can be provoked by dryer and colder, compared to daytime, air that irritates the mucous membranes of the larynx of the crumbs.

A persistent worsening of coughing at night can be the first sign of the following diseases:

chronic sinusitis, or pharyngitis (in this case, the cough develops against the background of continuous tingling and sore throat);
asthma, including mild ones (the cough caused by this cause is accompanied by a characteristic whistle on exhalation);
whooping cough (such a cough is accompanied by reddening of the face, the appearance of tears and, often, ends with vomiting);
gastroesophageal reflux;
adenoiditis.

If the cough, coupled with fever, does not go away within a week, and, along with this, the general condition of the child noticeably worsens, then parents are advised to immediately show the child to the pediatrician in order to avoid the development of possible complications.

Traditional treatment for nocturnal cough in children

A child who coughs at night for a long time must be examined by a pediatrician without fail. If he suspects that the baby has serious diseases, then the patient will be assigned special examinations to make an accurate diagnosis. If the doctor determines that a night cough is a symptom of an acute respiratory viral infection, then parents can correct the situation on their own. In particular, mothers and fathers of a sick child are recommended to:

thoroughly ventilate the room in which the child sleeps before going to bed, and do wet cleaning in it;
produce additional air humidification in the nursery;
give the child more to drink during the day, while it is better to opt for fortified fruit drinks, a warm decoction of rose hips, regular tea;
shortly before sending the baby to sleep, rinse his nasal cavity with a weak saline solution.

Under no circumstances should a child's night cough be treated with antibiotics and antihistamines. Of the medications, doctors recommend:

1. For dry cough:

non-narcotic antitussives that affect the cough center in the brain stem (glaucine (glauvent), butamirate (sinekod), oxeladin (tusuprex), pentoxyverine (sedotussin);
drugs acting on cough receptors located in the respiratory tract (levodropropizine (levopront), prenoxdiazine (libexin);
antitussive drugs of general (combined) action (stoptussin, tussin plus, broncholithin).

2. For wet cough:

syrup "Doctor Mom";
marshmallow syrup;
bronchicum elixir;
glycers;
pectusin;
solutan;
tarmopsis;
terpinhydrate;
tussin.

The use of expectorant drugs in the treatment of nocturnal cough in babies is indicated only in cases where it is accompanied by the release of hard-to-separate, viscous sputum (for example, with, or cystic fibrosis).

Alternative treatment of night cough in children

In the treatment of incessant nocturnal cough in children, not only synthetic drugs are used, but also folk remedies. In particular, in order to help the child get rid of dry cough, it is necessary:

invite him to suck half a teaspoon of natural buckwheat honey;
drink it with slightly alkalized warm milk (1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per glass of milk);
offer him warm tea with raspberry jam several times a day.

A wet nighttime cough in a child can be dealt with with the help of herbal expectorants. These include:

breast collection No. 1 (oregano, coltsfoot, licorice);
breast collection No. 2 (licorice, coltsfoot, plantain);
breast collection No. 3 (pine buds, licorice, marshmallow, anise, sage and fennel).

In addition, you can fight a night cough in a child with a compress prepared on the basis of mashed boiled potatoes, mustard, alcohol, vegetable fat and honey. The listed ingredients are mixed, the resulting mass is applied to the back of the baby, covered with plastic wrap or waxed paper and a piece of cotton wool 3 cm thick. The duration of the procedure is at least an hour.

Antitussive diet for a child

Doctors say that diet therapy gives an excellent effect in the treatment of night cough in children. It is recommended to include in the diet of a sick child:

grated radish salad dressed with sour cream;
herculean porridge seasoned with vegetable oil;
fruits, vegetables and berries rich in vitamin C (cranberries, rose hips, citrus fruits, persimmons);
any fresh juices;
grapes or grape juice with honey;
mashed potatoes with milk.

These dishes help to quickly relieve bronchospasm, have an expectorant effect and actively contribute to increasing the body's defenses.

