Of course, for any mom, the situation when her child is sick becomes critical. One of the unpleasant manifestations of colds is cough. Moreover, it is often not possible to get rid of it for a long time (2-3 weeks). In this case, this symptom becomes protracted. What is a cough?
Many people know that this is a protective reaction of the body, which helps rid the airways of harmful microbes, mucus, and dust particles.
Of course, such a question is always relevant for parents: “What if the child has a prolonged cough?” It requires detailed analysis.
If you can get rid of the common cold and high temperature in a relatively short time, then the situation is more serious with coughing.
Unfortunately, they have not yet come up with a medicine that in a minute destroys all ailments. Remember that if a child has a lingering cough, then radical methods cannot be used to deal with the problem, otherwise the baby may be harmed. In any case, after the relapse, mothers and fathers already gain minimal experience in deciding how to help the child if he coughs.
However, parents are often worried about this question: “The child does not have a prolonged cough, despite the fact that all the medicines have been tried and managed to get rid of the common cold. How can this be explained? ”
The fact is that there can be several reasons. In this case, you should immediately consult a specialist. He will absolutely demand to be tested - it can be sputum culture or blood sampling, and based on the results he will write you a prescription.
Can not get rid of cough - consult a doctor
Remember: if a child does not have a prolonged cough for a long time, then in no case should you hesitate with treatment. Does the body weakened by the flu continue to attack the infection?
What does it mean? Only one thing: the disease travels to the lungs or bronchi.
Diagnostic Features
To specifically find out which microorganism has become the source of a protracted cough, you should make an appointment with a doctor and pass the necessary tests. Their results will help to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the right medicine. Do not self-medicate if after two weeks your child coughs. In addition to harm, such experiments will not bring anything.
Ordinary people who think about how to cure a prolonged cough in a child do not even suspect what insidious infections (for example, pneumocysts) can become a source of its appearance. Often, the cause of the protective reaction we are considering is caused by several pathogens at once. Ultimately, the disease gives a complication. That is why only a qualified specialist can help in this case, not amateur healers.
Causes
As already emphasized, the causes of prolonged cough in a child are very diverse. One of the main ones is not just a pathogenic bacterium, but a high sensitivity of cough receptors against the background of copious sputum production after acute respiratory viral infections or influenza.
In infants, a prolonged cough can be explained by the elementary penetration of food into the respiratory tract. In this case, a special program is used to normalize the functioning of the latter.
Do not forget that before curing a prolonged cough in a child, and in an adult too, a logical explanation of its appearance should be found.
In some cases, fungal microorganisms enter the child's body - they become the cause of a protracted cough. Infants can easily become infected by their cytomegalovirus from their mothers.
It is also worth mentioning such a dangerous ailment as tuberculosis, which, with complications, can also provoke a prolonged cough. Foreign bodies can enter the respiratory tract - this is also a logical explanation for why the baby can not calm down for a long time. External factors, such as tobacco smoke, cat or dog hair, dust, can also cause a prolonged cough. Specialists identify the causes of a psychogenic nature - depression, stress, nervous tension and so on.
Treatment methods
Today, a huge number of both children and adults with prolonged coughing experience real discomfort. I want to get rid of this symptom as quickly as possible.
It should be noted that the treatment of prolonged cough in children depends on a number of factors, such as diagnosis, duration of the disease, form of the disease (dry or wet cough), and so on.
Currently, many people use alternative medicine (alternative) medicine to eliminate certain diseases. To get rid of a protracted cough, they can also be used, but only as an auxiliary method of treatment. Remember that the diagnosis should be made by a doctor who will recommend the optimal healing system, the requirements of which you must follow.
It is very important to understand that the above reflex reaction of the human body cannot be minimized, since it provides protection, which subsequently leads to recovery. Experts also do not recommend combining antitussive and expectorant drugs in the treatment.
Do not self-medicate
Without the help of a doctor, you can try to get rid of an acute cough only, other variations of this ailment are inappropriate to treat without taking into account the expert opinion. Also, do not forget that any exacerbation of the disease can transform into a chronic pathology.
One of the most common methods of healing from prolonged coughing is physiotherapy, inhalation, homeopathic medicine and massage.
If the ailment in question appeared during a period of acute respiratory viral infections, then you can get rid of it if you use honey in combination with warm milk or radish juice in combination with the same honey.
Inhalation
An effective way to normalize a cough is by inhalation. They should only be cooked using warm water.
It must be emphasized that inhalation is contraindicated for too young children, as there is a high likelihood of airway spasm.
If a child has an allergic reaction to medicinal plants, then aromatic oils will not give the expected result.
It helps to normalize the protective reaction of the body phytosborne in combination with nuts, almonds and figs. As an alternative to the previous remedy, another composition can be recommended: thyme and coltsfoot. Inhalations with honey will help to eliminate phlegm in a short time, but not everyone can use them, since there is a high risk of allergies. During the treatment period, experts recommend giving the baby 2-3 times a day honey in combination with bee honeycombs.
Massage
A prolonged cough in a child will help to eliminate light massage procedures. In this case, the child should be in a head down position. The peanut should be picked up and tilted down, an older child can take this position on his own.
After this, you need to do with a little pressure tapping and patting in the lungs. Thus, you will be able to remove sputum from the walls of the respiratory tract.
The child should drink plenty of fluids
You should know that getting rid of a prolonged cough will be difficult if there is not enough water in the baby's body. Drinking in this case is one of the most effective ways to deal with a non-calming cough. In this case, the liquid should be slightly warm, but in no case hot. Make sure the baby drinks as much compote as possible. Get ready for little kids to be naughty. It is possible that they will have to be forced to drink.
Monitor the humidity level in the room
Control the humidity level in the room. This is an important factor on which the speed of getting rid of the disease in question depends. Consider the fact that dry air contributes to the drying of sputum, and then it is more difficult to remove from the body. To increase humidity, place a wet cloth on the batteries or place several containers filled with water in the room.
Experts classify cough into two types: dry and wet. The first is characterized by the fact that sputum in the respiratory tract has a viscous structure and it is rather difficult to liquefy it. A wet cough is an ailment that is accompanied by problems with removing sputum from the body.
Dry cough treatment
A prolonged dry cough in a child can be eliminated by thinning drugs that affect the cough center.
Doctors prescribe drugs such as Butamirat, Tusuprex, Libexin. The last medicine, by the way, reduces the sensitivity of the mucous membrane in the lungs. Also, experts recommend purchasing the medicine "Delsim". This remedy, as a rule, permanently eliminates dry cough. As an aid to treatment, experts advise using a combination of lemon juice and honey.
Wet Cough Treatment
A prolonged wet cough in a child usually disappears after a complex treatment. In this case, drugs of the mucolytic (excreting) spectrum of action (“Carbocysteine”, “Ambroxol”), inhalation with the content of ammonium chloride or extracts of plants, medicinal herbal preparations are used. And, of course, when treating a wet cough , a child should drink as much fluid as possible.