{"id":4016,"date":"2023-02-22T09:36:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T17:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=4016"},"modified":"2023-08-08T08:28:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T15:28:29","slug":"my-child-is-still-coughing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/my-child-is-still-coughing\/","title":{"rendered":"My Child is Still Coughing!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raise your hand if you\u2019re tired of cough, cold, and flu season!<\/p>\n

I bet a bunch of you are waving your hand right now. Between my toddler in daycare and my kids in elementary school, I\u2019ve been feeling my patients\u2019 (and their parents\u2019) pain during this unusually long and challenging viral surge.<\/p>\n

Although the season started early this year, we\u2019re 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\u2019s constant coughing.<\/p>\n

There are many possible causes of a cough. Let\u2019s focus on one of the most common causes of cough in children \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

How long will a cough last? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

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<\/a>. Of course, every cold is different \u2013 don\u2019t be surprised if symptoms vary a bit from one cold to the next.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, during this time of year when so many viruses are circulating, some of your child\u2019s illnesses will overlap \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

How often do most kids get sick? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The frequency of colds and coughs also depends on your child\u2019s 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\u2019s easy to see why it might feel like young kids are constantly sick this time of year.<\/p>\n

How can I treat my child\u2019s cough? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Treating coughs can also be challenging, especially for the younger crowd. There simply aren\u2019t many medications available. Over-the-counter cold medications shouldn\u2019t be given to kids under age 6. However, there are some good home remedies:<\/p>\n

Ages 0 to 3 months:<\/p>\n