Dallen Ormond, N.P. from Families First Pediatrics came on GTU to talk about coughs in children.
Coughs are important because they help clear out the body's airways. It is normal for children to cough occasionally. However, a cough can be a symptom of an illness or condition.
"Dry" coughs are when mucus isn't brought up, and "wet" coughs are when mucus comes up. The sound is different depending on if it is wet or dry.
The most common causes of coughs in children are:
- Infections
- Asthma
- Other lung problems
- Coughing out of habit
You should take your child to the doctor if he or she is younger than three months old, has noisy breathing, fast breathing or is having trouble breathing, gets a cough after choking on food, is coughing up blood or yellow or green mucus, refuses to drink, has a fever, vomits when coughing or has had the cough two weeks or more.
If your child has a cough, doctors recommend to have him or her drink lots of fluids, use a humidifier in the bedroom and sit in the bathroom while you run hot water in the shower to make it steamy.
Do not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children, especially if they are younger than six years.
Families First Pediatrics is located at 1268 West South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan. (801) 254-9700
Fore more information, please visit: http://www.ffpeds.com.
