How to treat a cough in a 6-month-old baby using folk remedies

How to treat a cough in a child under one year old

Many parents do not understand how to treat a cough in a child under one year old. Bronchial spasm is the body’s protective reaction to the ingestion of bacteria and viruses. Therapy for newborns differs from treatment for older children. In order not to harm the baby, you should immediately contact your pediatrician. If your child has a fever, you should call a doctor home.

Causes of cough in a baby

Cough in children under one year of age can occur for several reasons. Sometimes this is due to the physiological structure of the respiratory tract. They are underdeveloped, and due to the regular horizontal position, mucus accumulates in the lungs. The spasm in this case is considered a reflex and should not cause panic among parents.

And not all mothers and fathers understand how to treat a cough if it is caused by harmful microorganisms. Pharmaceutical companies offer few medications for infant patients. Therefore, it is important to accurately establish the diagnosis and find out what caused the cough:

1. Colds (ARVI) - in 85% of cases the cause of the disease lies precisely in this. With coughing there is a runny nose, fever and lack of appetite.
2. Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract - in this case, the newborn baby suffers from a debilitating dry cough. If you do not take action, complications may arise - bronchitis or pneumonia.
3. Drying of the mucous membrane due to excessively dry air in the baby’s room - in this case, there is no need to treat cough in children under one year old. Parents should purchase humidifiers and carefully monitor humidity levels.
4. Ear inflammation – with such diseases, other unpleasant symptoms often occur – headaches, fever and nasal congestion. It is not difficult to determine the presence of the disease; you need to press on the earlobe. If the child begins to cry a lot, then the ear is inflamed and immediate treatment is required. The development of purulent formations will lead to deafness and unbearable pain.
5. Allergic reaction - treatment of dry cough in this case is carried out with antihistamines. It is necessary to correctly calculate the dosage so as not to harm the baby. Allergies can develop to objects surrounding the baby - house flowers, dust, fragrances or fabric softener. We must not forget about down or wool, which is often used as a filler for blankets and pillows.

You can cure a cough using traditional methods or using medications from a pharmacy. Traditional therapy should only be carried out under medical supervision. Unconventional methods are more gentle, but many of them can cause allergies in a tiny patient.

Cough in a newborn 2 months

Children in the first year of life who are breastfed usually have good immunity and very rarely get colds.

But bottle-fed and premature babies often get sick.

Factors that further reduce immunity include rickets, insufficient or excessive weight gain in the child, poor care, rare exposure to fresh air, and heredity.

Treatment of cough in infants: features

The main reasons for coughing in infants:

1. ARVI, the most common symptoms of which are cough, runny nose and fever.
2. Inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are bacterial complications of acute respiratory viral infections and are also manifested by coughing.
3. Polluted air indoors or outdoors, too dry air in the child’s room.
4. A reflex cough that occurs when a foreign body enters the upper respiratory tract. It appears against the background of complete health during meals, especially when eating nuts or dry cookies, as well as when the child plays with a severe coughing attack. Occurs with inflammation of the middle ear due to irritation of the eardrum.

Treatment of cough in children under one year of age depends not only on the causes of the cough, but also on the type of cough. There are the following types:

• dry, unproductive (without sputum production) and wet, productive (with sputum production);
• acute (up to 3 weeks) and chronic;
• constant and short-term, as well as episodic and paroxysmal.

How to treat a cough in an infant?

In infants, treatment of cough, especially with home methods, is possible only in the absence of elevated body temperature. If the temperature is elevated, then treatment of cough in infants is carried out only in the hospital under the supervision of a doctor.

If we are treating a cough without fever in a newborn, then first of all we must take care of the microclimate in the room where the child is. The room must be regularly ventilated - at least 2 times a day, the temperature should be 20-22 degrees, and to increase the air humidity in the room, you can hang a wet diaper or place open containers with water.

To improve coughing, the child is given a light massage of the chest and abdomen. To reduce intoxication and to prevent dehydration, the child is given a sufficient amount of liquid to drink.

Fresh air will be very beneficial for a child with a cough, so you should not avoid walking outside and it is recommended to put your baby to bed on a well-ventilated veranda for a nap, but only at normal body temperature.

If a child has a dry cough, it needs to be made moist, for which compresses are often used.

