How long does a child's cough last when he has a cold?

Cough is quite often a residual symptom of a cold or ARVI in both adults and children. There are cases when such a symptom is observed 3 or even 4 weeks after the disease was seemingly cured. So that you don’t worry about this symptom and know how to deal with it correctly, let’s look at the reasons why a cough after a cold may not go away for a long time, and how to get rid of it with medication or folk remedies.

Causes

It’s not difficult to figure out why the cold goes away but the cough persists. The fact is that during an illness, microbes greatly damage the mucous membrane of the throat, and it needs some time to recover. The respiratory tract during this period is most sensitive to various irritants. Coughing attacks in such a situation can be caused by any factor, be it tobacco smoke, dust, allergen, even too cold or too dry air.

In this case, the cough itself usually remains dry, with slight sputum production possible. Sometimes patients just feel a slight sore throat.

In most cases, such a cough does not indicate the formation of any illness; if it occurs without additional symptoms, for example, fever, there is no need to worry about it, you need to calmly continue the treatment prescribed by specialists. If there is general weakness of the body, fever or other manifestations characteristic of acute or chronic diseases, a person should consult a doctor as quickly as possible.

Possible diseases

In some cases, a cough that remains after a cold may be associated with another illness. This disease may be:

• bronchitis, including chronic;
• pneumonia;
• chronic tonsillitis;
• tracheitis;
• adenoiditis;
• whooping cough.

Some of the above-mentioned diseases are possible complications that are observed with acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, which were treated incorrectly.

In most cases, they can be avoided by contacting a doctor for a re-examination after completing the main course of treatment.

Features of cough during colds and flu

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) provoke a dry, unproductive cough that is not accompanied by sputum production.

When infected with the influenza virus, the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract (nasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, bronchi) is affected. Inflammation of the respiratory system causes pain and dryness of the throat, cough and runny nose. The cause of the cough reflex is also irritation of the posterior wall of the larynx, on which the so-called cough zones are located.

Viral infections are characterized by an acute cough that lasts no more than 3 weeks. If the symptom persists in the future, this may indicate a post-infectious cough (its duration is up to 8 weeks) or complications of the disease (bronchitis, pneumonia, damage to the cardiovascular system).

Drug treatment

If the cough is not associated with any serious disease, but is simply a residual phenomenon, it is usually treated with the use of mucolytics, as well as expectorants. As part of this therapy, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes can also be used for people with reduced immunity, which help the body recover faster from an illness. To relieve a sore throat, patients are prescribed lozenges.

They may also be prescribed various physical therapy. procedures, including UV irradiation or electrophoresis. The treatment period for such a residual symptom can be up to 1.5 months.

In cases where a cough indicates the presence of a chronic or acute disease, doctors can prescribe therapy aimed at treating just such an illness. Treatment of cough as a symptom in this case will be more likely to be accompanying than the main one.

Cough treatment

How to treat colds and coughs? To answer this question, you need to be aware of the following general recommendations:

• Maintaining bed rest (especially if the temperature has risen high), avoiding physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and having a positive emotional background.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Moreover, you can drink not only mineral water, but also teas, compotes and decoctions.
• Easily digestible food containing large amounts of vitamins.
• Control the humidity level in the room. It should be at least 70 percent, and the air temperature should be within 20 degrees.
• Nasal rinsing, for which you can use a saline solution (0.5 teaspoon of salt per glass of water).
• Wearing clothing that is appropriate for temperature conditions.

Under no circumstances should you allow:

• sudden temperature changes in the room;
• inhalation of dust or any chemicals by the patient;
• hypothermia.

It is better to eat in small portions - at least four times a day (more often). If there is no appetite, the patient should not be forced to eat.

Treatment of cough due to a cold involves facilitating the production of sputum, which requires drinking plenty of fluids and moistening the air space.

Among the medications, when the accumulated secretion is difficult to remove, the following are prescribed:

• Mucolytics - like Ambroxol or Acetylcysteine;
• Expectorants, like Thermopsis or Pectolvan.

