It’s the time of year for that pesky cough. It just won’t go away not matter what I do. Let’s talk about it.
Most of the time an ACUTE cough doesn’t come from the lungs, it comes from postnasal drip (runny nose). This can be caused by viral infections like COVID, flu, human rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, etc., and can last— listen to this— for up to 8 weeks after the infection!!
What is that cough doing for us? It’s clearing our airway- so that pipe that runs to our lungs can push air back and forth. It’s our body’s way of helping us– as aggravating and frustrating as it is. That’s one of the reasons so many providers are hesitant to treat a cough in a child– if we suppress the cough, the mucous goes to the lungs, and that can open up a new can of worms.
What can we do about it? First things first– hydrate! My patient’s get tired of me telling them– “make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids”, but it’s the truth- we gotta drink drink drink!
Another at home remedy you can do is honey. Yes, honey. As long as your child has no allergies to honey, and is over a year old, give them that honey. It has been proven to be one of the best remedies to soothe a cough. A teaspoon of straight honey- go ahead and try it.
As long as there is no choking risk, hard candy or lozenges help soothe the cough as well.
And here is a tip– get some ponaris (look it up- it’s essential oils)– mix that bad boy with some nasacort or ipratropium nasal spray– use as a spray 2 or 3 times per day.
Always consult with your provider regarding causes and treatment of cough, but hopefully these little tips and tricks can help.