Medicines for the treatment of cough in the first year of life

For dry cough, drugs are used that suppress cough only when it becomes paroxysmal and risks becoming a harbinger of bronchospasm. Along with them, antiallergic drugs (Diazolin) are prescribed, and, if necessary, hormonal injections.

If the cough is wet, then to facilitate the removal of sputum, they use means to thin it out (Lazolvan, Ambroxol) in children after 3 years of age, as well as sprays, and to remove phlegm they use special massage techniques, teas with chamomile and coltsfoot, compresses and rubbing chest with eucalyptus ointment, mustard plasters through several layers of gauze.

At high temperatures, the doctor prescribes antipyretic drugs. And in case of purulent inflammation, an injection course of broad-spectrum antibiotics (most often from the group of cephalosporins) can be added.

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How to treat a cough in an infant?

When an infant begins to cough, you should not delay it and immediately call a therapist. Please note that everything happens quickly in the body of a small child. A slight inflammation can cause a condition that is dangerous for the baby. Before starting treatment, you need to know what caused the baby’s cough.

Causes of cough in infants

1. Due to acute respiratory viral infection.

2. Due to an allergic reaction.

3. If the laryngeal area is inflamed.

4. When a foreign body entered the respiratory tract, the child choked on liquid or milk.

5. Due to bronchospasm.

Adhering to an infant's cough regimen

It is important that a child who is ill does not overexert himself, plays calmly, and moves moderately. Please note that he should not be allowed to play or spin around; when he moves, the bronchi will be able to quickly clear the mucus that has accumulated in them and the child will be able to recover immediately.

When coughing in infants, it is important to perform a small massage of all vital points; lightly massage the chest and feet. Gently pat or tap, so the phlegm will go away faster; if you are not allergic, you can use a herbal balm.

The child should breastfeed as much as possible; for older children, give warm milk, fruit puree, and jelly. The more the child drinks, the faster a large amount of toxic substances will be released from his body, the sputum will be liquefied and eliminated.

Methods for treating dry cough in an infant

In some situations, it is necessary to take mucolytic and expectorant medications.

Plants such as elecampane, coltsfoot, juice prepared from black radish, plantain help well; it is recommended to add honey to it; you can also treat a cough in a baby with the help of anise seeds.

Medicines based on ivy are valued; the leaves are used for preparation; treatment with Gedelix and Prospan is especially effective.

If a child has difficulty clearing sputum, the therapist prescribes special medications that can be used to remove sputum more easily, so that the cough is moistened and the child feels much better.

The baby can be prescribed mucolytic drugs such as Ambroxol, Lazolvan, Ambrobene. For the first month of life, a child may be prescribed treatment with Ambrohexal, which can quickly remove phlegm and strengthen the immune system.

You can cure a child's cough using inhalation. For this you will need baking soda, Borjomi alkaline mineral water, and potato broth. Hold your baby in your arms over the steam.

Traditional methods of treating cough in an infant

When a child has a high temperature, warming procedures such as mustard plasters and compresses are prohibited. Onions with honey help well; for this, they are first crushed, honey is added, and everything is infused for an hour. The juice must be expressed and the child must be given a coffee spoon.

Herbs for cough for infants

After two months, it is recommended to use a decoction based on plantain, coltsfoot. If the child is already 4 months old, he can be given a decoction, which includes plantain, coltsfoot.

To prepare it, you need to take 250 ml of boiling water, brew the herb in it, and consume it before meals.

This is the best expectorant medicine, please note that the child may often vomit, so you should monitor the dosage.

The roots of marshmallow, elecampane, and licorice have a positive effect on the respiratory organs. The plants are mixed, then you need to pour boiling water, half a liter is enough, leave for 10 hours. The child should consume it three times a day.

Cough compress for babies

If the child is not allergic, you can use a compress with honey; for this you need to prepare a cake with honey, flaxseed oil, and a small amount of flour. Make a dense cake, it should not spread, then apply it to the baby’s chest area. From 6 months you can add a small amount of mustard to the cake.

Potato compresses use goat or badger fat to warm the breast well; gauze must be placed on top.

It is important to follow the rules when making compresses:

1. You must first take the fabric and fold it.

2. Medicine.

3. Place a diaper on top.

4. Polyethylene.

5. Gauze; if not, you can use a diaper.

6. The compress can only be placed on the chest area; it is not recommended on the back to avoid pneumonia.

If you use goat fat, you should rub it not only on the chest area, but also on the feet. This way the phlegm will go away faster. When a child has a dry cough, you need to frequently ventilate the room to humidify the air.

