Cough

Northlake Children's Associates, P.A.

Pediatric Care & Pediatricians located in Mooresville, NC

You may think your child’s nagging cough is a remnant of a recent cold, but a cough can have many different causes. If your child’s cough has been ongoing or sounds different than usual, the pediatric specialists at Northlake Children’s Associates, PA, Mary-Margaret James, MD, and Majé Goodwin, MD, in Mooresville, North Carolina, can conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your child’s cough and provide the most appropriate treatment. Call the office today or book online.

704-266-3508

Cough Q & A

What is a cough?

A cough is a normal response to an irritation of the nerves in the throat or airway passage. The purpose of the cough is to push out the irritant. It’s normal to cough from time to time, but if your child’s cough seems to be lasting longer than normal or sounds unusual, there may be something else going on.

The pediatric specialists at Northlake Children’s Associates offer comprehensive individualized care and can find the underlying cause of your child’s cough and provide treatment for symptom relief.

What are common causes of a cough?

Your child may develop a cough from any number of causes. Some of the most common include:

Infection

Your child’s cold or flu symptoms can linger a bit, including the cough. Croup is also a common infection in children that causes a dry, bark-like cough that gets worse at night.

Acid reflux

Coughing is a common symptom in children with acid reflux. Your child may also complain of a burning sensation in the throat or chest.

Asthma

A wheezing cough that gets worse at night may be a sign of asthma. Coughing after activity is also common with asthma.

Allergies

If your child is allergic to pollen, dust, or pet dander, then it’s possible the cough is a symptom of the allergy.

Your child may also develop a cough if they swallowed something that went down the wrong pipe or from a respiratory irritant, such as cigarette smoke.

What treatments can help my child’s cough?

Treatment for your child’s cough depends on the underlying cause. Your Northlake Children’s Associates doctor provides comprehensive evaluations when you come in for care to help identify the underlying cause of your child’s cough.

While you may turn to cough syrup to help control your child’s cough, it may not be the most effective or safest remedy. Cough medicine shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 4.

A cough can affect your child’s sleep and activity. For a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s cough from a caring and compassionate team, call Northlake Children’s Associates today or book online.

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