HealthInfo Canterbury

Cough in children

Coughs are very common in tamariki (children), especially preschoolers. Tamariki will often cough for three weeks or more after a simple cold.

There are two main types of coughs:

• a dry, tickly cough
• a chesty cough that brings up mucus (sputum or phlegm).

Common causes include:

• a viral infection such as a cold, croup, flu or bronchiolitis
• asthma – an asthma cough usually occurs at night or with sport
• whooping cough – the coughing is in fits and followed by a whooping noise
• second-hand cigarette smoke.

Helping your child when they have a cough

You can treat most coughs at home.

• If your tamaiti (child) is over 1 year old, you can give them a warm drink of lemon and honey to soothe their throat.
• You shouldn't give over-the-counter cough medicines to tamariki children under 6 years old, and you should only give them to older tamariki with the advice of your pharmacist or GP.
• Encourage hand washing.
• Teach your tamariki to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their arm (but not their hand) when they sneeze or cough and then to wash their hands afterwards.
• Keeping your home warm and dry and being smokefree also help to stop your tamariki from getting colds.

Getting help for your child with a cough

If your tamaiti child is eating, drinking and breathing normally, they probably don't need to see a doctor.

As most coughs are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't help and may cause side effects.

You should take your tamaiti to see a doctor if:

• they're having trouble breathing
• they have wheezing or whistling in their chest
• they have a high fever
• their cough has lasted more than 4 weeks
• you're worried that something is wrong.

  HealthInfo recommends the following videos

• Ministry of Health – Cough-free, the way to be

  The video talks about how to recognise a chronic persistent wet cough, and what you should do about it.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Asthma and Respiratory Foundation – What is a chronic persistent wet cough?

  A factsheet about chronic persistent wet cough.

• KidsHealth – Cough in children

  Information about coughs in tamariki.

• Starship Foundation & Asthma and Respiratory Foundation – Does your child cough?

  Explains about the different types of coughs, common causes and when to take your tamaiti to see a doctor.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 47569

Review key: HICGC-13294