Cough in Childhood

Abstract

There are many types of cough specific to or frequent in childhood. Chronic aspiration of milk in infants requires attention to choking during sucking. RSV bronchiolitis is prevalent mostly in winter. Recurrent episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia from infancy may suggest the presence of congenital anomaly of the airway. Pertussis, characterized by bursts of cough followed by inspiratory stridor, causes severe illness in neonates. Croup syndrome exhibits barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and hoarseness. Foreign body aspiration, seen most frequently in 1-year-old boys, shows respiratory symptoms after an apparent aspirated episode. Chronic cough severe only in daytime may be psychic.
Infantile cough lasting more than 3 weeks suggests the possibility of sinobronchitis. Productive cough and positive sinus X-ray (Waters view) findings lead to the diagnosis. Macrolides are usually effective in treatment.
Antitussive drugs must be used with caution, especially in children unable to expectorate spontaneously. Besides antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, e.g. tapping and postural drainage, combined with fluid intake is indispensable for children with significant secretion in the lower respiratory tract.