What is a Prolonged Cough? Why does it happen in children?
Coughs exceeding 4 weeks in children are considered "prolonged cough" and should be investigated as they can cause serious lung damage. If the cause of the cough is not found and treated, children may develop lung problems in the long term. Although this period is accepted as 6-8 weeks in adults, coughs over 4 weeks are risky due to the sensitivity of children's lungs.
Main Causes of a Prolonged Cough
Infections Conditions such as respiratory infections, bronchitis, bronchiolitis or pneumonia can cause a prolonged cough. Cough may persist due to sputum accumulation, bronchial dilatation (bronchiectasis) or lung collapse (ateletasis).
Allergy and Asthma: Conditions such as cough increasing at night, allergic reactions and asthma stand out among the causes of cough. Particular attention should be paid to allergic bodies and children with a family history of asthma.
Reflux In young children, reflux can cause acid from the stomach to affect the respiratory tract and cause a cough.
Foreign Objects In children under 5 years of age, foreign body aspiration is an important cause of coughing. Foods such as nuts, peanuts or small objects can get into the respiratory tract and breathing difficulties may occur with sudden coughing.
Congenital Lung Diseases: Some congenital diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or structural lung problems, can lead to a prolonged cough.
Psychological Causes: Occasionally, coughs caused by psychological reasons (psychogenic cough) can also be seen where no physical cause can be found.
What to do against a prolonged cough?
If your child has a prolonged cough, a specialist should be consulted for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Although cough suppressant syrups or other medicines used without consulting a physician may seem to temporarily alleviate the condition, they may delay the underlying cause and cause greater lung damage. Therefore, it is not recommended to use cough syrups without investigating the underlying cause.
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- What to do
- Cough
- Causes of Cough
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