Symptoms of chronic cough in children:
Chronic cough in children mainly causes recurrent coughing that lasts for a long time and worsens in the morning, evening, and after activity. It may also be accompanied by shortness of breath, palpitations, chest tightness, and noticeable wheezing, with phlegm feeling stuck in the throat. Other symptoms may include coughing up blood or hemoptysis.
1. Cough
One of the typical symptoms of chronic cough in children is coughing. If a child's cough persists for more than four weeks, it should be considered chronic cough. The child often coughs in the morning, evening, and after activity, but the cough may improve slightly after rest. The cough can also be significantly worsened by inhaling irritating gases or exposure to allergens. Some children's coughs are characterized by being dry and intermittent.
2. Difficulty breathing
Chronic cough in children often affects respiratory function and can cause breathing difficulties. Along with coughing, children often experience other symptoms such as coughing and asthma, which are related to the impact on breathing. If the condition continues to worsen, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing may gradually develop.
3. Palpitations and chest tightness
Rapid breathing can lead to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle and brain, resulting in symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. These symptoms can be significantly aggravated by strenuous exercise.
4. Wheezing
If a child's chronic cough is caused by bronchitis or congenital airway malformation, there will be obvious wheezing during an attack. In mild cases, it can be detected by auscultation, while in severe cases, it can be heard directly.
5. Phlegm in the throat
During a cough attack, a child may have phlegm in their throat, sometimes even purulent sputum or phlegm with blood. At this time, the lungs may already be inflamed or the bronchi may be dilated.
6. Other symptoms
When the condition becomes extremely severe, the child may cough up blood. In some cases, respiratory infection symptoms such as runny nose and nasal congestion may occur. Cough suppressants and bronchodilators must be used promptly; if necessary, beta-agonists, antihistamines, and theophylline may be administered.