But you need to know some important rules before taking such medications:

• In case of an initially productive cough, mucolytics with expectorants, as a rule, are not prescribed, since they will cause more sputum to be produced and the cough impulses will become stronger.
• The effectiveness of mucolytics increases if the sputum is viscous in consistency. But children under two years of age cannot be treated with these drugs, since their cough impulses are weak.

As for antitussive drugs (such as, for example, Sinekod), they are allowed to be taken only in some cases, if the cough process does not contribute to the performance of evacuation functions (for laryngitis or whooping cough) and seriously impairs the quality of life.

Only coughs that are dry in nature can be suppressed. If you suppress a productive cough, sputum will gradually accumulate in the lower respiratory tract and complications will begin to develop.

Do not try to diagnose yourself and, especially, decide how to treat a dry or wet cough for a cold by prescribing certain medications. It is especially impossible to take such powerful drugs as antibiotics without a preliminary examination and a doctor’s prescription.

Even if green sputum appears, this is not an accurate symptom of a bacterial infection. Additional tests will be needed to confirm, including a blood test and a chest x-ray. Only a qualified physician can decide on the need for etiotropic therapy and determine what medications will need to be used in this case.

Green sputum when coughing suggests a bacterial infection.

What do you need to know during treatment?

You should know that a cough can be:

• dry – unproductive – when no sputum is produced during the process;
• wet - productive - when a certain amount of sputum is released.

We also recommend: How long does the temperature last for a cold?

The dry appearance, in turn, can be:

• "barking";
• paroxysmal.

The “barking” reflex is caused by laryngitis, when the larynx becomes inflamed, or pharyngitis, when the back of the larynx becomes inflamed. It is accompanied by an unpleasant sore throat, “shrinkage” of the voice, and excessive stimulation of cough receptors (caused by edematous processes).

Laryngitis is effectively treated with inhaled Budesonide. Pharyngitis in the acute phase is treated with decongestants, bactericidal and antibacterial agents that lubricate the mucous membrane and prevent it from drying out.

In general, it is logical to fight a “barking” cough by inhibiting the general cough center (located in the medulla oblongata) and reducing the sensitivity of the respiratory mucosa to certain irritants. Such inhibition is possible due to drugs containing codeine (for example, prescription Codterpine), Tusuprex, Paxeladine, and so on. Reducing sensitivity is possible with the help of the drug Libexin.

But you should not take mucolytics, as they will only irritate the mucous membrane.

In treatment, much depends on the form and nature of the disease. For example, acute pharyngitis can and should be treated with medications based on iodine. But in the chronic form of the same disease, such drugs are no longer suitable, since they will dry out the mucous membrane. In this case, you should not gargle with a soda solution (for the same reason that drugs with iodine are not taken). And antitussive lozenges and all kinds of pastilles will only slightly ease throat pain, without really curing anything.

Nasal drops that treat a runny nose should also not be overused, since they pass from the nasal cavity through the pharynx, often causing irritation and inflammation there. It is also better to avoid medications made with alcohol.

Forms of chronic pharyngitis can be:

• hypertrophic - viscous mucus accumulates in the throat, causing irritation and preventing coughing;
• atrophic - the mucous membrane of the pharynx dries out, a feeling of soreness and scratching occurs.

Dry cough is sometimes treated with opioid medications, the main active ingredient of which is dextromethorphan. These could be Glycodin or Alex Plus - completely harmless drugs that do not have narcotic or hypnotic effects.

Other drugs prescribed to treat coughs contain codeine. But they can have many side effects. These are Codterpin, Codelac and so on. As a rule, they can be purchased at a pharmacy only if you have an appropriate prescription from a doctor.

Cough causes a lot of discomfort to the patient and therefore requires treatment.