06 09.2016

The child coughs violently at night. What to do?

06. 09.2016

Catherine's blog
Bogdanova

Greetings, dear and permanent readers of my blog! This time I would like to talk about what excites all parents. Namely, about children's health. Now it's autumn outside, which means that it's time for acute respiratory viral infections. So, at this time my child coughs a lot at night. An attack of coughing comes right up to vomiting - and I don’t know how to help him and what to do to alleviate his suffering.

What causes a nocturnal cough

Undoubtedly, the most common causes lie in respiratory problems. However, do not think that coughing is only due to acute respiratory infections, there are many other equally serious problems that can cause coughing at night.

The most important reasons can be listed as follows:

Complications of a cold - inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses;
adenoids;
bronchial asthma;
whooping cough;
leakage of contents from the esophagus;
helminthiasis.

The causes are very diverse, in each case there are clinical features of the course of a cough.

What are the features of night cough in various diseases

Most often, coughing attacks occur due to colds. The secret accumulates in the adnexal cavities and drains into the lumen of the bronchial tree at night. Adenoids, especially with inflammation, do not allow the child to breathe through the nose, which leads to breathing through the mouth with drying of the secret in the pharynx and larynx.

Pathological discharge, especially dried up and with crusts, irritates the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi at night. This causes bouts of wet coughing with a large accumulation of secretions. But it can also be if there are only dried crusts in the lumen.

The clinical features of a cold are as follows:

Clear association with infection;
does not happen for a long time;
usually accompanied by a runny nose and manifestations of intoxication;
disappears quickly after expectoration.

The cold process is favorable, with appropriate therapy it quickly passes.

The prognosis is worse if the child develops asthma. In this option, there is, which hardly leaves during an attack. Single or multiple nocturnal attacks of suffocation are typical, in which the child's breath is sharply difficult.

After the discharge of sputum, the attack passes, the baby falls asleep. Such manifestations often occur in the morning, while the force of coughing leads to vomiting. The disease proceeds for a long time, coughing tremors with suffocation at night are repeated, an urgent bronchodilator specific treatment is needed.

Severe nocturnal attacks are typical of whooping cough. Despite the fact that the disease is acute, with inadequate treatment, the process can drag on for several months.

The most characteristic features of the disease are as follows:

Sudden nocturnal suffocation;
the child coughs and turns blue;
exhalation is sharply difficult;
the child is wet, sweats a lot;
typical wheezing;
wet cough, after sputum discharge, blueness stops;
possibly multiple episodes in one night.

An extremely dangerous condition! For young children, this can end in death! Independent thinking about how to help the child is unacceptable. You need to call a specialist immediately.

Not only lung diseases can cause coughing. This problem occurs in the pathology of the stomach. Why is this happening? The fact is that due to insufficient work of the esophageal-gastric opening, the contents flow back into the esophagus.

And at night, during sleep, it can also enter the respiratory tract. This causes sharp coughing shocks, while a burning sensation may be felt in the throat due to acidic gastric contents. The situation repeats itself regularly over a long period.

Another common problem is helminths, especially roundworms. Their life cycle is associated with the entry of blood into the bronchopulmonary system. This causes local allergic processes, which is accompanied by a strong dry cough. In this case, attacks occur against the background of complete health, unexpectedly, without any symptoms of a cold.

How to treat a nocturnal cough

It should be noted right away that it is not enough just to treat the symptom, it is necessary, together with a specialist, to eliminate the disease. This may require antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and sometimes specific medications.

The symptom itself can be affected by three groups of drugs:

expectorants;
mucolytics;
antitussives.

Of course, you should not take medication just before going to bed. They need to be applied several times a day. However, with a strong dry cough that is accompanied by pain and does not allow the child to sleep, you can use antitussives at night or before going to bed.