Inhalations for an infant

You can prepare passive inhalation for a two-month-old child, you need to heat the bath with boiling water, the room should be steamed. This type of inhalation is carried out for 10 minutes. If your child does not suffer from allergies, you can add eucalyptus oil.

Rules for treating cough in an infant

1. An infant should not be prevented from moving, otherwise the sputum will begin to stagnate.

2. Do not use traditional methods on your own; it is better to consult your doctor to avoid serious consequences.

3. Bathe your child in a warm bath with the addition of chamomile, sage, and thyme.

Thus, a cough in an infant should never be neglected; it must be treated promptly, because serious complications can arise. It is not always necessary to immediately give a small child antibiotics and a host of other medications.

First you need to find out what caused the child’s cough, how it proceeds, what type of cough the child has - dry, wet. Then make a decision about treatment. It is imperative that you immediately contact the treating doctor, he must listen to the child, and you may need to take some tests to clarify the diagnosis.

Also remember preventative methods to prevent coughing in an infant.

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Tip 1: What cough remedy can be given to a baby?

Cough is a symptom of many diseases. In an infant, severe coughing attacks can lead to hoarseness, vomiting, restless behavior, and worsening of the condition.

Causes of cough in infants

Most often, cough is a symptom of acute respiratory infections, in which the inflammatory process affects the respiratory system.

Also, the cause of cough can be direct inflammation of the respiratory system and enlarged adenoids.

A cough with signs of suffocation occurs when a foreign body enters the trachea or bronchi. In this case, immediate medical attention is necessary, as there is a serious threat to the life of the newborn. An infant is not able to cough independently and get rid of a foreign body.

How to treat a cough in a child under one year old: choosing pharmaceutical drugs

From cough to 1 year, all medicines are made using natural ingredients. Most often these are plant extracts that are used in traditional therapy . The doctor will prescribe cough medicine for children, taking into account the patient's condition. Most often, the pediatrician's prescription contains the following medications:

1. Antitussive syrups - this cough remedy is prescribed in the absence of sputum. The drug will also be effective if the child has been diagnosed with whooping cough. You can give your baby Sinekod (from two months) and Panatus (from six months).
2. Mucolytic children's syrups - relieve swelling from the respiratory muscles and thin the mucus. For better coughing, the doctor will prescribe the following medications - Mucodin, Bromhexine or Ambrobene.
3. Expectorant syrups and tinctures are prescribed if the patient has sputum, but it is difficult to clear. If mucus accumulates in the airways, pneumonia may develop. For a wet cough, the pediatrician will prescribe Dr. Theiss or Dr. MOM syrup.

The doctor will tell you exactly how to treat a cough in a child under one year old. A specialist can even prescribe tests to ensure the presence of a specific pathogen. Parents should not self-administer wet and dry cough syrups .

Mucolytic and expectorant medications should not be given at the same time. This combination can cause pneumonia. In this case, therapy will be carried out in a hospital setting.

Causes

Before treating a cough in a child under one year old, the cause of the cough should be recognized. It is difficult to do this on your own, and the risk of making a mistake is very high, so for a correct diagnosis it is recommended to consult a pediatrician. If this is not possible, then when reading about the causes of different types of illness, be extremely careful to avoid mistakes.

Infant cough without fever

Many types of illness in an infant occur without fever, but at the same time, they may indicate serious illnesses. Causes of cough include:

• ARI (acute respiratory diseases) is not always accompanied by an increase in temperature, especially in the initial stages. In combination with coughing, a runny nose is observed.
• Inflammation of the larynx or laryngitis often occurs without high fever. In addition to coughing, wheezing and noisy breathing can be observed in infants. The coughing itself is intense and exhausting. Coughing attacks may result in vomiting.
• Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, bronchitis). During the course of such diseases, attacks of wet cough with colored sputum are observed.
• Tuberculosis is accompanied by rare dry coughs without fever.
• ARVI (acute respiratory viral infections) cause nasal congestion, which is why infants begin to breathe through the mouth, coughing up accumulated mucus.
• ENT infections. Diseases such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, and adenoids often do not cause high fever, but are accompanied by a cough.
• Environmental factors cause cough without fever. These include polluted air, cigarette smoke, and dry indoor air. If you do not limit their impact on the baby, complications may arise.
• Allergic reactions cause coughing even after recovery. Thus, one of the severe types of allergies is bronchial asthma.
• The entry of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract of a child often causes a cough.
• Inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) can cause a reflex cough.

