What is a cough? And when you need to go to the doctor?

Cough is a protective reflex of the body, which provides "purity" of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. When you get into airway foreign bodies (dust, small things, water, food, etc.) or when in the bronchi is accumulated mucus, the cough reflex is activated that helps to cleanse the respiratory tract. In some cases, the cough reflex may be a response to irritation of the sensitive receptors contained in the respiratory tract (cold air).

In other cases, the cough may be associated with a reduction of the threshold of sensitivity of the cough reflex (certain drugs, for example inhibitors of the enzyme adenosine). In rare cases, the cough may be associated with rare health disorders (pathology of metabolism, congenital malformations). More information can be found on the website:

What is the cause of the cough?

the Cause of cough can be infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminthes) and noninfectious (malformations, metabolic disorders, congestive heart failure). The overwhelming number of cases, coughing is associated with infectious agents. Among the infectious agents that cause cough, is dominated by viruses.

What vaccines are able to protect your child from coughing?

There are a number of diseases that may cause cough in children. To date, there are, from which you can protect your child through vaccination. These include:

the
• Diphtheria
the
• Whooping cough
the
• Haemophilus influenzae
the
• Measles
the
• Measles
the
• Tuberculosis
the
• Influenza
the
• pneumococcal infection
the
• Chickenpox;
the
• meningococcal disease.

the Issue of vaccinations, Your child can ask family doctor or therapist.

What is the flu?

In most cases, the coughing associated with acute respiratory infections (colds). The symptoms of a cold may include cough, runny nose, sneezing, headache, General malaise, lacrimation, sore throat, fever. Cold, in turn, in most cases linked to the virus. During the cold it is recommended to drink lots of fluids, lemon and honey, but only if there is no allergic reaction to these products. Light forms occur without complications and generally do not need treatment.

When should I consult a doctor?

If the child except for the cough the following conditions: the body temperature exceeds 38.5 CºC, heavy breathing, accelerated breathing rate, rapid pulse, coughing up blood, if the child swallowed foreign body, if the child became ill after the trauma of the thorax - immediately call a doctor.

If your child has symptoms of flu (sudden onset of illness, fever more than 38.5º C, headache, myalgia, dry cough, General weakness) or a child is ill during the epidemic of flu - call your family doctor or therapist.

Treatment

According to the results of a medical examination You will receive the advice necessary medical examinations and appropriate treatment. Treated in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor, remember that self-treatment or treatment on the advice of the Internet may not only be useless but also harm the health of Your child.

If the child has a raised temperature (fever) - use cooling methods:

the
1. Undress the child;
the
2. Provide fresh air;

After 20 minutes, again measure the body temperature of the child. If the temperature does not fall - give your child a drug to temperature, according to the instructions, and after an hour measure the body temperature of Your child. If the temperature does not fall - call your doctor. In any case, inform Your doctor that the child is ill.

Antibiotics in many cases not effective against colds. Be sure to discuss the issue of antibiotics with your doctor.

Translated by "Yandex.Translate": translate.yandex.ru.