How to treat a wet cough without fever in a child

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

With pathological processes in the upper and lower respiratory tract, the child develops a wet cough without fever. We will tell you how to treat it, including drugs and folk remedies, which E. Komarovsky advises.

What is a wet cough and why it occurs

When irritants such as phlegm, allergens, dust and polluted or smoky air enter the nasopharynx, special nerve endings send an impulse to the brain about the presence of a foreign substance. Then a signal is sent to the muscles of the chest and abdomen through the spinal cord so that they can quickly contract.

Sharp movements of the respiratory muscles at high speed (up to 130 m / sec) push the air flow through the mouth. This impulse helps to drive out harmful irritants and sometimes even injures the mucous membrane of the throat. Cough is the most important protective reflex of the body of every person.

Such an involuntary reaction can save mucus or other foreign substances from getting into the lungs and bronchi. There are two types of coughs:

• wet (or productive);
• dry.

The first type is characterized by an increased production of mucus, and the latter occurs mainly at the very beginning of a respiratory illness.

Dry grows from strong inhalation, after physical activity, and wet increases only at night, since in a horizontal position the lumen of the larynx becomes physiologically smaller.

If in a healthy child it is equal to the thickness of the little finger, then during the period of respiratory illness, accompanied by swelling of the throat and excess mucus, it narrows even twice.

Thus, when inhaling, air resistance increases several times, and this, in turn, provokes an attack of productive cough. The patient may feel as if something is stuck in the throat or chest. Sometimes when you cough, mucus gets into your mouth.

The entire respiratory system is covered with mucous membranes. In a patient, the department of sputum, a secretion secreted by the epithelium of the respiratory tract, increases up to 15 times (normally in an adult, up to 100 ml / day).

In addition, the exudate from the nose sometimes does not go forward, but imperceptibly flows down the back of the throat. In general, mucus is designed to moisturize, protect and cleanse the respiratory tract from food and various impurities.

Until its amount becomes critical, the cilia covering the epithelium freely push it upwards, from where it, with the help of the swallowing reflex, imperceptibly enters the stomach and dissolves along with the rest of the products in an acidic environment.

Dangerous symptoms in a child

Before treating a cough without a fever, you need to identify the reasons for its appearance in a child. It can indicate not only a cold, but also serious health problems. Acute respiratory illness (ARVI, rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis) is characterized by fever and general weakness of the body.

If a wet cough persists for more than 2 weeks, it can be caused by:

1. Bronchitis.
2. Pneumonia.
3. Allergies or asthma.
4. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
5. Cystic fibrosis.
6. Neoplasms of the broncho-pulmonary system.
7. Cystic fibrosis.
8. Helminthic invasions (helminthiasis).
9. Tuberculosis.
10. Passive smoking and poor environment.

In chronic diseases, a slight temperature is often observed, but in rare cases this symptom is absent. In a pathological situation, sputum clogs the lumen of the larynx and branches of the bronchi, interfering with breathing.

Interesting! How to treat a dry cough in a child

Diagnostics of the wet cough

To diagnose a cough, the attending physician needs to collect as detailed anamnesis as possible and analyze the patient's complaints. You need to find out how long it lasts, and how severe the symptoms are.

In most cases, a simple visual examination of the respiratory tract sections is sufficient for this: the pharynx, nasal canal, vocal cords, and larynx. Then an auditory assessment of breathing characteristics is performed using a special device - a phonendoscope.

If symptoms are prolonged and severe, accompanied by weight loss and fatigue, your doctor may order additional tests that include:

1. Fluoroscopy and chest fluorography.
2. Various blood and urine tests.
3. Clinical analysis of sputum.
4. CT and MRI.
5. ECG and ultrasound of the heart.
6. FGDS (fibrogastroduodenoscopy).
7. Bronchoscopy (with biopsy).
8. Laryngoscopy.
9. Allergic research.
10. Stool examination.

Symptoms of a cold or flu can be seen immediately, as they are characterized by fever and a painful appearance. But there are times when, in addition to coughing, the baby no longer bothers.

Then you need, firstly, to exclude the presence of pneumonia using X-ray methods, then check for viral and infectious diseases. Also, make sure there is no foreign body in your throat or nose.

If something enters the lower respiratory tract, it may be accompanied by swelling of one lung, over which there is weakened and often hoarse breathing.

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Home remedies for wet cough in children

Treatment for a wet cough in a child without fever depends on the cause of the disease. When it occurs in the presence of an allergy, the first thing to do is get rid of the allergen. Taking antihistamines is able to cleanse the body of accumulated allergens.

Often, a wet cough caused by a virus does not require specific treatment. Recovery will take its course.

Patient care and indoor climate

Dry air can dry out the airways and thus trigger the onset of inflammation. To achieve the required humidity, you can use a regular towel, placing it on a battery, or a household humidifier (steam or ultrasonic).

To quickly cure a wet cough without fever in a child, you need to create the right microclimate in the room. Wet (60-70%) and cold air (16-18 degrees) will help to defeat viscous and thick phlegm. It is necessary to ventilate the room more often.

