Cough

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Child is coughing?

Let's figure out how to take care of this.
Pharmacist

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Coughing is a way to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles, bacteria and viruses.

There are dry (no mucus) and productive (brings up mucus) cough.

Before seeing what to use over-the-counter, let's make sure this is not an emergency or urgent care situation.


Girl coughing

FYI Continue

 

 

 

Cough

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How serious is this?

With this cough, is the child also experiencing shortness of breath?

Or difficulty breathing?
Pharmacist

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • We are looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Children's ER

 

Did he or she break out in hives with this cough?
Pharmacist

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • We are looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Children's ER

 

Is the child also experiencing a swollen face with this cough?

Or swollen throat?
Pharmacist

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • We are looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Children's ER

 

What about difficulty swallowing with this cough?

...and the child doesn't have a sore throat.
Pharmacist

 

Go to the Emergency Room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • We are looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous.

Seek urgent care

Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.

Children's ER

 

OK.
We tried to rule out emergency situations.
Pharmacist

Potentially fatal emergency situations include an allergic reaction.

Let's find out if the child need to see a doctor for this cough and how urgent.

Continue

 

 

 

 

Cough

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Need a doctor?

Does he or she also have fever with this cough?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Your child may be looking at a bacterial or viral infection.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is he or she coughing up blood?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Especially if the child is experiencing:

  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Night sweats.

Possibly looking at Tuberculosis.


Nearest Clinic

 

When breathing in, does the child make high pitched sound?

Called stridor?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • The wind pipe has narrowed.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is the child coughing up thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green mucus?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible bacteria infection.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is the child experiencing a violent cough that begins suddenly?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need to rule out whooping cough.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is this cough worse at night?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • GERD (Acid reflux situation)
  • Suspect GERD especially if there is burning chest or abdominal pain and a sour taste in the mouth when the child wakes up.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is the cough worse in the early morning when the child first wakes up?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • GERD (Acid reflux situation)
  • Suspect GERD especially if there is burning chest or abdominal pain and a sour taste in the mouth when the child wakes up.

Nearest Clinic

 


Is the cough dry (no mucus) or productive (brings up mucus)?
Pharmacist

Dry Productive

 

 

 

 

Cough

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Dry cough.

Child is trying to clear a foreign sensation in the throat.
Pharmacist
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A dry cough is the body's attempt to clear a foreign sensation present in the throat.

This sensation is due to inflammation of the throat and airways as in the beginning of a cold or flu or with inhaled pollens.

Let's see what may be causing the dry cough.

FYI

 

Did the child just start taking a new prescription medication?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Check with the pharmacist and see if dry cough is a side effect.
Pharmacist

If the cough started after your child started taking this medication, discuss this with the doctor.

Do not stop giving the medication unless told to do so by the physician.

 

Does your child get heartburn or GERD often?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This can lead to dry cough. It is a good idea to take care of this.
Pharmacist

 


If answer is "No" so far, the dry cough may signal a coming cold.
Pharmacist

Assuming the cough is due to runny nose or that your child is coming down with a cold, let's see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter to take care of this.

Urgent Care Pharmacist

 

 

 

 

Cough

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Productive cough

Productive cough is common with respiratory infections, allergies or runny nose.
Pharmacist
Close

If your child has a cold or flu, it is usually in the middle of the illness as the throat is trying to get rid of all the mucus that has been produced.

It is important to thin the mucus and expectorate it (bring it up).

A thick mucus could accumulate and block the respiratory pathways.

Moreover, you want to bring it up and out rather than let it carry all the bacteria and viruses to the lungs thereby providing a risk for pneumonia.

Let's see what is available over-the-counter.

Or would you like to go to the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you?

FYI Urgent Care Pharmacist

 

 

 

 

Cough

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On what day is this cough your child is experiencing?
Pharmacist


Pharmacist

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Option3