Cough is extremely common in children and usually gets better by itself with no specific treatment, although the cough often takes 2 to 3 weeks to disappear. Occasionally, children with cough can sometimes develop a chest infection.
Symptoms of a chest infection:
If your child has any of the following:
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If none of the above features are present
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
Causes of cough
Most cases of cough in children (under 5 years of age) are caused by viral infections; your child may also have a runny nose, cough or earache.
Treatment
Most children with cough do not need antibiotics. That's because research has shown that antibiotics make very little difference to how quickly your child gets better.
Antibiotics are usually only considered if your child has a high fever for more than 24 hours and is breathing faster than normal plus using extra effort when breathing. If your child has a wheeze and difficulty breathing, they are very unlikely to benefit from antibiotics but may benefit from inhalers.
In addition, if your child has any amber or red features above, they will need to be urgently seen by a healthcare professional who may decide that your child may benefit from additional treatment.
You can help relieve symptoms by:
It can take a few weeks for a child to fully recover from a cough. Children rarely cough up phlegm, but they are still clearing their chest. If you are worried that after an initial improvement, their cough getting significantly worse, or not getting better after 4 weeks, you should take your child to see their GP. Most children make a full recovery from a chest infection with no lasting effects.
Prevention
It is not always easy to avoid catching these infections. However, good hygiene practices can prevent infections spreading
This guidance is written by healthcare professionals from across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.