Dry cough

A dry cough in a child should be a warning sign for parents. In its process there is no sputum or secretions. Coughing in an infant can be caused by:

• Viral infection. The disease causes severe coughing in newborns and infants. As the infection develops, mild coughing intensifies, and with a large amount of mucus in the nasopharynx, the dry appearance will develop into a wet one, with sputum.
• Flu. The disease often overtakes babies because the baby’s body is weak and poorly protected from viruses.
• Some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The contents of the stomach move into the airways, causing a burning sensation and irritation in the throat. Because of this, the baby coughs.
• Whooping cough. A bacterial infection causes a severe, persistent cough. The pain makes the baby cry, and the saliva takes on a blue tint.
• Pleurisy. The disease is accompanied by a painful lingering cough, which is very painful.
• Irritation of the throat by foreign objects, including liquid ones. This may cause reflex reactions with a dry cough.

Moist cough

Clearing the respiratory tract of mucus occurs during the wet type of illness. You can understand the cause of the disease by the color, consistency and amount of sputum:

• with pneumonia, the wet type of cough in a newborn and infant is accompanied by a rusty tinge of sputum;
• with acute bronchitis, a copious amount of discharge appears;
• with bronchial asthma, sputum appears - viscous and transparent;
• with heart failure and tuberculosis, bloody impurities appear in the discharge;
• in inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, sputum becomes watery;
• with a lung abscess, purulent discharge comes out with sputum.

Barking cough

One of the dangerous types of the disease is considered to be barking. Sputum and secretions from the bronchi with the lungs remain in place, and dry, even light coughing only irritates the baby’s throat and vocal cords, which causes severe pain. Reasons include:

• inflammation of the larynx, pharynx (laryngitis, pharyngitis);
• inflammation of the trachea (laryngotracheitis or false croup);
• diphtheria or true croup;
• whooping cough;
• flu;
• ARVI;
• adenoviruses;
• nervous disorders;
• laringo;
• bronchial asthma;
• bronchospasm;
• allergic reaction;
• foreign object in the larynx;
• cyst in the upper windpipe;
• swelling or swelling of the throat mucosa.

Cough and runny nose

In most cases, the combination of coughing and runny nose indicates an inflammatory process or an allergic reaction to dust, pollen, strong odors, household chemicals and polluted air that enter the child’s body through the nasopharynx. The cause of this combination in an infant may be pharyngitis and laryngitis (inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa), nasopharyngitis, chronic bronchitis, physiological rhinitis.

Why should you give water when you cough?

Cough therapy in children under one year of age is complicated by the fact that the young patient refuses to take medications and do some procedures. Even maintaining water balance in the body becomes a difficult task for parents.

The cause of a cough in a baby may be excessively dry air. In this case, you should do a wet cleaning and give the baby something to drink every 30 minutes. If the child is already more than three months old, then you can make compote from dried fruits. When breastfeeding, you should increase the number of applications to the mammary glands.

Why should this be done? Thus, the sputum will lose its viscosity and begin to flow out of the respiratory system without hindrance. When a dry cough occurs, the temperature may rise. You should call your local pediatrician at home so as not to take your sick baby to the clinic.

How to treat?

When the first symptoms of a cold appear, you need to call a doctor. Treatment of cough in children under one year of age should only occur under the supervision of a pediatrician. For therapy, doctors prescribe medications, but an effective way to cure the disease is the use of folk remedies. To get rid of phlegm, you can give the baby a light massage.

Medications

One of the treatment methods is taking medications. So, the following means are used:

• Antiviral drugs. A representative of products with an antiviral effect are Viferon suppositories without age restrictions.
• Antipyretics. At high temperatures, it is recommended to take syrups based on ibuprofen and paracetamol.
• Homeopathic medicines. For dry and wet forms of the disease, you can give your child homeopathic syrup Stodal with an expectorant and bronchodilator effect.
• Antitussive drugs. Cough suppressants include Panatus and Sinekod syrups. The first is allowed from 2 months, the second from 6.
• Mucolytic agents. Syrups Prospan, Bronhikum, Doctor MOM, which are herbal preparations, will help get rid of phlegm.

