Dry cough in children: 10 tips to relieve and treat it

Beyond winter, cough affects children and adults at any time of the year. There are different types of cough, one of them being a dry cough. In children it sometimes seems difficult to alleviate and treat it, but there are many home remedies that are effective for this.

The dry type of cough is very characteristic. It occurs when there is an absence of mucus or phlegm, and it can occur in cases of flu, although not always. It is always necessary to visit the doctor, although the natural remedies presented in this article can be effective in treating a dry cough in children.

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Tips and home remedies to relieve a dry cough in children.

Dry cough in children can be very annoying. It occurs because there is an inflammation in the airways and the body tries to expel to get rid of the sensation it generates and the mucus. Cough regularly worsens at night, so it is appropriate to relieve dry cough and treat it.

As long as a dry cough in children is not accompanied by shortness of breath, fever, or other symptoms, it can be treated at home with these tips and a little patience. It is important to note that all these remedies presented below are applicable only for children over two years of age.

1. Drink a lot of water

If the dry cough is not very intense it can be relieved with water. The water should be taken alone, without fruit or additional sugars. The intention is to refresh the throat and larynx, as well as to moisten them.

On the other hand, drinking water is always a great help to soften and expel any mucus that may have in the upper respiratory tract, being a quick and simple alternative to relieve cough dry.

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2. Honey with lemon

The mixture of honey with lemon is perfect to relieve a cough. It also has a pleasant taste, so it is not difficult for children to want to take it. Honey helps soothe irritations, while lemon helps fight throat infections.

And is that the dry cough can be caused by irritation in the throat. That is why this natural remedy is very effective. It is enough to add the juice of a lemon to 4 tablespoons of honey and mix it to take it whenever you feel discomfort or the cough intensifies.

3. Sleeping inclined

At night it is common for the cough to get worse. To prevent this situation you have to tilt the bed a little. This helps so that the phlegm, if there is any, does not accumulate and stagnate, causing a cough.

It is enough to place some extra pillows so that the position of the child is more inclined than usual. It is important that he is comfortable, that is, he must not remain seated completely or with his head in an inappropriate position.

4. Take care of the air you breathe

If there are children around you should never smoke, and much less if he is sick with the respiratory tract. The responsibility of adults is to prevent cigarette smoke from reaching the child, this can worsen a clinical picture.

In addition, it will never be good for the child to constantly meet smokers, and if he has a cough it should definitely be avoided at all costs. The ideal is to purify the air as much as possible with plants that clean the air.

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5. Onion

Onion can be used as a home remedy to treat cough. But there is nothing to worry about, it is not about making the child eat onion. Surely it would not be easy to achieve it.

The onion in this case is cut and put next to the child's bed. You just have to cut it in half and leave it near where it sleeps. The vapors that this vegetable gives off help the phlegm to come off and the throat to deflate.

6. Do not drink cold drinks

During a cough episode it is advisable not to drink cold things. In addition to making the clinical picture worse, cold things make phlegm and mucus thick. Remember that a hot drink can help reduce inflammation of the throat.

For this reason it is always recommended to ingest infusions. It can be ginger, chamomile, or some harmless herb. If it is also sweetened with honey, no child will resist.

7. Keep the environment humid

To relieve a dry cough, it is best to moisten the room, especially at night. It is necessary to maintain a humid environment where the child goes to sleep, as it greatly improves the dry cough. If it is with a humidifier, it is much more to achieve it.

If you do not have a humidifier at home, you can improvise with a homemade one. A bowl of hot water can also work very well. Also, a great idea is to add eucalyptus to make an infusion.

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8. Chocolates with chocolate

Have you heard of this remedy? A cup of chocolates with bonbons seems the perfect remedy for those with a sweet tooth. The truth is that this home remedy from some grandmothers does not have a scientifically proven effectiveness, but it is the favorite of many children and even adults.

Just heat milk (with or without chocolate) and add some chocolates. In the past, chocolates were made from the marshmallow plant, which had healing properties. Hence the origin of this home remedy, which some still say is very effective even if science says otherwise.

9. Salt gargle

In older children, a dry cough can be relieved with a salt gargle.. It is important that the child knows how to gargle and cooperate with the procedure. You just have to dissolve a little salt (a tablespoon) in a cup of warm water.

With this water mixed with salt you have to gargle, which can be repeated several times during the day. In addition to moistening, this home remedy helps reduce inflammation of the throat, and thanks to this the dry cough in children reduces considerably.

10. Be attentive to any changes

Dry cough is one of several types of cough. However, your child may have other types of coughs, each of which may require special treatment. If there is a cough with phlegm, other types of home remedies may help.

You also have to be very attentive to the presence of whistles or whistles in breathing. If they occur, it is best to go to the doctor, as it could be that actually a bronchitis or an asthma attack.

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Bibliographic references

• Eccles, R. (2005). Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis, 5 (11), 718–725.