In general, it is advisable for you to ask the doctor you visit for an examination about how to treat a severe cough during a cold.

ethnoscience

Folk recipes against such a residual phenomenon can also be effective. For a prolonged cough that is not accompanied by symptoms of other diseases, you should use:

• Black radish juice. Getting it is extremely simple: you will need to take one black radish, cut off the top, cut out a little pulp to make a small depression. You will need to pour honey into this depression, and then cover it all with the remaining radish tail. After some time, the fruit will give juice, and you will need to drink this juice three times a day, a teaspoon. It is recommended to do this an hour before meals.
• Figs in milk. To prepare this remedy you will need 3 white figs. They will need to be poured with milk and boiled. Then the resulting medicine must be allowed to brew. You need to drink this medicine several times a day, warming it up before use.
• Warming compresses. For them, you can use either ordinary badger fat or special warming ointments. Using such compresses is very simple: you will need to rub your feet with oil, wrap them in wax paper, and also put warm socks on them. Also, as part of the treatment, you will need to rub the chest with the same composition, covering it with a scarf after that. It is better to make such compresses in the evening, after which it is advisable to immediately go to bed.
• Herbal inhalations. These can be made using string or eucalyptus. To carry them out at home, you just need to steam a small amount of medicinal herb in a saucepan with boiling water, and then inhale its vapors for 10-15 minutes daily. If you are allergic to medicinal herbs, you can use regular boiled potatoes for this purpose.

If you use such remedies to treat your cough and do not see any improvement a month after starting treatment, be sure to consult a doctor. Perhaps the cause of such a residual phenomenon requires serious drug treatment, as is the case with chronic bronchitis or tonsillitis.

Efficiency of inhalations

To remove cough, it is preferable to carry out moist warm inhalations rather than hot steam. Such manipulations have a beneficial effect on the condition of the mucous membrane, which requires special attention to recover from illness. They help remove mucus from the bronchi and in addition moisturize the bronchial passages.

To prepare a solution for inhalation, the following components are used:

1. Herbal infusions. The most suitable: chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula. The liquid should be no more than 40 degrees.
2. Saline. It has proven itself in the treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx, lungs, and bronchi. This occurs due to its amazing moisturizing of the nasopharynx and facilitating the removal of mucus from the bronchi. The solution is administered using a compressor or ultrasonic nebulizer.

After the thermal inhalation procedure, the child should not go out into the cold air for some time; a sharp change in temperature will cancel the result of the procedure, and in some cases may even worsen it.

Following these simple rules and procedures allows you to quickly get rid of the residual effects of the disease. If you let the situation take its course, the process may drag on and lead to complications or relapse of the disease.

The mucous membrane of the respiratory system in children becomes weakened after a cold or ARVI, so very often a residual cough occurs after an illness. It exhausts the child and torments the entire family with sleepless nights for several weeks. However, the danger lies elsewhere: it is extremely important not to confuse a residual cough with pneumonia or another complication.

Residual cough in medicine is a cough that continues for some time after a cold, viral infection, or bronchopulmonary diseases.

On a note!

Residual cough in a child after ARVI can be considered protracted if it is observed for a month or more.

Sometimes a prolonged cough hides other causes:

• relapse of the inflammatory process in the body or infection;
• foreign body;
• gastroesophageal reflux (stomach disease, which is extremely rare).

In addition, a lingering cough can appear as a result of a reaction of the respiratory system to excessively cold air, a stressful situation, an allergic reaction to pet hair, cigarette smog, or dust.

Prevention

To prevent a cough after a cold from bothering you, in many cases it is enough just to follow simple preventive measures, namely:

• Strictly follow all doctor's instructions for treating colds or acute respiratory viral infections. If there is such a need, visit a physical therapist. procedures, as well as strictly adhere to the medication regimen.
• Do not self-medicate, as it most often leads to the formation of such residual effects. In any case, it is recommended to seek help from specialists.
• Give up bad habits, especially smoking. This will need to be done at least for the period of treatment for a cold. It must be remembered that smoking irritates the mucous membrane of the throat, preventing it from fully recovering from an illness.
• Monitor the humidity level in the room. Remember that dry air can also trigger a cough. Especially control this issue during the heating season.
• Strengthen the body. To completely get rid of cough, you should undergo vitamin therapy. Moderate physical activity will also be beneficial.

