COUGH

 

Symptoms | When to call | Homecare Advice

 

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR COUGH

  1. Cough Medicine for Mild Coughs:  Use corn syrup ½ to 1 teaspoon as needed as a homemade cough medicine.  It can thin the secretions and loosen the cough.  After age 4, use cough drops.
  2. Cough Suppressant for Severe Coughs:  For coughs that interfere with sleep, school or work, use dextromethorphan (DM) which is present in most cough syrups.  See dosage chart.  Do not use under 1 year old.
  3. Coughing Spasms:  For coughing spasms, give warm fluids (e.g. apple juice).  Expose to warm mist (e.g., foggy bathroom) (reason: both relax the airway and loosen up the phlegm).  (Avoid juice if less than 4 months old.)  Children older than 4 years can suck on hard candy or cough drops (reason: to coat the irritated throat).  Also, try not to talk or cough at these times.
  4. Vomiting:  For vomiting that occurs with hard coughing, reduce the amount given per feeding (e.g., in infants, give 2 oz. less formula) (reason: cough-induced vomiting is more common with a full stomach).
  5. Humidifier:  If the air is dry, use a humidifier (reason: dry air makes coughs worse).
  6. Fever Medicine:  For fever above 102°F (39°C), give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen.
  7. Avoid Tobacco Smoke:  Active or passive smoking makes coughs much worse.
  8. Contagiousness:  Your child can return to day care or school after the fever is gone and your child feels well enough to participate in normal activities.  For practical purposes, the spread of coughs and colds cannot be prevented.
  9. Expected Course:  Viral bronchitis causes a cough for 2 to 3 weeks. Sometimes the child coughs up lots of phlegm (mucus).  The mucus can normally be gray, yellow or green.  Antibiotics are not helpful.  Coughing up mucus is very important for protecting the lungs from pneumonia. We want to encourage a productive cough, not turn it off.
  10. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Difficulty breathing occurs.
    • Wheezing occurs.
    • Cough lasts for more than 3 weeks.
    • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Pediatric SelfCareNavigator. Copyright © 2000-2004 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 8/2002

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