Cough in children

Introduction Cough in children is a symptom. It is a protective reflex action. It coughs out foreign substances, irritating gases, respiratory secretions and other substances that stimulate the respiratory mucosa. Coughing is often accompanied by sputum. Pediatric cough can be caused by a variety of diseases and needs to be carefully identified. More common in preschool children <5 years old. The cough caused by upper respiratory tract infection is mostly a irritating cough, like throat itching, innocent; no day or night, no asthma or rapid breathing.

Cause

Respiratory infections and cough after infection: Many pathogenic microorganisms such as B. pertussis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, viruses (especially respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, giant cell inclusion body virus), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia, etc., are chronic cough in children. Common reasons.

an examination

Related inspection

Air function test for children with pulmonary function test

The baby is lethargic, runny nose, sometimes accompanied by fever, body temperature does not exceed 38 ° C; poor spirit, loss of appetite, sweating and fever, the symptoms disappear, cough still lasts 3-5 days. Acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis). It is characterized by paroxysmal sputum cough and chicken-like inhalation snoring. The course of the disease can last from 2 to 3 months, hence the name of whooping cough.

Cough caused by bronchitis: Bronchitis usually occurs after a cold and is caused by a bacterial infection. Coughing has convulsions, sometimes severe coughing, usually coughing more often at night and coughing. The most powerful time for coughing is two hours after the child falls asleep, or around 6 am. The cough caused by pharyngitis is hoarse, with purulent sputum, and less coughing, most of which are swallowed. Larger babies will complain of sore throat, and babies who do not express themselves often show irritability, refusal to feed, and make an "empty, empty" sound when coughing.

Allergic cough: persistent or recurrent episodes of severe cough, mostly paroxysmal attacks, more obvious in the morning, coughing increases when the baby is active or crying, children sneeze and cough when they encounter cold air, but rarely . Coughing at night is more severe than during the day, and coughing takes a long time, usually lasting 3 months, with more pollen seasons.

Inhalation of foreign body causes cough: If the child has not had symptoms such as coughing, drooling, sneezing or fever, suddenly there is severe coughing, and difficulty in breathing, face is not good, especially for younger children, it may be in adults. When you don't pay attention, put some kind of foreign object into your mouth and accidentally enter the throat or trachea.

Differential diagnosis

(1) Cough with fever: often due to respiratory infection, bronchiectasis and infection, pleurisy.

(2) Cough with chest pain: common in pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchial cancer, spontaneous pneumothorax.

(3) cough with weight loss: cough with weight loss should pay attention to tuberculosis, bronchial cancer (primary lung cancer).

(4) cough with dyspnea: cough with dyspnea is common in severe cardiopulmonary disease, massive pleural effusion, spontaneous pneumothorax.

(5) Cough with clubbing finger: The so-called clubbing refers to the obvious widening and thickening of the terminal knuckles, and the nails are curved from the root to the end. Cough with clubbing can be seen in bronchiectasis, chronic abscess.

(6) cough with wheezing: cough with wheezing can be seen in bronchial asthma, spastic bronchitis, cardiogenic asthma, intratracheal foreign body.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.