Treatment with folk remedies

If you want to treat severe coughing in a child yourself, pay attention to the treatment of cough in infants with folk remedies:

• Inhalations are helpful for treatment. Pour boiling water into the bath, steaming the room. After this, place the baby in the room to breathe hot air. For a deep effect, steam your bath for 20 minutes and add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to the water if it does not cause allergies.
• Add 1 tsp to 0.5 cups of warm breast milk. honey and 2 tsp. infusion of mullein flowers. Make this tea for your child 3 times a day.
• Brew 1 tsp. pharmaceutical chamomile per glass of boiling water. An infant should drink 1/3 glass at a time. This tea is given to the baby 3 times a day after meals.

How to treat a cough in a child under one year old: home remedies

Mild coughing can be treated at home. The main thing is to choose a safe method of therapy so as not to harm the baby. Here is what pediatricians advise to use to treat bronchospasm:

• inhalations for babies;
• heating pads and compresses;
• tinctures and herbal decoctions.

Cough treatment for children under one year of age should be prescribed only by a pediatrician . Even “grandmother’s” methods can harm a tiny organism. A weakened immune system contributes to the development of cough. If you toughen up and give your baby healthy foods, the body’s reaction to bacteria will be only slight nasal congestion.

Warm compresses

When a child under one year old coughs, the temperature may rise. In this case, thermal procedures cannot be performed. Compressors and inhalations can only worsen the patient's condition . To a greater extent, folk recipes help in the initial stages of the disease. Compresses can be made in several ways:

• using potatoes - you need to boil the potatoes in their skins and make a puree from them. The mixture is placed on the chest, gauze or parchment paper is first spread. It is necessary for the baby to lie in this position for several minutes;
• with a solution of sea salt - it is necessary to moisten a woolen piece of fabric in this liquid and place it on the baby’s chest. The compress is removed as soon as it begins to cool;
• cake with honey - it must be used carefully so as not to burn the baby’s delicate skin;
• compresses made from camphor oil - suitable for children from four months.

List of cough medicines for infants (what can be given to a child from birth)

When a cough occurs in infants, young and inexperienced parents grab their heads and don’t know what to do. The physiological peculiarity of newborns is that they are characterized by immaturity of the respiratory muscles, and therefore a pathology of cough drainage is observed. In such a situation, any parents wonder what to do to stop the child from coughing and what can be given to infants for cough so as not to harm them.

Attention! Before giving medications to newborn babies, you should consult your doctor! This review is for informational purposes only.

The entire process of treating cough in very young children should be reduced to providing the child with a regime of cool and moist air, and above all, drinking plenty of fluids, which helps eliminate pathological loss of fluid in the baby’s body.

However, in modern conditions it is difficult to deny the achievements of medicine in the field of pharmacological cough remedies. So, what cough medicines can be given to an infant.

Acceptable cough medicines for infants

Currently, pediatricians often prescribe mucolytic drugs. Among them:

1. Ambroxol is a mucolytic drug that helps thin mucus in the lungs. This medicine is effective for coughs accompanied by viscous sputum that is difficult to separate. (See article Wet cough in an infant). Pleasant-tasting syrup can be given from the first month of a baby’s life. Dose: from 0 to 2 years, 2.5 mg after meals 2 times a day. The best effect is observed with plenty of drinking, so you need to give more juices, water, compote... According to the instructions, the syrup should not be consumed for more than 5 days in a row.
2. Lazolvan - perfectly helps with wet cough, the child coughs up sputum well. The drug is available in the form of syrup. From the age of 6 months, a child can take ½ teaspoon during breakfast and dinner, washed down with water or juice. Additionally, it is recommended to use Lazolvan for inhalation. Drink syrup for an average of 5 days.
3. Ambrobene is allowed to be given to the baby in the form of syrup from the first month of life. Effective as a remedy for dry cough, it thins and removes mucus. The dosage depends on the release form. Give the baby 2.5 ml of syrup, 1 ml of solution after meals in the morning and evening.
4. Bronchicum - can be given to children from 6 months of age, half a teaspoon in the morning and evening. The composition includes syrup from the herb thyme (thyme), which is excellent for helping with dry cough. You can take the medicine for up to 14 days.
5. Fluimucil (contains acetylcysteine) is a drug that can be given to children from 1 year of age in the form of granules. Also used as a solution for inhalation.
6. Bromhexine for children - prescribed to children under six years of age in the form of syrup, over 6 years of age - tablets. Also used as a mixture for inhalation.

