Infant cough can be quite problematic, making it difficult for the child child to eat or sleep. A sick infant who does not sleep will keep the whole house awake, creating additional problems. While a cough, be it with phlegm or without phlegm, is not a serious medical condition, dealing with it can be quite a task. This has been made even more difficult since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisory against giving children under the age of 4 years any kind of over-the-counter cough and cold medication.
Most coughs are caused by flu or cold viruses and usually clear up on their own after a few days. The type of cough your child has as well as any additional symptoms can be indicative of the cause. Coughs are usually caused by mucus secretion in the throat. At times, the cough may just be caused by an allergic reaction to dust and other pollutants in the air. These usually clear up in a short while. At other times the cough may be due to an infection in the respiratory tract that causes mucus to form in the affected areas such as the throat and the lungs. The accumulation of mucus along with dust and other pollutants leads to the development of phlegm. Coughs with phlegm can cause severe congestion in babies by blocking the lungs and airways making it difficult for the child to breathe.
More serious are the cases where the cough is accompanied by additional symptoms such as fever, wheezing and fast or hard breathing. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms in combination with a cough then you should consult your doctor immediately.
Home Remedies:
How to get rid of or reduce the severity of a cough is a question most parents grapple with in the first few years of their child’s life. This is because infants with their immature immune systems are extremely prone to falling sick. Since over-the-counter medications may cause serious harm, most people have to rely on home remedies of which there are quite a few.
Treatments:
For clearing blocked nasal passages, experts recommend the use of saline drops. You could buy saline drops at your local pharmacy or make your own at home. This can be done by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt in half a cup of warm water. Store the solution in a clean covered jar and discard any unused portion after 24 hours.
Tilt your baby’s head backwards using a rolled up towel for support. Squeeze about three drops of this solution into the nostrils separately while keeping your baby’s head still for about ½ a minute. The saline solution should thin the mucus orloosen it. Turn the baby over and let the mucus drain. After wiping the nose, repeat the procedure. Clean one nostril at a time while keeping the other nostril gently pressed shut.
You will need to inform your child's pediatrician in the event of any of the following: