A cough is an important signal for parents that something is wrong with the baby. This is a protective mechanism by which the body tries to remove pathogens or mucus from the respiratory tract. If a child coughs in a dream, it’s already possible to assume by the nature of the ailment that the underlying seizures are.
Why does a cough appear?
It is important to understand that you cannot suppress the cough itself, you need to look for the causes of its appearance. Do not hesitate to go to the doctor if the child coughs before bedtime. Only he can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
A dry cough may occur when some kind of respiratory irritant is present. Most often it is caused by viruses and germs, but factors such as dust, animal dander, or tobacco smoke can be causes. A wet cough indicates an excessive amount of sputum.
Causes of night cough
Many parents are very worried about why the child coughs in a dream at night, but is absolutely healthy during the day. This phenomenon can be observed for several reasons.
- ENT diseases. In this case, the cough can be dry and manifest as a tingling or sore throat. In the prone position, mucus enters the larynx, which provokes a reflex cough.
- Bronchial asthma. This disease can worsen at night. The main distinguishing feature is a light whistle when exhaling. Usually it appears closer to the morning, which is associated with increased bronchospasm. Sometimes coughing should be regarded as the equivalent of asthma.
- Reflux of stomach contents. If the child coughs after sleep and at night, and then the baby is worried about heartburn, most likely the problem is the incorrect functioning of the digestive tract.
- Whooping cough. Painful and tormenting coughing episodes usually end in vomiting. The baby's face may turn red during seizures, and her eyes may water.
- Viral infection. At first, the child is bothered by a dry cough, and then it becomes wet.
What to do during an attack?
If a child coughs heavily in a dream, parents can ease his suffering a little. You can offer your baby a warm drink that will slightly reduce irritation and relieve inflammation. Honey, tea with lemon or raspberry helps well.
Nature of cough
To determine whether a cough belongs to a specific disease, the doctor must determine the type of cough. To do this, pay attention to its characteristics:
- Duration
- coughing power;
- time of day when the cough is most severe;
- nature of cough: dry or wet;
- the presence of sputum and its amount;
- timbre of cough;
- other symptoms: runny nose, fever, and wheezing.
How to choose an antitussive?
If a child coughs after sleep or during daytime games, treatment is unlikely to work without treatment. To choose the right drug, you need to deal with the main nuances. It is better to contact a pediatrician who will write down a further plan of action.
When prescribing treatment, the doctor will analyze:
- productivity and intensity of cough;
- the nature of the bronchial secretion, the degree of viscosity;
- age of the child and general condition;
- pharmacological features of various antitussive drugs.
How to treat a cough?
If a child coughs in a dream, care should be taken with combination drugs. They combine components of various actions, so you can not take them without a doctor’s prescription. If a child has allergic reactions, you must definitely inform about it at the reception!
Parents should know that they should not give their child antitussive drugs if they have a wet cough. There more, you do not need to prescribe antibiotics yourself. Uncontrolled intake of such drugs can lead to unpleasant consequences, which will be very difficult to eliminate. Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor after examining the child.
If the child coughs in a dream, you need to look for the cause of this phenomenon. There is absolutely no sense in directly treating a cough; it is only a symptom of the disease.
Folk recipes
A strong night cough can be slightly relieved by folk remedies. In this case, compresses that are cold and hot help well. They are superimposed not only on the throat, but also on the trachea, bronchi and lungs. During the procedure, you need to ensure that the heart area is not affected.
A layer of gauze can be saturated with essential oils: lavender, coniferous or eucalyptus. Compresses that are made on the basis of boiled potatoes also help.
When a child coughs in a dream, he will not be disturbed by the infusion of ginger. Rub it through a grater and mix with lemon. The infusion is aged for several hours. Take it in small quantities at night.
Baths with ginger decoction give a good effect. But they are contraindicated if body temperature is elevated. Their duration should be about 20 minutes.
Rubbing and inhalation
This method can be used when the child is older than six months. For grinding, body fat, special gels and ointments are used. After the procedure, the treated area must be wrapped up in heat.
If the baby coughs before bedtime, sage is used as an expectorant . Based on it, you need to prepare a decoction, which is subsequently diluted with milk. If the child is not allergic, you can add a little honey.
The biggest mistake many parents make is self-medication. Improper therapy can “turn off” the cough center. All antitussive drugs can be given to a baby only as directed by a doctor. The main goal is to convert a non-productive cough into a productive one. Then the respiratory system will be cleaned of mucus and infection.
If you effectively act on the receptors of the mucous membrane and moisturize the airways, then sputum will move away much easier. This can be achieved by inhalation and aerosol. They will relieve irritation of the mucosa and relax the muscles of the bronchi. Inhalations can be done on the basis of herbs or essential oils.
Regardless of why the child coughs in a dream, he needs to be offered plenty of water. It can be tea, compote or plain water. Moisturize the airways drops and sprays in the nose. If the doctor has not prescribed drugs, saline solutions can be used.
Resorption tablets and syrups help to reduce reflex stimulation of cough.
What does Dr. Komarovsky say?
The famous pediatrician Komarovsky recommends that all mothers create optimal conditions for the health of the child. It implies that the room should not be too hot and dry. Temperature values should be no more than 22 degrees of heat, and humidity should be above 60%. The kid needs to be drunk plentifully. If he refuses, drink can be given fractionally.
When a child coughs in a dream, Komarovsky advises monitoring the nature of the cough. If on the third or fourth day it did not become productive, you should definitely consult a doctor. Perhaps, alternative treatment in this case is not enough.