These drugs act on the cough centers of the brain, and block reflex impulses. The symptom will be completely suppressed. Long-term use of such drugs is unacceptable, since accumulating sputum can clog the bronchial tract. Examples of these drugs are glaucine, codeine, butamirate.

Expectorants are usually herbal and safe. They can be used in children from an early age. They help mucus to come out of the bronchi. It makes no sense to use them with a wet cough, since the secret is already leaving so well.

Expectorants include: syrup from licorice roots, marshmallow herb in the form of decoctions or syrup, breast elixir and many others.

Mucolytics are often used in combination with expectorants. They help loosen phlegm so it can move more easily through the airways. These are also safe medicines, they are used from infancy. Examples are ambroxol, lazolvan, bromhexine. It is better to use liquid forms, since many children do not like tablets.

To successfully combat cough in asthma, these medicines are not enough. It is necessary to constantly use bronchodilators, as well as special inhalers to relieve inflammation.

In the presence of helminths, they must be radically removed with the help of modern antihelminthic agents. For the treatment of stomach pathology, various prokinetics are used, for example, motilium, which prevent the contents from entering the esophagus and flowing into the respiratory tract at night.

Night cough is a sign of serious illness

Night cough in children is manifested in many diseases and significantly worsens the condition of the child: he does not get enough sleep, the body does not get proper rest, and recovery is delayed. If a child coughs at night, then parents should be alert and consult a doctor to find out the causes of the pathological symptom and prescribe appropriate treatment. It is not recommended to self-medicate, this can lead to a deterioration in the condition.

Meaning of cough

Cough is a reflex reaction that develops when the respiratory tract receptors are irritated. This symptom allows you to suspect diseases of the respiratory system and take measures for their treatment. During a coughing attack, the mucous secretion is excreted, which is formed as the inflammatory process progresses.

Causes of nocturnal coughing fits

The cough is often exacerbated at night, because in the supine position it is difficult to absorb the mucus that is in the nasopharynx. Accumulations of mucous secretion can impede the normal respiratory process, which provokes a coughing fit.

Also, in the supine position, sputum in the lungs and bronchi resolves more slowly, which is caused by a slowdown in blood supply. This can stimulate the cough reflex. In severe cases, the child grinds his teeth at night and coughs.

A night attack can be triggered by colder air than during the day. It can irritate receptors in the mucous lining of the respiratory tract, which provokes an attack of a cough reflex.

The fact that the child coughs at night, but not during the day, suggests that in the supine position a mucous secret accumulates, which the body can only remove with the help of a cough. During the day, the cough may not be expressed at all, and at night its intensity increases significantly.

If the child coughs only at night, it is important to determine the cause of the symptom and start treatment on time. The situation when a child coughs during the day and not at night is much less common, but also needs to be corrected.

Diseases that can provoke a nocturnal cough

If a child chokes on a cough at night, this can be caused by the following pathological processes:

viral infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
chronic rhinitis and sinusitis that provoke a dry hacking cough;
chronic pharyngitis causes a nocturnal cough due to persistent symptoms of tingling and sore throat (see);
bronchial asthma can provoke coughing attacks, accompanied by whistling sounds;
whooping cough quite often it is the cause of prolonged attacks of dry cough, while there are symptoms of reddening of the face, lacrimation, periodic deep inspiration, it is possible that the child coughs at night before vomiting (see);
gastroesophageal reflux can also become a provoking factor, an additional symptom in this case is heartburn.

If a child coughs all night, then this may signal the above diseases. Parents should immediately contact a pediatrician to find out the provoking factor and prescribe the correct effective treatment. The doctor knows what to do if the child coughs at night, and will prescribe a course of therapeutic correction that will help in a particular clinical case.

Nocturnal cough relief

The specialist will determine what to give the child for a cough at night, prescribe a course of treatment and give useful recommendations. Parents should know how to help a child cough at night in order to alleviate his condition and speed up the recovery process (see).

