by Ashley Thompson

Created on: July 17, 2008

Most new mother's have contemplated calling the doctor over simple but sometimes scary symptoms.
Most coughs are innocent and do not warrant a call. For a new parent, distinguishing between a simple "clearing the throat" and a possible dangerous cough can be daunting.

There are many reasons for a cough. Coughing is a reflex which can be triggered by a variety of factors such as dry air, postnasal drip, aspiration, and allergy.

A frequent dry cough with no other symptoms usually constitutes a dry throat. Using the central heating unit dries the air thereby drying an infants airways. A quick fix involves using a cheap humidifier or simply dressing an infant warmly and turning the central heat off for the night. Keep in mind that children and adults alike breath easier in cooler air. This is especially true with asthmatic children.

A loose cough with no other symptoms can indicate an upper respiratory infection but usually is related to allergy. As long as the child has no fever, increasing fluid intake can relieve the cough. Older children with a loose cough should be encouraged to practice deep breathing coughing exercises which involves taking 3 slow, deep breathes followed by hunching over, spreading the shoulder blades apart and forcefully coughing to expel sputum.

Although most parents are usually conscious of what their children are putting in their mouths,
it is best to rule out choking as a cause of the cough. This may be difficult with an infant but an older child should be able to indicate if he is choking.

Small children will frequently cough when drinking fluids too quickly. Insure that the child clears the aspiration and does not continue to cough.

A tight cough, resembling a seal bark is always a signal to notify the doctor. This type of cough usually indicates a condition known as strider in which the airways are constricted. In some cases this is called croup.

Parents should be aware of signs and symptoms of infection such as green nasal drainage, fever greater than 100 degrees, rapid respirations, or audible wheezing. Instincts should always be trusted. When in doubt, call the doctor.

Remember never to administer an over the counter medication to a child without first consulting the doctor. Several cough and cold remedies are no longer available for children, for this reason alone, most parents should contact the doctor if the cough does not subside with the above home remedies.

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