The dosage and procedure for taking medications that dilute sputum are prescribed strictly by a pediatrician.

The next group of drugs is represented by expectorants. These drugs relieve cough by separating and removing sputum from the lungs due to the fact that the ciliated epithelium is liquefied and revitalized. They are used for acute and chronic inflammation of the respiratory organs, in which the cough is not viscous, thick and is not accompanied by difficult to separate sputum. These medicines are mainly represented by herbal preparations. These include:

1. Gedelix - for persistent dry cough in the form of syrup can be given from birth. Herbal preparation. The daily norm is 1 half teaspoon. For infants, you can dilute it in a bottle with water or juice. It is advisable to drink plenty of fluids.
2. Mucaltin - in tablet form. Not appointed until one year.
3. Licorice root - syrup is prescribed for children under 2 years of age.
4. Dry cough syrup for children - approved for use from 6 months. Dilute the powder (1 packet) in 20 ml of boiled water. Give the resulting mixture 15 drops after meals in 4 divided doses per day.
5. Linkas – reduces cough, promotes thinning and better discharge of sputum, relieves sore throat. Approved for use from 6 months. Give your baby half a teaspoon for a week (up to 10 days).
6. Stoptussin - presented in the form of drops. For dry cough, starting from six months, give after meals. A single dose depends on the child’s weight: if the child weighs less than 7 kg, dilute 8 drops; with a weight of 7 - 12 kg - 9 drops per half of a 200 - gram glass of water, tea, fruit juice. Take the medicine three to four times a day. A child can drink less than 100 g, but the dose of liquid for dilution cannot be reduced.

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Treating wet cough with folk remedies

This type of cough is also called productive, since it helps eliminate viruses from the body along with sputum. A wet cough is most often observed with upper respiratory tract viruses and is accompanied by fever.

This is a frequent visitor to ODS. Based on this, as already mentioned, heating, rubbing, and warm compresses are not needed here.

We treat the disease itself, getting rid of the virus, and the cough will go away on its own. We can only facilitate the process of sputum discharge through drinking plenty of fluids. And this is where grandmother’s recipes for fruit drinks, compotes, decoctions, tinctures, and jams come to our aid.

Onion jam

Finely grated onion is mixed with honey (1/1). Leave for 120 minutes (1.5 hours). Decant the resulting syrup. And give a baby from 2 months 0.5 teaspoon every hour.

Radish jam

The radish is finely chopped (you can just cut out the core), sprinkled with sugar (or honey), let it brew for 24 hours, and let the baby drink the resulting syrup 0.5 teaspoon 3-4 times a day.

Quince jam

Wash and core the quince and make compote or jam. Give it to the baby.

Banana jam

Pour 2 finely chopped bananas into 200 ml of hot water, add sugar, heat over low heat. The cough remedy is ready. Give to the baby according to his taste, but at least 2-3 times a day.

Decoctions of medicinal herbs

Coltsfoot and plantain

0.5 tbsp. spoons of coltsfoot, 0.5 tbsp of plantain, brew 200lm of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. The finished broth is given to the baby 2 tbsp. spoons before meals (15 minutes) from four months.

Marshmallow, licorice, devilish

All three components are mixed in equal quantities, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of the mixture is poured with boiling water (500 ml) and left for 8 hours. After which they give the baby 50 grams 2-3 times a day.

carrot juice

The carrots, grated on a fine grater, are squeezed out, and the resulting juice is given to the baby in a heated form, a teaspoon 3-4 times a day.

Teas with chamomile, linden, sage, currant leaves, strawberries, raspberries and viburnum are widely used.

If we are dealing with an unproductive, dry cough, then teas alone will not do the trick. The treatment is more serious and sensitive.

Dry cough in infants

A dry cough often occurs when the upper respiratory tract is irritated. This symptom usually causes severe discomfort to the baby, which leads to irritability and sleep disturbances. A severe cough can result in bouts of vomiting, and tension in the larynx only aggravates the inflammatory process. Such a cough in an infant usually requires taking medications that block receptor irritation and stop attacks.

A dry cough can be caused by the following reasons:

• Infection. Viruses contribute to the development of the inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract, which causes irritation and swelling. This leads to a cough, which after a few days can turn into a productive form. In this case, the pediatrician diagnoses pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and other diseases.
• Allergy. An allergic cough is often a mixed form between dry and wet, and coughing does not bring relief to the child. This symptom occurs, for example, with hay fever or bronchial asthma. In this case, the disease occurs without fever, which distinguishes it from infectious processes.

