Many children will continue coughing for 3 weeks or more following a simple cold.
Coughing is common in children, especially when they are preschool age, and is usually short-lived.
10 to 20 percent of preschoolers will cough for 3 weeks or more following a cold. Even children without a cold may cough on average 10 times a day but not consistently every day and usually not at night.
A daily cough for more than 4 weeks is not normal and may be a sign of chest disease.
It is important to take your child to the doctor if they have a daily cough for longer than 4 weeks. You should also see the doctor if your child has a cough and another problem, such as:
Check out Signs that children are struggling to breathe [1].
If you are worried that something is wrong or if you are in doubt, always see your doctor.
A cough is usually wet or dry.
A wet cough sounds 'chesty' and phlegmy.
A dry cough:
Young children usually have between 6 and 12 upper respiratory tract infections each year that may cluster around the winter months.
An asthma-related cough is usually dry and happens at night, with sport or in the early morning. An asthma cough is usually associated with other symptoms such as wheeze, allergy (eczema or hayfever), or a history of asthma and allergy in the family. If coughing is the only problem the child has, it is very unlikely to be due to asthma.
Secondhand cigarette smoke commonly causes children to cough even when they are well. Make sure your child's environment is smoke-free. Put smoke-free stickers up to let everyone know your home and car are smoke-free. If you want to give up smoking:
A wet, chesty cough is likely to be an infection. If it lasts more than 4 weeks, there may be underlying chest problems and your child should see a doctor. Don't just assume that a wet cough is a 'post-nasal drip' or mucus running down the back of the throat from a sinus infection.
See Whooping cough [3] for more information.
Croup may cause a harsh or barking cough (see Croup [4]).
Check out Signs that children are struggling to breathe [1].
Most coughs do not require treatment and get better by themselves within 3-4 weeks.
Make sure your child is not exposed to any cigarette smoke.
Cough medicines are not useful for treating cough.
Honey may be helpful for a cough due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection. But, wait until your baby is at least 12 months old before giving them honey - it can make young babies sick.
Antibiotics are not helpful for a cough caused by a viral infection. But, if your doctor finds that your child's cough is due to a bacterial infection in the throat or the chest, they may give prescribe antibiotics.
A long-lasting (persistent) wet cough can lead to the development of lung diseases such as bronchiectasis. See a video narrated by former Warriors rugby league player Wairangi Koopu. It focuses on recognising the signs of infection that can lead to bronchiectasis, and acting on them.
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the cooperation of the Starship Respiratory Service and the Asthma Foundation in making this content available to patients and families.
This page last reviewed 09 October 2018.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/signs-children-are-struggling-breathe
[2] https://quit.org.nz/
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/whooping-cough
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/croup
[5] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/if-your-child-has-bad-cough
[6] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F124