My Daughter Is Suffering From A Cough , Especially During

Posted on Mon, 15 Oct 2018

Question: My daughter is suffering from a cough, especially during the night. Its look like her chest is filled with a cough. She doesn't show other symptoms. No fever, no running nose. Just a cough and its start when she tries to sleep and become worse until midnight. Please assist.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steam inhalation is the mainstay of treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.

I have gone carefully through the details and understand your concern. Most often such symptoms are due to viral infections and antibiotics are ineffective in such cases. Irrespective of treatment it usually spontaneously resolves in 5-7 days. Some children are more prone to catching cold and recurrent episodes are seen.

Such infections are frequently associated with an allergic component and it is advisable to give some antiallergic like cetirizine once daily for next few days.

You need to give steam inhalation to your child. It helps in reducing the chest congestion. Just sit with your child on your lap and place the source of steam before you. The water vapor will be in the air and automatically the child will breathe it in. Water vapor will reach deep inside and would help in diluting the cough and thus would provide relief.

Please be patient. It may take a few days for the recovery to occur. It should spontaneously resolve in 5-7 days.

Hopefully, that would help. Feel free to write back in case of further queries.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (16 hours later)

Hi, Dr. thank you for your suggestion. Kindly prescribe the cetirizine intake. Is it syrup or tabs? Also, Kindly mention whether or not to take any steam inhalation meds like Duolin?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please let me know the present weight of the child

Detailed Answer:
Let me know the body weight and I will let you know the requisite dose.
Duolin inhaler can be taken if there is noisy breathing or wheezing. Otherwise, I do not think that it would be needed.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng