Why do children cough at night

If your child coughs or chokes frequently during sleep, the child may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea  is a sleep disorder caused by large tonsils and adenoids blocking the upper airways during the night. This makes it difficult to breathe . This condition peaks between 3 to 6 years  when the child’s tonsils and adenoids are large compared to the size of the child’s airways.

A cough can also be a symptom  of asthma, allergies or a cold or another illness especially when it is painful and persistent. Give your pediatrician a call if the cough makes it difficult for your child to breathe, lasts  longer than a week or  comes on suddenly accompanied by fever or after the child chokes on something.

What can i do about nighttime coughing ?

Let your doctor know if you think your child has sleep apnea. He will probably be observed and treated by a sleep expert. The sleep expert will in turn refer her to an ear, nose and throat specialist who  will evaluate her to check if her tonsils and adenoids need  to be removed. If they need to be removed , an outpatient surgery to remove them usually helps.

If the child is coughing at night because she is sick, you should elevate the head of the bed or give her a doctor’s approved cough medication. Giving  the child extra fluids  and running  the humidifier may help. If cough persist ( a potential sign of asthma) , contact your doctor.