Health Advice - Children's Illnesses - Coughs

Coughs are common with viral infections. They can either be dry (no mucus) or productive (mucus is formed). A dry cough may sometimes sound like a bark, where it is referred to as Croup, or wheezy and mimics asthma. A productive cough will lead to a rattly chest sound, as if mucus is being bought up. Younger infants will tend to swallow the mucus they produce, which may lead to vomiting with a bout of coughing. This is perfectly normal. Coughs in children can be very persistent and may last several weeks. In babies this may be due to a continuing presence of the infective organism, and in older children because of sensitisation of the mucus lining of the windpipe. With time the cough will pass and the child recover.

Please note - for the vast majority of coughs, antibiotics are of absolutely zero value to your child as most coughs are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not have any effect on viruses, only on bacteria - a different type of infectious organism altogether. Demanding antibiotics from your GP will not help your child, but will help to create antibiotic resistant strains of infectious bacteria, and drain resources from a limited drug budget.

Antibiotics will help if your child develops Bronchitis (an inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs) which is caused by a bacterial infection. A clue to whether your child has developed bronchitis and needs a course of antibiotics is the type of phlegm produced. With viral infections mucus is generally white or clear. A bacterial bronchitis infection creates large amounts of green or yellow phlegm, and it is recommended in this instance to consult your GP for an assessment and antibiotic prescription if bronchitis is diagnosed. For all other coughs, all that can be done is to alleviate the symptoms. Steaming and vapourising are effective in soothing sore throats caused by coughs.