Less commonly, it may be something that requires emergency treatment.
This article explains the most common types of childhood coughs.
If your child’s cough is frequentmore than every five minutes for more than two hourscall your pediatrician.
Verywell / JR Bee
Why do children cough more at night?
Children and adults often cough more at night.
There are a few reasons why.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that causes a particular throw in of cough.
People of any age can get whooping cough, but it is most serious for children younger than 1-year-old.
Infants can die from whooping cough.
However, infants with pertussis do not always have a cough.
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to ensure your baby getsa pertussis vaccine.
The combination vaccine can be given starting at 2 months old.
Adults should get a booster (Tdap)especially if they are pregnant or have young children at home.
Coughing With Vomiting
Sometimes coughing is accompanied by vomiting.
This can happen when a severe cough triggers the gag reflex.
It can also happen when your child swallows too much mucus, causing nausea.
Coughing With Fever
Many of the conditions that cause a cough also cause a fever.
A mild fever is common in children who have the common cold, for example.
Ask your child’s healthcare provider before giving one of these medications to a child younger than 2.
Can Vick’s VapoRub help a child’s cough?
Vicks VapoRubcan be used if your child is at least 2 years old.
When your child coughs, you’ll be able to hear the fluid moving in their airways.
Usually, the fluid has drained from the head or isphlegmthat’s being made in the respiratory tract.
The common cold and the flu are common causes of wet coughs in kids.
These illnesses are usually not serious, and your child can be cared for at home.
Is My Child’s Cough COVID-19?
If your child’s cough from COVID lasts longer than three weeks, call their pediatrician.
If your child getssevere pneumonia, they might need to be treated in the hospital.
Croup is most common in younger children.
Croup usually starts or gets worse at night.
First, take them to the bathroom and turn on the hot water in the shower.
Let the room steam up, and sit in it for about 15 minutes.
You may want to try reading to them to help pass the time.
Cool air can also help ease a croup cough.
The ER staff may also want to observe them for a short time before you could return home.
Wheezing Cough
A child’s cough is not alwayswheezing, even if it sounds like it.
People often confuse the term “wheezing” with the normal sounds acongestedchild makes when they breathe.
True wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound a child makes when they’re breathing out.
If your child is coughing and wheezing, you’ll want to call your pediatrician.
If your child is having a hard time breathing, take them to the ER.
If your child has asthma and iscoughing and wheezing, follow your family’s asthma action plan.
Should I Give My Child Cough Medicine?
Never give a child OTC medicines that are meant to be taken by adults.
If in doubt, call your child’s healthcare provider.
There are different types of coughs that kids can get.
Childrens Health.What your child’s cough is telling you.
2021;118(37):e2018486118.
2019;29(1):30-39. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0281
Nemours KidsHealth.Coughing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of whooping cough.
2021;2(3):e12467.
2021;30(159):200384. doi:10.1183/16000617.0384-2020
Bower J, McBride JT.Croup in children (acute laryngotracheobronchitis).
In:Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases.
doi:10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00061-8
Cedars-Sinai.Croup in children.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Should you give kids medicine for coughs and colds?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Use caution when giving cough and cold products to kids.