Separately, we should highlight a dry cough, which occurs due to drying out of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. To prevent this condition, the apartment must have moist and cool air, which will ensure normal functioning of the respiratory tract and sufficient production of natural bronchial mucus.

For a wet cough in a baby

A child with this type of cough may cough up mucus. A wet cough should not be held back as it helps clear the lungs. Key prerequisites for the occurrence of cough with sputum production:

• Viral diseases when mucus flows down the wall of the throat.
• Infections of the lungs (protracted) or upper respiratory tract.
• Appears due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• It is necessary to help the child eliminate phlegm.

Consult a doctor, because self-medication is not safe for the baby’s health.

Wet cough in infants

With a wet cough, a large amount of phlegm accumulates in the child's respiratory tract, and the body tries to get rid of it. The causes of a wet cough can be:

• Increased salivation. Physiologically occurs during the period of teething, which begins at the age of 4–6 months. The baby tries to cough up drool, but parents may perceive this as a wet cough.
• Runny nose. Rhinitis, sinusitis and other inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity provoke swelling of the mucous membrane and its hypersecretion. An infant does not know how to blow his nose, so snot flows down the back wall of the larynx, and the body removes it by coughing.
• Infection. Viral and bacterial infections are accompanied by inflammation in the respiratory tract and swelling of the bronchi. This leads to excess mucus secretion and the appearance of sputum, which can stagnate in the respiratory tract. Coughing up mucus clears the bronchi and makes breathing easier. The cough reflex in infants is not sufficiently developed, so doctors prescribe medications to help the child remove phlegm. The most common cause of this cough is bronchitis.

Separately, it is worth highlighting a wet cough, which appears only in the morning and does not cause concern to the child. It is a process of clearing mucus that has accumulated in the respiratory tract at night due to the horizontal position of the body.

Cough treatment

The choice of drugs for treating an infant is limited. How to treat a cough should only be decided by a pediatrician after listening to the respiratory tract, determining the cause of the cough and localizing the source of inflammation.

To make a correct diagnosis, the presence of accompanying symptoms is important. An elevated temperature indicates an infectious etiology of the disease, and self-medication here can be especially dangerous.

Medicines for children under one year of age are available in liquid forms - drops or syrups. Groups of drugs that can be used to treat cough in an infant:

• Expectorants. These drugs contribute to the transition of a dry cough to a productive one, and also facilitate the movement of sputum up the respiratory tract. Thanks to them, it is possible to avoid stagnation of mucus and the activation of bacterial infection. Due to the weakness of the respiratory muscles, the baby is not able to effectively cough up mucus, and medications in this group ensure cleansing of the bronchi. Ambroxol-based products are considered the gold standard of therapy. The dosage is calculated by the pediatrician taking into account the child’s weight. Syrups based on plant components are also popular, which enhance the natural production of mucus and increase mucociliary clearance. This group includes ivy-based products.

Treatment

To get rid of coughing attacks in an infant, you should understand whether it is normal or caused by a disease. To do this, you need to show him to the doctor, since all antitussives in children under one year of age must be taken strictly as prescribed by the pediatrician.

Drug treatment

If ARVI is detected in an infant, the following medications are prescribed:

• antiviral and vasoconstrictor drugs;
• expectorants and antitussives;
• mucolytics;
• washing with saline solutions;
• antipyretics;
• antihistamines (for allergic cough);
• homeopathic medicines (for any type of cough);
• antibiotics (for sore throat or pneumonia).

Taking expectorants is recommended for wet coughs when mucus is difficult to clear. Mucolytics help thin the sputum.

The most effective for expectoration are syrups that contain extracts of medicinal herbs: thyme, plantain and thyme:

• Linkas is an anti-inflammatory drug, recommended for children from 6 months.
• Ambrobene - frees breathing, thins and removes mucus. Effective for inhalation.
• Gedelix - can be given to children from birth. Recommended to be taken with plenty of liquid. Can be mixed with food. These drugs facilitate the separation of sputum, but sometimes contribute to the development of allergies.
• Licorice root syrup coats the throat, making it easier to cough up mucus.
• Bromhexine is effective for inhalation and oral administration.
• Bronchicum is a thyme-based preparation recommended for children from 6 months of age. Use no more than 14 days.

