children hospital near me
Coughing is common in children and is often the body’s way of clearing mucus, irritants, or germs from the airways. A cough can occur along with a cold or another viral infection, but it improves as the child recovers.
However, a cough can be related to allergies, asthma, environmental irritants, and other conditions too.
To learn the underlying cause of your child’s cough, it’s better to meet with a paediatrician. Hyderabad is a popular destination for parents currently due to its fully equipped hospitals and experienced paediatricians. Searching for “pediatrician near me” in Hyderabad will help you connect with an expert who will provide an appropriate treatment.
Here, let’s take a look at common causes of cough in children:
Common Cold and Viral Infections
A cold is among the most common causes of cough in children. Respiratory viruses can cause a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, mild fever, and cough. Children may also cough because mucus from the nose trickles down the back of the throat.
These colds do not just cause coughing but also fever, tiredness, body aches, sore throat, and reduced appetite.
Asthma in Children
Children with asthma can experience repeated or long-lasting coughing. A child can have a dry cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness. Asthma symptoms can become worse at night, during exercise, or after exposure to triggers such as cold air, allergens, smoke, or air pollution.
Cough From Allergies
Children with allergies can also experience coughing. Children can cough after breathing in substances such as pollen, dust mites, mould, or pet allergens.
Allergic coughs can occur with sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, or other allergy symptoms. If a particular trigger makes coughing occur repeatedly, see a paediatrician.
Croup Cough in Children
Croup is a viral infection that affects the upper airways and can cause a distinctive barking cough. A child with croup may also experience a hoarse voice or a harsh or noisy sound while breathing in.
Bronchiolitis in Children
Bronchiolitis is a viral infection of the small airways and is common in babies and young children. This viral infection causes coughing, fast breathing, wheezing, feeding difficulties, and increased effort while breathing.
Exposure to Smoke and Air Pollution
A child’s airways can become irritated by tobacco smoke, vehicle exhaust, smog, strong fumes, and other airborne irritants. This can trigger or worsen coughing, particularly in children who already have sensitive airways or asthma.
It is necessary to keep children away from cigarettes and tobacco smoke; it does not matter whether they have asthma or not.
Whooping Cough in Children
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial respiratory infection that causes severe or repeated coughing spells. The cough may occur in bouts and can sometimes be followed by vomiting or difficulty catching the breath.
Pneumonia and Other Chest Infections
A cough in children can also be due to pneumonia, which affects the lungs. Depending on the cause and severity, a child can also have fever, rapid or difficult breathing, chest discomfort, tiredness, or reduced appetite.
Urgent medical help and intervention are needed for children who are struggling to breathe or are breathing much faster than usual.
Irritation or a Foreign Object in the Airway
If your child has inhaled a small object or food particles into the airway, then they may start coughing. This will cause sudden coughing, choking, noisy breathing, or difficulty breathing.
A cough that starts suddenly while the child is eating or playing with small objects must not be ignored by parents.
When Should You Take Your Child to a Paediatrician?
Your child needs a doctor’s help if their cough is:
- Lasting more than a few weeks
- Keeps returning
- Accompanied by wheezing or repeated breathing problems
- Interfering with sleep, eating, school, or normal activities
- Accompanied by fever, vomiting, or weakness
If your child is experiencing these symptoms, searching for “children hospital near me” in Hyderabad will help you find expert paediatricians.
The Cloudnine Advantage
Cloudnine is among the leading providers of children’s healthcare services in India. They provide paediatric care for children with common illnesses as well as respiratory and other childhood health concerns.
Their Hyderabad clinics offer paediatric consultations, neonatal care, and access to paediatric specialists.
Conclusion
Cough can be a common occurrence in childhood, but if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, tiredness, vomiting, etc., then your child needs medical help. Paying attention to how long the cough lasts, what other symptoms occur, and how the child is breathing can help parents decide when to seek medical care.
If you are a resident of Hyderabad, searching for “pediatrician near me” will help you connect with professionals such as those at Cloudnine. It is important to have the child evaluated by a paediatrician rather than relying only on home remedies.
