Cause bcough in babies can vary. Some are harmless, some are something to watch out for. Therefore, parents need to know what causes cough in babies and recognize what kind of cough is dangerous, so that they can get the right treatment.
Basically, coughing is a natural body reaction that is useful for keeping the respiratory tract clean. This condition generally heals on its own after dirt, germs, or viruses in the respiratory tract have been removed from the respiratory tract.
However, if the cough does not go away, this may indicate a certain health problem.
Krecognize type and Cause Cough on Baby
Cough in babies is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, stuffy nose, sore throat, and no appetite. As in adults, cough in infants can be divided into two types, namely:
dry cough
Dry cough in babies is generally triggered by a viral infection that causes a cold or flu. In fact, there is research that shows that babies are prone to colds and can experience up to 7 colds in the first year of life.
Babies are prone to have a dry cough due to the flu because their immune system is not fully formed so they are prone to infection. Apart from the flu, a dry cough in babies can also be a sign of certain health conditions, such as allergies, whooping cough, croup, or asthma.
Coughing can also sometimes be a symptom of COVID-19 in infants, but transmission of the disease to infants is relatively rare.
Cough with phlegm
Coughing up phlegm in babies can be a sign that he has irritation or infection in his respiratory tract. You can tell the cause by looking at the color of the phlegm.
For example, coughing up white or clear phlegm is usually caused by a viral infection, such as the flu, ARI, or bronchiolitis, as well as respiratory tract irritation due to allergies or exposure to cigarette smoke.
Meanwhile, yellow or greenish phlegm is generally caused by a bacterial infection, for example in sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis.
Coughing up red or reddish phlegm is a condition to watch out for. This indicates that there is bleeding in the baby's airways, lungs, or stomach.
Simple Way Relieve Cough on Baby
Now, more and more kinds of cough and cold medicines are sold freely. However, given the risk of side effects, infants and children under 6 years of age are not recommended to be given cough or cold medicines without a doctor's prescription.
There are some simple ways you can do at home to relieve cough in babies, namely:
- Give the baby more breast milk (ASI) to help his body fight infection
- Let the baby rest and sleep more
- Use humidifier in the bedroom or warm steam to help clear the baby's airways
- Keep babies away from pollution and substances that can irritate the respiratory tract, such as dust, cigarette smoke, or vehicle fumes
- Dripping a solution of warm saline or sterile saline into the baby's nose to relieve a cough that is accompanied by a runny nose
Sign-Tyou are Danger When Baby Cough
Although coughing is known as a natural body reaction, there are some danger signs to watch out for when your baby has a cough, including:
- Do not want to breastfeed until you are dehydrated, which can be indicated by dry mouth and lips, no tears when crying, looks very weak, and the diaper is still dry even though it has been used for more than 6 hours
- Fever is high and lasts more than 3 days, especially in infants under 3 months of age
- Cough until vomiting
- Looks pale or bluish
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- Cough with yellow, green, or brown phlegm
In addition, there are also dangerous and easily spread cough conditions, namely whooping cough and diphtheria. You need to know, children under 5 years old, including babies, have a high risk of getting diphtheria.
To prevent the occurrence of various diseases that can cause coughing in infants and children, complete the Little One's immunizations according to the schedule. If your child's cough is accompanied by some of the symptoms or signs of danger as above, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