Drinking regime

Also shown is a plentiful warm drink, which is capable of itself thinning phlegm. You cannot give hot, otherwise you can burn an irritated throat. Cold water also interferes with good blood circulation and mucus production, and can also cause discomfort.

Alkaline mineral waters help dissolve thick mucus well. The total amount drunk should be at least 50-100 ml for each kg of the child's weight. That is, if a child weighs 10 kg, then he should take about 1 liter of liquid per day, respectively, with a weight of more than 15 kg - up to 2 liters. In adults, this amount is equal to 30 ml / kg of body weight plus another half liter.

Drainage massage

The fight against thickened, poorly passing mucus is sometimes delayed. One of the surest ways to treat cough without fever in children is drainage massage.

The mother or the one who will do it should have their nails cut short so as not to scratch the delicate skin. You need to wash your hands with soap and water. You can use massage oils with a small amount of fragrances so that the child does not develop allergies, or a simple baby cream.

The main thing is to properly lay the child so that the head is slightly lower than the chest. It is better to start with stroking to warm up the arms and muscles, then perform patting and vibrating movements for 10 minutes.

After the procedure, it is useful to perform breathing exercises so that the child clears his throat well. Then it is best to provide the patient with peace, wrap in a warm towel and let him rest.

Traditional methods and inhalations

Pine buds are a great help. They have an expectorant and wound healing, as well as a diuretic and choleretic, disinfectant effect.

The annotation to the pharmacy fees indicates a contraindication for children by age. However, traditional medicine argues with this.

To prepare the broth, add a tablespoon of kidneys to 500 ml of milk or water and simmer over low heat for about an hour. Give the filtered warm drink 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day. In addition, steam inhalation can be done with pine buds infusion.

Hot inhalation can be easily done at home without special devices. To do this, it is enough to cover your head with a towel and breathe over a saucepan with hot infusion. Be careful not to accidentally burn your child.

And for cold inhalations, you will need a special ultrasonic device called a nebulizer. It can be used at home and even from a very young age.

Advantages:

• rapid penetration of the drug into the epithelium;
• moisturizing and thinning phlegm;
• acceleration of blood circulation in tissues;
• relieving spasms.

Badger fat is another effective cough suppressant. A child from 5 years old before meals can be given 1/3 teaspoon 3 times a day.

The remedy can be applied externally from infancy, rubbing the chest, feet and back. Be sure to consult your doctor in advance!

Aloe juice works well when taken with ghee and honey mixed in equal amounts. The tool is used for 5 days 4 times a day before meals. It is advisable to store the aloe leaves in the refrigerator for 10 days before cooking.

Drugs for the treatment of wet cough in children

The problem is that sometimes a bacterial infection joins the virus, which requires antibiotics. In this case, as a rule, there is a sharp rise in temperature. Taking medications is carried out under the strict supervision of a physician, according to the prescribed dosage.

Effective remedies for wet cough are recognized:

1. Dr. IOM - herbal syrup with complex action contains aloe, ginger, licorice and many herbal ingredients. Suitable for children from 3 years old.
2. Lazolvan is a solution for inhalation and for oral administration with the active ingredient ambroxol, which increases secretion in the respiratory tract.
3. Bromhexine 4 is a solution for oral administration to children from 2 years old with apricot flavor, has a secretomotor as well as antimicrobial effect. From 4 years old it is used for inhalation.
4. Prospan is a syrup with mint and fennel oil, but contains ethanol, which should not be allowed for small children under 1 year old.
5. Herbion with primrose or ivy syrup for children from 2 years old improves expectoration of phlegm, contains antiseptic components.

For sleep problems, mucolytics, which thin the phlegm, can be used to relieve coughing. However, children under 5 years of age should not be given over-the-counter medications, especially those with an expectorant effect.

Antipyretic, antispasmodics and analgesics are used. Physiotherapy procedures give a good effect.

Dr. Komarovsky on wet cough

The well-known Ukrainian pediatrician Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich categorically advises against taking mucolytics from the first day of coughing. In his opinion, taking expectorant drugs is not only useless, but even harmful, since these funds contribute not only to thinning, but also to increased secretion of mucus, which children are physically unable to cough up due to the physiologically narrower (compared to adults) respiratory lumen pathways and weak pectoral muscles.

In case of impaired ventilation of the lungs, favorable conditions are formed for the reproduction of pathogens - pathogens. The disease is not a reason to abandon the usual regimen if there is no temperature.

You can continue to walk and take a bath, even visit the pool, if the doctor does not mind. After taking all the necessary measures, you need to accustom your baby to the elementary rules of personal hygiene, and then no microbes will be able to enter his body.

Summarize

1. The most dangerous complication of a wet cough is mucus blocking the airways.
2. If a cough occurs in infants, it is better not to self-medicate and see a doctor as soon as possible.
3. Mucolytics and secretomotor agents should not be taken without the appointment of a specialist.
4. Sometimes a cough without fever is a symptom of serious illness.
5. If a rash, whistling or wheezing occurs when inhaling, it is better to immediately call an ambulance.