Cough forms

Barking coughing occurs particularly in the form of coughing fits, in which the children hardly get any air during the fit. The cough sounds similar to the barking of a dog, although it is usually a dry cough. Typically, barking dry coughs occur with pseudocroup (laryngitis subglottica), a viral infection with cold symptoms.

A whistling cough can occur at the same time. Whooping coughs are also accompanied by coughing attacks of barking cough. Dry cough can occur in many diseases.

Often it is merely a irritable cough without any deeper meaning. Dry cough can also indicate the following clinical pictures: Asthma (occurring in attacks, especially at night or during exertion, sometimes slimy with glassy secretion, sometimes whistling), swallowing (aspiration, especially in small children), pneumonia (dry to slimy), inhalation of irritants (usually in combination with reddened eyes and runny nose) or in the context of pseudocroup. Slimy cough is usually a sign of infection, so it is typical in bronchitis and pneumonia.

It also occurs in the important but rare disease of cystic fibrosis. In addition, a mucusy cough with clear, glassy secretion is found in asthma. Panting cough can in principle occur with almost any type of cough and is a sign of great effort when coughing.

It can be very difficult to distinguish panting cough from barking cough. Since it is a sign of great effort, panting cough can occur in any type of cough, for example, asthma, whooping cough and pseudocroup. Whistling cough is a sign of obstruction, i.e. a narrowing of the airways.

This occurs in certain types of bronchitis and pneumonia, but is also typical in asthma. In addition to the whistling cough, a whistling noise can often be heard when breathing (gulling). Whistling coughing can also occur in combination with barking cough in pseudocroup.

General measures

In the foreground of the therapy is a symptomatic treatment, which should alleviate the symptoms. Since in children there is usually a viral infection behind the cough, there is often nothing more that can be done. If certain warning symptoms occur or the general condition of the child is very poor, a pediatrician should be consulted.

For symptomatic treatment, it is especially important to drink enough. As long as the child can produce enough saliva to keep the mucous membranes moist, the coughing irritation is less severe. In addition, drinking tea or milk with honey is also recommended.

In addition, a variety of sugar-free cough sweets are offered in pharmacies, which on the one hand help to keep the mucous membranes moist and on the other hand can alleviate the coughing irritation through vegetable ingredients. Symptom-reducing medicines should be used depending upon kind of the cough. If the cough is dry, a irritable cough and occurs particularly at night, so-called cough suppressants (antitussives) can be used, which can inhibit or suppress the cough stimulus (e.g. Capval).

Cough suppressants like these should not be used if the cough is productive (slimy) or if it is accompanied by a narrowing of the airways (obstruction, e.g. in asthma, bronchitis). If the cough is mucusy and stuck, expectorant medications can be used, such as Ambroxol, dried ivy leaf extract and many more. Besides a symptomatic therapy, if possible, a causal therapy of the underlying disease should also be carried out.

Inhalation can quickly remedy coughs, whether they are slimy or dry, and reliably relieve the symptoms. This should be carried out with hot water and possibly added substances such as camomile extract. Moistening the mucous membranes has a particularly soothing effect.

It is often advisable to start inhalation early after the onset of coughing, as it can prevent protracted progressions under certain circumstances.There are a few things to consider – especially with children: Children under two to three years of age cannot yet safely inhale with hot steam. Also with older children a supervisor should always be present, so that no misfortune happens and the child does not burn itself. Inhalation for too long should also be avoided.

Inhalation should be carried out in such a way that hot water is poured into a pot or inhaler. Camomile extract or a teaspoon of salt can be added. Essential oils and especially peppermint oil should be avoided as it can irritate the sensitive mucous membranes of children.

After the water has cooled down a little, bend over the steam and inhale for two to five minutes with deep breaths. To help the child tolerate the inhalation better, distraction techniques such as reading stories aloud in parallel can be helpful. For larger children, as well as smaller ones, a pot of hot water and some chamomile extract can also be placed in the room for twenty to thirty minutes to humidify the air, preferably with the doors and windows closed.

However, children with house dust allergies should not humidify the room, as house dust mites, which cause the allergy, can multiply better in damp air. Asthmatics should not inhale with hot water, as this can cause an asthma attack! As an alternative to hot water, electric inhalers and masks are available that atomize cold or warm salt water so that the steam can be inhaled. This is particularly effective for deep-seated mucus, as the droplets are smaller and can penetrate deeper into the airways.