Cough occurs when something other than air gets into the airways below the vocal cords. The airways prefer air than anything else. As a result when anything like mucus gets into the lower airways, it is quickly expelled. Cough in children is mostly due to post natal drip. Mucous drains from the upper airways into the lower airways. However some cough also originate in the lower airways.

What are the causes of cough ?

Some of the common causes of cough in children include the following :

• Common cold
• Viral cough : This is similar to cold but the lower airways is infected by a virus.
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Bronchiolitis
• Croup
• Sinusitis
• Whooping cough
• Bronchitis
• Asthma

How should i treat a cough ?

Most coughs  are viral infections and as a result there isn’t much you can do. Antibiotics will not help in this case. However you can take certain steps to make the child comfortable.

• Clear the airline by using saline in the nose.
• Maintain good hydration to keep secretions looser.
•  Soothe the throat with warm fluid and honey (only for children over 1 year of age).
• Avoid smoke exposure
• Use cough drops for children over 4 years old.
• Use stream or a humidifier  to keep the nasal passages from clogging up.
• Only give decongestants or cough suppressants to children over the age of 6. You should only give if its seems to temporary ease symptoms.