For severe dry cough and whooping cough in infants, antitussives are prescribed. Taking them helps suppress the cough reflex, which causes the baby to sleep and eat poorly. The medications must be used in strict accordance with the pediatrician’s recommendations. The most effective are Sinekod (from 2 months), Stoptussin (from 6 months). You should take the medication after meals.

The simultaneous use of antitussive and expectorant medications is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, pneumonia may develop. Do not increase the dosage to avoid complications.

Inhalations

This is the most effective method of treating cough. The specialist must prescribe the medicine and calculate the dosage. There are steam and nebulizer inhalations. Rules for inhalation:

1. Procedures using the drug last no more than 5 minutes. Only mineral water or saline solution (5 ml) can be poured into a nebulizer for infants without a doctor’s recommendations.
2. Dr. Komarovsky recommends steam inhalations for infants. To do this, pour very hot water into the bath, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil (if you are not allergic) and go into this room with your baby for 20 minutes.
3. In the evening before bed, this procedure will help. Pour water into a saucepan, boil, add one pinch each of sage and thyme, close the lid for 5 minutes. Then put the baby in the crib and place a pan next to him so that the steam goes straight into his face.
4. Soda inhalations. Pour 1 liter of water into a large container, add 2-3 cloves of garlic and 1 tbsp. l. soda and boil. You can add 2-3 drops of iodine.

These manipulations help thin the mucus and make the baby's breathing easier.

Folk remedies

There are many traditional medicine recipes to eliminate cough in infants. The most effective of them:

All products should be used with extreme caution and only after consultation with a pediatrician. It is forbidden to give infants alcohol compresses (vinegar, mustard and alcohol) to avoid possible poisoning, laryngeal spasms and burns.

When a child under one year old has a cough, how to treat it

When a cough begins in a child under one year old, how to treat it worries any mother, because such young children are contraindicated in taking most medications suitable for treating children of three or five years of age. First of all, it is necessary to remember that cough in a small child, like in all people, is not a separate disease, but a symptom. Therefore, you need to examine the baby and find out the cause of this symptom. Treatment also depends on the nature of the cough.

When a child under one year old has a cough, how to treat it

How to treat cough in a child under one year old

There are two types of cough in babies:

• A dry cough is characterized by a sore throat, as it is often hysterical in nature. Most often, a nonproductive cough occurs with allergies and whooping cough, as well as at the onset of ARVI. With a dry cough, practically no mucus is produced in the bronchi. Depending on the reason why the child began to cough, this symptom needs to be stopped or moisturized.
• A baby’s wet cough gives the impression of “gurgling” breathing, as phlegm is produced in the bronchi. Sometimes it can be thick and viscous, making it difficult to cough up. With such a cough, it is important to make the bronchial secretion more liquid and facilitate its passage.

During the period of illness, the cough can change its character in both one and the other direction.

Complex treatment

☎️ When a symptom of any type appears in a baby, you must first find out whether this is normal or caused by a disease. To do this, you definitely need to go to an appointment with a pediatrician in Moscow if the parents live in the capital, or at their place of residence (see gorps.ru).

Such a small child cannot be treated independently. And treatment should be prescribed depending on the causes of such pathology.

Dry cough medications

There are different medications prescribed for babies. Their use depends on the type of pathology. If the cough is severe and barking, it is necessary to prescribe medications by a doctor.

Antitussives

These medications reduce the activity of the cough focus. They are prescribed only for a strong dry cough, when the baby begins to bark. But medications of this class are not combined with expectorants. Medications prescribed for this pathology include:

• Herbion plantain herb syrup (available only from 2 years of age);
• Eofinil syrup;
• Taisa syrup (allowed from one year old);
• Gedelix, produced in syrup form and approved even for newborns;
• Alteyka (from 2 years old);
• Mucaltin (soluble tablet, approved from 3 years of age);
• Isla-Moos and Eucabal (babies like the latter due to its sweet taste and aroma, allowed from 6 months);
• Pertussin (in the form of syrup, from 3 years);
• Tussamag (in the form of drops, from one year old);
• Erespal.

Sinekod (care should be taken, since the drug has many contraindications).

Most syrups are approved for use from 2 months.

Antibiotics and other drugs

If the pathology is accompanied by an increase in temperature, the doctor prescribes antibiotics.