If a cough after a cold is a frequent residual phenomenon for you, you need to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination, notifying him of this feature of your body. He will be able to select special preventive medications for you that will allow you to avoid such a problem in the future.

Medicinal properties of Kalanchoe

Nebulizer inhalation for coughs in children - how effective this method is and how the procedure is carried out is described here.

Treatment of granulosa pharyngitis //drlor.online/zabolevaniya/gortani-glotki-bronxov/faringit/granuleznyj-prichiny-i-lechenie.html

How long can a child’s cough with ARVI last?

The main signs of a cold are cough, runny nose and sore throat. Coughing is a reflex act during which a jerky release of air occurs with a sharp contraction of the respiratory muscles. When the receptors in the larynx, trachea and bronchi are irritated, a cough occurs.

Severe cough due to cold

Clearing the airways is the main purpose of coughing. The airways can be cleared of secretions and inhaled particles only by coughing. Cough can be pathological and physiological.

A physiological cough clears phlegm, crumbs, and other particles from the respiratory tract that end up in the throat or nose. A physiological cough is short-lived and is not accompanied by other symptoms of a cold.

Pathological cough has a varied nature, and it can be very difficult to understand why it arose. A severe cough due to a cold lasts from one week to two months. If a cough produces phlegm, it is called productive. If sputum is not coughed up, the cough is considered dry.

Coughing up blood with a cold

You should not immediately sound the alarm if blood is found in the sputum. Blood particles are a sign of minor bleeding in the smallest vessels of the bronchi.

In order to exclude the presence of serious diseases, you need to see a doctor and get an x-ray of the lungs. If coughing up blood due to a cold begins suddenly, and there is a lot of blood, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Dry cough with a cold

When you have a cold, the cough is dry at first, but after a few days it becomes wet.

If a person has pneumonia, then a dry cough is accompanied by a high temperature, the person experiences pain when breathing, and lacks air.

With laryngitis, the cough is dry, the person’s voice is hoarse, sometimes he even loses it, and the temperature rises. Whooping cough is characterized by a convulsive cough, which is combined with respiratory noise and lack of air.

A dry cough during a cold irritates the airways. It worsens at night and in the evening, in some cases it prevents sleep.

Treatment for colds and coughs

In order to quickly get rid of a cough, you need to go to a good doctor and pick up medications that will help in a particular case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ime54tyUv3k

Treatment for colds and coughs primarily involves drinking plenty of fluids. Water stabilizes the water balance disturbed by the disease and thins sputum. For sore throat, pharyngitis and cough, you need to drink mineral water, for example, Borjomi. You need to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially oranges and bananas.

How long does a cough last for a cold?

A cold usually lasts no more than ten days, but it is difficult to say how long a cough during a cold lasts. It all depends on the specific situation. Residual effects may last a month or longer.

Colds are most often caused by viruses; nowadays there are more than 200 of them. How long a cold will disrupt our plans depends on the type of virus that was caught.

How to treat a cough with a cold?

When the flu and cold begin to subside, a productive cough appears, which begins to produce sputum. Warm drinks help remove phlegm: fruit drinks, soups, broths, teas, compotes and milk.

The room where the sick person is located should be humid.

In order to obtain a normal level of humidity, you need to turn on a special humidifier or place a wet cloth on the radiator (in the warm season).

How to treat a cough with a cold? Nonproductive cough is treated with antitussives. In fact, it is not treated, but simply stops so that the person can sleep or eat. The best way to make a dry cough is to make it wet, and this can also be achieved by drinking plenty of fluids and using various expectorants.

Antibiotic for colds and coughs

If a child is sick, then antibiotics can only be given with the permission of a doctor, and it is best to administer them intramuscularly. Also, an antibiotic for colds and coughs can be of natural origin.

Raspberries contain salicylic acid, which helps relieve coughs and reduce fever. Garlic eliminates coughs and colds, and also lowers blood pressure. Garlic should not be consumed if a person has diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidneys.

