It is clear that cough can be very annoying, both for the sufferer and for those who "suffer" around. In cold weather, children can wake up several times at night due to cough, they can get a sore throat ... But ultimately, the cough is not bad.
It is a mechanism to expel mucus from the airways (it is what is known as "productive cough"), when these are between the bronchi and the nose. In this way, thanks to the cough, the tracks are cleaned and oxygen entry is facilitated. It is good for expelling mucus and for children to breathe better. So, Why do we insist that the cough disappears?
Since the cough is a defense mechanism of the respiratory system that is activated automatically, it is not necessary to make it disappear. In fact, sometimes it is good to cause a cough voluntarily to eliminate those phlegm that bother us (although we know this to make adults better than children).
Eliminating cough is harmful
In the last issue of Famiped Magazine, an article entitled "Why shouldn't we treat a cough?" in which this question is presented in a very graphic way: if there is mucus in the nose, we sound to expel them. Why weren't we going to expel them if the mucus is somewhere else in the airways?
If the cough was removed there would be more mucus retention, less oxygenation and more airway obstruction. There would also be more risk of otitis and pneumonia. That is why the Spanish Association of Pediatrics in its Decalogue on cough in children points out that acute cough should not be treated with cough relievers, mucolytics, expectorants, antihistamines or nasal decongestants.
This is especially important in children under six years. In the little ones It is not proven that these medications are effective for the treatment of cough and the risks outweigh the possible benefits. If used, they should always be under medical control.
What we can do to reduce the discomfort caused by the cough to children, so that their throat does not hurt, is to keep them well hydrated with water or non-acidic drinks at a pleasant temperature, since the cough irritates and dries the throat. A non-dry but humid environment is also favorable (the humidifiers in the bathroom so that the mucus circulates and soothes the cough are very useful).
Remember that it is good that the mucus circulates, and there are many different tricks to the medication to eliminate the cough that facilitates that circulation so that the airways of the baby or child are cleared. Cough treatments are not effective, and may involve risks.
However, remember that there are some cases in which the cough is a sign of something more than a simple cold. That is why if there are symptoms such as difficulty breathing (the ribs are marked and the sternum sinks, there are pitos, very fast breathing, agitated ...), fever that lasts more than three days, pain or suppuration of ears or cough lasts longer From 10-15 days you have to go to the doctor.
But in the most common cases, in short, what you have to have is a lot of patience with a cough, colds are not cured with medicines but fortunately they are cured. The spontaneous evolution in six or seven days is favorable and we will say goodbye to mucus and cough ... until next time.
