What Kind of Cough is That?
It is actually possible to tell a lot just from the sound of a cough. Asthma, bacterial illnesses and viral infection in children often produce recognizable types of cough.
1. Dry Cough:
A dry, hacking cough is most often caused by a viral infection in children, such as a cold or the flu. It will often be accompanied by a stuffed up or runny nose, a sore throat, or a slight fever.
2. Wet Cough:
A wet sounding cough is also a sign of infection, but it could be a bacterial infection rather than a viral one. A wet cough that is very severe, persistent, or which results in phlegm being coughed up is a sign that you should take your child to the doctor. It could be caused by a chest infection that requires antibiotic treatment.
3. Barking Cough at Night:
Croup is very common in children under the age of five. It is a very distinctive cough that is easy to recognize once you have heard it. Your child will make a sound a bit like the barking of a seal as he or she inhales before a cough. The cough usually happens at night and it is most often caused by a viral infection in children. The infection can cause the lining of the trachea to become swollen, narrowing the airway. Many parents find that sitting in a steamy bathroom or using a humidifier can help.
4. Whooping Cough:
Another distinctive sounding cough that is rarely heard in the UK today is whooping cough. It is a loud cough followed by a whooping sound as your child gasps for breath. Whooping cough or pertussis is a bacterial infection that can also cause other symptoms such as a runny nose or a fever. Your baby will be vaccinated against pertussis, but you should still see your doctor if you hear a cough like this, just in case.
5. Wheezing Cough:
Coughs that are accompanied by wheezing can be caused by a viral infection in children, but they may also be a sign of asthma. If you hear your child wheezing, you should see your doctor as both of these conditions can be serious in young children.
A dry, hacking cough is most often caused by a viral infection in children, such as a cold or the flu. It will often be accompanied by a stuffed up or runny nose, a sore throat, or a slight fever.
2. Wet Cough:
A wet sounding cough is also a sign of infection, but it could be a bacterial infection rather than a viral one. A wet cough that is very severe, persistent, or which results in phlegm being coughed up is a sign that you should take your child to the doctor. It could be caused by a chest infection that requires antibiotic treatment.
3. Barking Cough at Night:
Croup is very common in children under the age of five. It is a very distinctive cough that is easy to recognize once you have heard it. Your child will make a sound a bit like the barking of a seal as he or she inhales before a cough. The cough usually happens at night and it is most often caused by a viral infection in children. The infection can cause the lining of the trachea to become swollen, narrowing the airway. Many parents find that sitting in a steamy bathroom or using a humidifier can help.
4. Whooping Cough:
Another distinctive sounding cough that is rarely heard in the UK today is whooping cough. It is a loud cough followed by a whooping sound as your child gasps for breath. Whooping cough or pertussis is a bacterial infection that can also cause other symptoms such as a runny nose or a fever. Your baby will be vaccinated against pertussis, but you should still see your doctor if you hear a cough like this, just in case.
5. Wheezing Cough:
Coughs that are accompanied by wheezing can be caused by a viral infection in children, but they may also be a sign of asthma. If you hear your child wheezing, you should see your doctor as both of these conditions can be serious in young children.