Viburnum is a powerful antiseptic that helps with sore throat, cough, colds, pneumonia and bronchitis.

Colds and coughs during pregnancy

Pregnant women should not be treated with conventional tablets, as they may affect the development of the fetus. What to do if you catch a cold and cough during pregnancy? You can treat with honey.

Honey's composition resembles human blood plasma and is a strong antibiotic. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.

Onions are considered a good antiseptic and antibiotic, which quickly eliminates runny nose and cough.

A pregnant woman should remember that traditional medicine is not food and cannot be consumed in unlimited quantities. Honey, for example, can cause a rash, garlic can cause a stomach ache, and onions can cause high blood pressure.

Cough with colds in children

All respiratory diseases are accompanied by a cough. Either the bronchi, trachea, or larynx are affected.

A large number of medications are sold in pharmacies, but how to choose a good remedy to cure coughs and colds in children. To do this, you must first show the child to the pediatrician.

The doctor will determine the location of the infection and prescribe appropriate medications. Without listening to the respiratory system, nothing can be prescribed.

For whooping cough and pleurisy, medications are used that block the cough reflex. “Codeine”, “Dimemorphan”, “Ethylmorphine” are considered narcotic drugs, so you can’t just buy them in a pharmacy, only with a prescription. The doctor prescribes narcotic drugs as a last resort, when a dry cough exhausts the child’s body so much that he no longer has the strength to endure it.

For a dry cough that accompanies influenza, pleurisy, whooping cough and other diseases, non-narcotic antitussives may be prescribed. Drugs such as Glaucin, Butamirate and Okseladin are not addictive and do not suppress cough centers in the brain, so they are sold without a doctor’s prescription.

Most often, expectorants are prescribed for coughs, which thin and remove mucus. It is important to remember that expectorants cannot be combined with cough blockers, because this can lead to stagnation of sputum.

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Swelling due to a cold

Cold patch

Colds in adults

Cold runny nose

Weakness with a cold

Source: https://orz.lesovir-c.com/skolko-mozhet-dlitsja-kashel-u-rebenka-pri-orvi/

conclusions

As you can see, cough is a fairly common residual phenomenon after colds. Its appearance is due to the weakening of the protective functions of the throat mucosa after the disease and is rarely associated with other ailments (however, these can occur). In most cases, such a symptom should not cause concern to the patient; a cough can be cured with medications or folk remedies, following the doctor’s instructions given during a cold. If the cough is accompanied by any additional symptoms, you need to undergo a re-examination by doctors and select the right treatment regimen.

Symptoms

Flu symptoms develop spontaneously. The main signs of infection include:

• fever (body temperature reaches +38… +40 °C);
• severe dry cough, difficulty breathing, a sore feeling in the chest after a coughing attack;
• aches in muscles and joints;
• headache, dizziness;
• soreness and dryness in the throat;
• redness of the eyes;
• runny nose;
• weakness, lack of appetite;
• other symptoms (tachycardia, hemorrhages, diarrhea).

Based on the severity of the flu, it is divided into three forms:

1. Easy. It occurs with inflammation of the nasopharynx, but does not provoke copious mucus secretion from the nasal passages and an intense dry cough. The patient's body temperature does not exceed 38 °C.
2. Moderate weight. Moderate flu occurs with profuse nasal discharge, headaches and abdominal pain, and frequent dry cough that irritates the sore throat and larynx. Unlike the mild form of the disease, it is accompanied by characteristic signs of influenza infection - aching joints, severe weakness in the body and fever (+38 ... +39 ° C).
3. Heavy. In severe cases of influenza, signs of a viral infection include nausea, vomiting, nosebleeds, confusion, and convulsions.

Treatment with folk remedies

Among other things, cough can also be treated with folk remedies, but be careful what you use. It is possible that some products are contraindicated for you personally or may cause an allergic reaction. It is imperative to consult with a specialist to avoid possible troubles.

