How to Care for Your Child with a Cough

This leaflet will provide you with information about coughs, their causes, treatment and home care advice.

Download this Guide

What is a Cough?

  • A cough is your child’s body’s way of reacting when something irritates his/her airway.
  • During a cough, your child’s chest and abdomen push air out of the lungs to get rid of the irritant.
  • Most coughs are caused by upper respiratory infections like the common cold.
  • Most coughs go away on their own within 3 weeks and don’t need any treatments.

The common causes of cough include:

  • Cold or flu due to different respiratory viruses.
  • Asthma and allergies.
  • Lung infections caused by viruses or bacteria.
  • Croup (barking cough), which is caused by a virus that makes the airway swell.
  • Pertussis (whooping cough), which is caused by a certain type of bacteria.

 

 

 

If your child has a cough, regardless of the cause, here are a few tips you can try at home to help you care for your child:

  • Avoid cough suppressants for children under 6 years old, as they can often do more harm than good.
  • Increase fluid intake: This can help relieve a sore throat and moisten the mucus in your child’s lungs, making it easier for your child to cough it out.
  • Rest in bed in an upright position: This will help your child regain their health as chest congestion may make it difficult to sleep.
  • Elevate the head of the bed: This is especially helpful for infants. For older children, putting a few pillows under the mattress can help them sleep and breathe more comfortably.
  • Add some humidity: A warm bath or shower can help ease your child’s breathing, and a cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom overnight can also help.
  • Eliminate irritants: These can include chemicals, cigarette smoke, dust, or allergens.

  • Children aged 3 months to 1 year old:
    • Hydration is the best home treatment for a cough. Continue to give your baby breast milk or formula.
    • If your baby is having trouble feeding due to a cough, breathing, or congestion issues, try giving smaller amounts more frequently or using a syringe or spoon.
    • Avoid giving honey to infants under 1 year old, as it can cause a serious disease called infantile botulism.
  • Children aged 1 to 6 years old:
    • You can give your child 2.5ml to 5ml of honey as needed. Offer it on its own or stir it into warm water. It will help soothe a sore throat, thin the mucus, and relieve the cough.

Seek medical advice or take your child to the Emergency Department in the following cases:

  • If your child is younger than 3 months old and he/she is coughing.
  • High fever.
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  • Decreased oral intake by less than 75% of usual, or frequent vomiting.
  • Ceasing of breath in babies and young infants.
  • Bluish discoloration around the mouth in babies and young infants.
  • Violent coughs sometimes followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a whoop.
  • Decreased activity and general tiredness.

Our Insurance Partners

Our Insurance Partners