Cough syrup - a convenient dosage form

If the pediatrician has determined that a viral infection has become the cause of the attacks of night cough, then the following recommendations should be followed:

Give your child more fluids. Drinking should be plentiful and warm. It helps in thinning and removing mucus from the respiratory tract. Drinking may include milk, mineral water, broth, children's herbal tea. If the child's age is from six months to four years, then you need to give him herbal decoctions in the amount of one teaspoon three times a day. If the child is between four and nine years old, the dosage is one dessert spoon. If the child is older than ten years, you need to give him a decoction of a tablespoon three times a day.
It is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature and acceptable humidity in the child's room.. The air should not be dry and hot.
Medicines for children should be given strictly according to the instructions and according to the recommendations of the doctor.. At the same time, the range of drugs for the treatment of dry and wet cough may differ. Some of the drugs are shown in the photo.

In the case of a dry cough, drugs are prescribed that affect the respiratory tract receptors (Levopront, Libexin). Non-narcotic antitussive drugs of central action, that is, affecting the cough center of the brain (Pentoxyverine, Butamirat, Glaucin), can also be prescribed.

Antitussive drugs of general action, which include Stoptussin and Broncholitin, also help. In the case of a wet cough, medicines such as marshmallow syrup, Glyceram, Tussin, Bronchicum elixir and some others can help.

The price of the listed medicines can be different, which is determined by the form of release and the place of production of medicines.

Also, during the therapeutic correction of cough, it is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations:

With allergic pathologies that provoke bouts of nocturnal coughing, you need to give your child antihistamines before bedtime.
It is important to know that some procedures and therapies are contraindicated in early childhood. So, up to six months, you can not rub the child's chest, give him antihistamines and do steam inhalations. In order to prevent the accumulation of sputum, it is sometimes necessary to change the position of the baby's body during sleep.
In the absence of positive dynamics in the treatment of diseases that provoke a cough, you need to contact a pulmonologist. He will prescribe additional studies and adjust the therapeutic course.

It is necessary to contact a pediatrician in a timely manner in order to cure the underlying disease in a short time. If the child coughs and snores at night, the pediatrician will conduct all the necessary diagnostic studies and prescribe the correct treatment.

The video in this article will help you understand the basic recommendations for the treatment of night cough attacks in children of various ages.

Folk ways to correct night cough

Alternative methods of treating cough attacks are often used and are quite effective. But before using them, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Not all folk methods may be suitable for cough therapy in childhood.

Compresses have a good effect. They can be cold, hot, warming. They can be applied to the throat, trachea, lungs and bronchi. You should be careful and avoid getting a compress on the heart area.

The compress can be made on the basis of essential oils, which include lavender, eucalyptus, fir and pine. At the same time, the compress has not only a local effect. Vapors of essential oils facilitate the process of breathing at night, which prevents coughing attacks.

Ginger is considered an excellent traditional medicine. It can be added to tea, make various infusions. Effective infusion of ginger with lemon. To prepare it, two tablespoons of ginger, which are crushed with a grater, are mixed with a few slices of lemon and poured with hot water. Leave for two hours, after which they give the child a drink before bedtime.

Various herbal decoctions and infusions are used to correct attacks of nocturnal cough. One of the medicinal plants, which is highly effective in the treatment of cough, is sage. Based on it, you can prepare a decoction, which is diluted with warm milk. This drink can be given to the child at bedtime.

Herbal decoctions - an effective remedy for coughing

Preventive measures

In order to improve the health of the child, it is necessary to follow preventive measures. It is important to strengthen the immune system - the pediatrician can prescribe immunomodulatory drugs and vitamins that enhance the body's natural defenses. This will help the child resist illness.

Also important points are compliance with sleep and activity, hardening, moderate physical activity. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the children's room, monitor the level of humidity. If the child is predisposed to allergies, it is necessary to limit his contact with possible allergens.

Preventive measures will reduce the child's susceptibility to various diseases. Children at any age will get sick less and please their parents with good health and good mood.