1. Steam inhalations based on herbs. Allows you to achieve an expectorant effect.
2. Gargling with decoctions of medicinal plants that help clear the respiratory tract of mucus.
3. Vegetable syrups, using water with soda and salt.
4. Black radish, tea with lemon and honey, figs with milk - all these products also help get rid of cough.

Steam inhalation allows you to achieve an excellent expectorant effect

Treatment of cough in an adult, as a rule, does not last very long if it is initially correctly prescribed and carefully followed by the patient. If the disease does not go away and your health only worsens, seek medical help immediately.

The main signs of a cold are cough, runny nose and sore throat. Coughing is a reflex act during which a jerky release of air occurs with a sharp contraction of the respiratory muscles. When the receptors in the larynx, trachea and bronchi are irritated, a cough occurs.

Drugs for treatment

Treatment of a runny nose and cough consists of symptomatic therapy, which may include drugs for local and internal use. Before taking any cough medicine, it is important to determine whether your cough is dry (non-productive) or wet (productive).

For a dry, debilitating cough with sputum that is difficult to separate, it is recommended to use mucolytics and expectorants. Such medications are produced in the form of tablets, syrups, lozenges or solutions for inhalation. Good results can be obtained from drugs such as:

• Lozenges or syrup Doctor Mom.
• Sinekod.
• Lazolvan.
• Ambroxol.
• Bromhexine.

Such medications may contain synthetic substances or herbal components that can reduce inflammation in the tissues of the bronchi, thin the mucus, and accelerate its release to the outside. The course of taking cough medicine can take up to 10 days. The dose is set individually for each patient.

If you have a wet cough, you have less to worry about. Most often, its appearance indicates recovery. To treat a wet cough, antitussive drugs may be prescribed:

• Tusin.
• Overslept.
• Libexin.

Any drug used in cough therapy should be prescribed by a doctor, who will select the necessary doses and give useful recommendations for treatment.

When counteracting a cough, you should not forget about a runny nose, which causes no less trouble, worsens the quality of life, and, if present for a long time, even provokes complications. Vasoconstrictor, antiviral or antibacterial drugs can be used to treat a runny nose.

In practice, nasal drops or sprays with a vasoconstrictor effect are most often used:

• Galazolin.
• Xylene.
• Sanorin.
• Vibrocil.
• Nazivin.
• Otrivin.

Any drug from the group of vasoconstrictors should be used after studying the instructions for no more than 5 to 7 days.

Rinsing the nasal mucosa will help cope with the symptoms of a runny nose. The following can be used as a medicinal drug:

• Salin.
• Otrivin.
• Aqualor.
• Aquamaris.
• Dolphin.

The procedure for washing the nasal mucosa interacts well with other drugs, allows you to clean the nasal passages, relieve inflammation, eliminate swelling, and moisturize the nasal cavity.

If symptoms do not go away within 5 days, there is a risk of complications, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. The choice of any antibacterial drug should always remain with the attending physician.

A cough is a reason to see a doctor

Cough is a very common symptom. Very often it is combined with other symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, sore throat or chest pain. In such cases, we usually resort to medical help in a timely manner.

But in other cases, cough may be the only symptom: other symptoms are completely absent or appear vaguely. And then the illusion arises that there is nothing serious and you don’t need to see a doctor. In this case, the cough is often chronic, since it is the chronic cough that, as a rule, acts as an isolated symptom.

This is a dangerous misconception. Since many serious diseases (tumors, lung cancer) in the initial stages can only manifest themselves as a cough. In case of heart failure, the patient may complain of cough and not pay attention to other symptoms (shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, hypertension). Therefore, if the cough does not leave you for several weeks ( cough for more than a month

– this is already a lingering cough) or if you notice
an increase in cough in the morning or at night
, be sure to consult a doctor.

If your child coughs, take him to the doctor. Children's immunity is weaker than that of an adult, so more sensitive monitoring is required over the child's health. Perhaps the child is simply clearing his throat (a healthy child can cough up to 10-15 times a day - this is how his body clears the airways of dust and germs), or maybe he develops an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx or nasal breathing is impaired..