My Child is Still Coughing!
Raise your hand if you’re tired of cough, cold, and flu season!
I bet a bunch of you are waving your hand right now. Between my toddler in daycare and my kids in elementary school, I’ve been feeling my patients’ (and their parents’) pain during this unusually long and challenging viral surge.
Although the season started early this year, we’re still deep in the typical wintertime cold- and-flu virus season. Frustrated parents, worried about back-to-back illnesses, often wonder when they should be concerned about their child’s constant coughing.
There are many possible causes of a cough. Let’s focus on one of the most common causes of cough in children – viral upper respiratory infection or cold. Viral coughs usually start off with other cold symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose/nasal congestion, and sometimes fever or headache.
How long will a cough last?
Some of the typical cold symptoms (such as fever or sore throat) generally tend to improve within 3 to 5 days. Nasal congestion and runny nose often last a week or 2. But the typical cough can linger 2 to 3 weeks. Of course, every cold is different – don’t be surprised if symptoms vary a bit from one cold to the next.
To make matters worse, during this time of year when so many viruses are circulating, some of your child’s illnesses will overlap – one cough may not have a chance to recover completely before your child catches their next cold. This can sometimes make it feel like your child is coughing for weeks on end.
How often do most kids get sick?
The frequency of colds and coughs also depends on your child’s age and exposures. We expect a young child in daycare to get up to 12 colds in a year, and coughing with each can last 2 to 3 weeks. Older school-aged kids may still experience 5 to 6 colds (or more) per year. Even kids who stay home will get sick with colds, having been exposed by siblings, outside activities, or adult relatives (such as their pediatrician mom bringing germs home from the office)! It’s easy to see why it might feel like young kids are constantly sick this time of year.
How can I treat my child’s cough?
Treating coughs can also be challenging, especially for the younger crowd. There simply aren’t many medications available. Over-the-counter cold medications shouldn’t be given to kids under age 6. However, there are some good home remedies:
Ages 0 to 3 months:
- Contact your doctor’s office for advice.
Ages 3 to 11 months:
- Try nasal saline spray/drops and suction
- Bring your child in a warm misty bathroom
- Run a bedside cool mist humidifier
- Give over-the-counter pain/fever medications like acetaminophen (all ages) or ibuprofen (age 6 months and older), if needed.
- Offer plenty of fluids. For infants 0 to 6 months, continue your child’s usual breastmilk or formula, trying smaller, more frequent feedings or adding Pedialyte if needed. For babies 6 months and older, you can also try up to 4 oz daily of water or warmed apple juice.
Ages 12 months and older, try the above, and:
- Give honey, ½ to 1 tsp by mouth as needed. (Don’t give honey to babies under 12 months). Start with giving them some water or warmed apple juice to clear their throat first, then give the honey straight off the spoon (or try a honey straw), allowing it to coat and soothe the throat.
Age 2 years and older, try the above, and:
- Apply mentholated chest rub as needed, per package instructions.
Age 6 years and older, try the above, and you may consider over-the-counter cough medications.
Contact your child’s pediatrician if your child:
- Is 3 months or younger and has a cough
- Has a cough that hasn’t improved within 2 weeks, or hasn’t resolved within 3-4 weeks
- Repeatedly coughs to the point of vomiting
- Coughs up blood
- Has wheezing, stridor, or unusual breathing sounds
- Isn’t drinking well
- Has 5 days of fever (or a new fever suddenly develops after several days of illness)
- Has other new or worsening symptoms, or symptoms that seem severe or unusual
Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital if your child is:
- Less than 1 month old and has a fever (rectal temperature of 100.4F/38C or above)
- Losing consciousness, lethargic, or doesn’t respond to you normally
- Seriously dehydrated (it’s been more than 8 hours since their last wet diaper/urination, or they can’t keep down enough fluids to urinate at least once every 6 to 8 hour)
- Struggling to breathe, or has signs of serious trouble breathing:
- Sustained unusually fast breathing
- Using extra muscles to breathe (nose flaring, neck tugging, skin around ribs sucking in, belly pushing hard)
- Severe wheezing
- Trouble drinking or talking due to breathing effort
- Feeling lightheaded or turning blue/gray
Resources For Parents:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Coughs and Colds: Medicines or Home Remedies?
Why Most Sore Throats, Coughs & Runny Noses Don’t Need Antibiotics
My Doctor Online
Featured Author
Dr Lauren Conti's biography reads: I believe in evidence-based pediatric medicine with a focus on wellness and access to quality preventive care for all children. As your physician, I hope to foster clear and open communication to guide you in making important healthcare decisions, to ensure your child has a strong and healthy future.
I previously graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in 2007. I completed my residency at the University of Chicago. I practiced outpatient pediatrics and served as an associate medical director for a community health center on the south side of Chicago until 2017, when my family and I made the leap to much better weather as I joined the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara team.
Dr. Conti's full biography can be found on My Doctor Online. Disclaimer: If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder. This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.