Cough

:kidshealth.org.nz

2013/02/24

833

Key points to remember

- coughing is common in children, especially when they are pre-school age

- causes of cough include colds, asthma and chest infections. Second-hand cigarette smoke commonly causes children to cough even when they are well

- many children will continue coughing for three weeks or more following a simple cold

- a cough that lasts longer than four weeks is not normal and may be a sign of chest disease

- you need to see a doctor if your child has had a cough and a fever, is working hard at breathing, or the cough has lasted more than four weeks

How common is coughing?

Coughing is common in children, especially when they are pre-school age, and is usually short-lived.

Ten to twenty percent of preschoolers will cough for three weeks or more following a cold. Even children without a cold may cough on average ten times a day but not consistently every day and usually not at night.

A daily cough for greater than four weeks is NOT normal and may be a sign of chest disease.

When should I seek help?

It is important to take your child to the doctor if they have:

- a persistent daily cough for longer than four weeks, or

- a cough and another problem, such as:

*working hard with their breathing, or
* breathing fast, or
* having a temperature higher than 38.5 degrees Celsius, or
* not speaking normally or being unable to finish a whole sentence because of their coughing or breathing, or
* wheezing or whistling in their chest, or