How to Treat My Child’s Cough
Fall is here—bringing colorful leaves, cool breezes, and unfortunately, the start of allergy, cold, and flu season. With every runny nose or cough, it can be hard to know when to stay home and when to visit your child’s healthcare provider.
During cold and flu season, many parents grow alert at the first sound of a cough—and for good reason. The most common cause of a new cough in children is a viral infection. Illnesses such as the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 often start with coughing and congestion.
The good news? Most kids recover from viral infections within about a week. However, for very young children or those with weakened immune systems, even a mild respiratory illness can become serious. Knowing the signs to watch for and when to call your doctor can make all the difference in keeping your child healthy this fall.
What are Coughs?
Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness. While a cough can sound harsh or alarming, it’s not always a sign of something serious. In fact, coughing is a natural reflex that helps clear mucus, irritants, and germs from your child’s throat and lungs—keeping their airways clean and protected.
Most coughs in children are caused by viral infections such as the common cold or flu and usually improve within a week. However, if your child’s cough is severe, persistent, or lasts longer than seven days, it’s important to schedule a checkup with your pediatrician. The care team at Aspire Family Medical can help determine the cause of your child’s cough and provide personalized treatment to help them recover comfortably and safely.
What Are The Different Types of Coughs?
Understanding the different types of coughs can help you know when to handle them at home and when to call your doctor. Here is a helpful list of the most common types of cough. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your Aspire Family Medical healthcare team in Liberty Hill if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s cough.
Common Types of Coughs
The stridor or "barky" cough -
When the vocal cords become inflamed, it causes a dry, barky and brassy cough. This is also called croup, and the inflammation is usually caused by a respiratory virus such as the flu or common cold. Another characteristic of this cough is called a stridor, or high-pitched whistling, heard when a child breathes in. The whistle is the result of air struggling to get to the lungs.
When to see a doctor for a stridor cough:
If your child develops a barky cough and you begin to hear a stridor, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider. Schedule a doctor’s visit as soon as possible to assess your child’s breathing. However, if your child is having trouble breathing, turns pale or blue, or appears to be in distress, go to the emergency room right away.
The Wheezing Cough
If your child has a dry cough accompanied by a wheezing or whistling sound when breathing, it may be a sign of asthma. Unlike a typical viral cough that worsens at bedtime but eventually clears up, an asthma-related cough often becomes more persistent at night and doesn’t easily go away. If your child experiences 20 to 30 minutes of nonstop coughing, it’s important to have them evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Wheezing can also occur with viral infections such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). If your child has a wheezing cough along with signs of breathing difficulty—such as rapid breathing, flaring nostrils, ribs pulling in, or a bluish tint around the lips or skin— go to the emergency room right away. If it’s not an emergency, the healthcare professionals at Aspire Family Medical can assess your child’s symptoms and provide the right treatment to help them breathe easier and recover safely.
The Wet Cough
During winter, a wet cough is usually caused by a virus, although continual exposure to cigarette smoke or other irritants can also lead to a wet cough. Cold air or physical activity can worsen coughs during the daytime. Make sure that nothing in your house — like air fresheners, pets, or smoke (especially tobacco smoke) — is making your child's cough worse.
When to see a doctor for a wet cough:
A wet cough with a high fever (higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit) points to a more serious infection that needs medical attention. Also, look for an increased breathing rate, as it can be a sign of airway trouble.
At Home Tips for Cough Relief
Humidifier
A cool mist humidifier helps make breathing easier by reducing congestion in the nasal passages. Avoid using warm mist humidifiers, as they may cause nasal passages to swell, making breathing more difficult.
Saline Nose Drops
Saline nose drops or sprays help keep nasal passages moist and reduce stuffiness.
Nasal suctioning:
Nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe or a similar device, with or without saline nose drops, works very well for children under one year old. You can also use them on older children, but they often resist the use of bulb syringes.
Acetaminophen:
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to reduce fever, aches, and pain. Carefully read and follow the product’s instructions on the Drug Facts label or talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about dosage.
Stay Hydrated
Encourage children to drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.
A Note About Cough & Cold Medicines
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines can cause serious side effects in young children. Therefore, in October 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that OTC cough and cold medicines never be used in children under 4 years of age.
From ages 4 to 6, OTC medicines should be used only if recommended by your child's healthcare provider. After age 6, the medicines are safe to use, but follow the dosage instructions on the package. Numerous OTC cough and cold products contain many ingredients that can lead to accidental overdosing.
If you have questions regarding these products, ask your child’s healthcare team at Aspire Family Medical.
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Not every cough or sniffle requires a trip to the medical office, but it’s always best to check if you’re unsure. When in doubt, call your healthcare provider for guidance. At Aspire Family Medical, our team is here to support your family throughout cold and flu season with compassionate, patient-centered care.
We take the time to listen, answer your questions, and provide clear advice on how to manage coughs, colds, and other common illnesses at home. For added convenience, our Aspire Care Plan VIPs enjoy after-hours texting—so you can get peace of mind even when our office is closed.
Contact Aspire Family Medical today to learn more about our VIP plan or to schedule an appointment for your family’s cold and flu care.