If your child has a high fever, difficulty breathing, is not drinking very much or has fewer wet nappies than usual, take them to see the GP. If your child seems unwell and you are concerned, it is a good idea to take them to your GP. The doctor will check your child for other causes of cough. Honey should be avoided in children less than 12 months old, because there may be a risk of a rare condition called botulism, which causes muscle weakness. As a short-term solution, one to two teaspoons of honey taken 30 minutes before bedtime may be helpful for children older than 12 months. There is some evidence that honey may reduce the severity and duration of a cough.Children older than six should only take cough medicines on the advice of a health professional. However, there is no scientific evidence that cough medicines will be helpful.Cough medicines should not be used in children younger than six years old. Cough medicines are not useful in treating cough in children in fact, recent studies suggest that some cough medicines may be harmful to younger children.Cigarette smoke will make the cough worse, so it is essential that you do not expose your child to smoke.If your child is otherwise well, it is unlikely that there will be a serious cause for the cough. In these cases, antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to treat a bacterial infection. Occasionally a cough may be caused by a bacterial infection in the throat or chest. Sometimes, children may cough for many weeks after a viral infection – this is called a post-viral cough and, again, antibiotics are usually no help. Young children usually have six to 12 respiratory tract infections per year, usually caused by viruses.Īntibiotics don't help with coughs caused by viruses. Cough is a very common problem for children. The most common cause of cough is a respiratory tract infection, such as a cold.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |