Coughing happen because body try release mucus from airways. An irritating coughing cause a sore throat, sore chest muscles and difficult to sleep. When your child attacked by a severe cough, persistent cough, or high fever, should you contact pediatrician. The following we will offer home remedies for coughing child to help parents reduce this disease when they find their child attacked by cough.
Humidify the Air
Barking cough sometime followed by croup. To treat croup at home you can make a steam in the bathroom through hot shower. When the bathroom filled by steam, let your child come in and inhale steam as much as possible about 20 minutes, such as recommended by FamilyDoctor.org. But if your child showing signs respiratory distress like making wheezing sounds, having trouble swallowing or getting a blue or dark tinge on his fingernails and around his mouth and lips, you must bring him to the emergency care to get medical help.
Honey
Honey can given to your child when he difficult to sleep because of cough. You can give him one up to two tsps before bed. Mayo Clinic internist James M. Steckelberg, M.D., said that honey is one of substance which able to suppress cough effectively. You can make a cup of warm tea and add honey into it. Honey only suitable for child more than one year old, it dangerous for babies under one year of age, because in some case make infant botulism.
Cough Drops and Cool Drinks
When your child experience coughing with a ticklish throat, cough drops or cool drinks can be reduce the irritation. According to Kids Health, you should avoid carbonated beverages and orange juice, because both may cause sore throat. Cough drops suitable for child more than four years old, because child under four years old can experience choking.
Herbal Remedies
In addition home remedies above herbal remedies also help to calm coughing child. But before you use it, should you contact your child's pediatrician. Because some herbal remedies inappropriate for your child's age. Peppermint is one of natural decongestant, believed able to be an expectorant. Eucalyptus also effective for colds and coughs. Vicks VapoRub can also reduce coughing child. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, slippery elm, licorice, sundew and thyme are herbal remedies for coughs.
Home remedies for coughing child can be alternative medicines, but you must be careful, because not all home remedies suitable for child according his age. And your child shows a severe cough, you have to call a pediatrician immediately to prevent condition worsen.
