Causes of coughing in a child's sleep, how to provide first aid during an attack
An unexpected strong cough in a child at night is a cause for justified concern for parents. The main cause of concern is those cases when the baby behaves normally during the day, looks healthy, but sleeps poorly and coughs at night. We urgently need to take action. First of all, when a child coughs in his sleep, you will need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the disturbance. Coughing in children in a dream indicates the body’s fight against infection or inflammation. Coughing at night is not a cause, but a consequence of a lesion.
Signs
Sleep apnea is not always easy to notice. In babies, it is more often noted by parents with sensitive sleep or those who sleep little for one reason or another. You can suspect a short-term cessation of breathing in a child at night in the following cases:
- If he breathes through his mouth during the day.
- There is urinary incontinence (at night and during the day).
- The baby is sweating a lot.
- During the day he is sleepy and inactive.
- Sleeps in an unusual position (kneels and lies head down) or is very restless, screams, often wakes up, and suffers from nightmares.
- Snores or snores heavily.
- There are behavioral disorders.
During a prolonged attack, you may notice not only a lack of chest movement in a child, but also a decrease in heart rate. This is accompanied by a bluish discoloration of the nasolabial triangle and subungual areas.
Etiology of nocturnal attacks in children
Eruption of baby teeth
In such a situation, the child coughs in his sleep due to pain that develops in the gums. At the same time, it becomes difficult for the baby to swallow saliva and coughing occurs. In this situation, parents should put the child to sleep on his side, placing a small pillow under his head so that he cannot choke on saliva.
Viral pathologies of respiratory diseases
Allergies
If a child has unexpected coughing attacks during sleep, one must also take into account a possible cause such as an allergic reaction. It is also accompanied by a rash and runny nose. The causes of an allergic cough are:
- poor-quality bed linen fabric;
- new tansy or bedding that was not washed before use;
- buying a new washing powder;
- plants near the crib;
- filling in duvets and pillows;
- synthetic and plastic toys and other interior items in the nursery;
- soft toys, because dust accumulates in them.
An allergic cough in a child during sleep can be easily distinguished from another by the following signs:
- slight swelling of the face and nose;
- runny nose;
- drowsiness or, conversely, refusal to sleep;
- increased sweating;
- redness of the eyes;
- lacrimation.
Allergic coughing never occurs along with intoxication and chills. If you give your child an antihistamine and move him to another room, the attack will go away.
Gastro-food reflux
If a child coughs while sleeping, this may also indicate gastroesophageal reflux. The condition is complemented by prolonged daytime heartburn. Such disorders are most often associated with congenital pathologies, inflammation of the esophagus or stomach, the way the body works, or overeating before bed.
Helminths
Few take into account the fact that helminths in the body can also cause a child to cough while sleeping. When they damage organs, a rejection reaction occurs. And irritation from parasites is manifested by coughing.
What to do if a child chokes on snot in his sleep?
If a baby suffocates with a runny nose, then vomiting from snot is only a symptom, not a cause. First of all, to solve this problem, children must undergo an examination and, if necessary, pass all tests. This will help determine exactly what caused the appearance of abundant mucus in the larynx.
When a child vomits for a long time, you need to call a doctor at home. Until the ambulance arrives, he needs to be laid down and given more fluids. Do not feed rough foods that irritate the intestines. It is not advisable to take any measures before the pediatrician arrives. Even if there is an increase in body temperature. You need to be close to the baby at all times so that he is not afraid, and at the first sign of a gag reflex, take the necessary actions.
When children choke from accumulated mucus, treatment should be aimed at cleansing the nasal mucosa. The nose is washed several times a day with decoctions of medicinal herbs or saline solutions purchased at the pharmacy. Rinsing the nose will not only remove accumulated mucus, but will also relieve inflammation and swelling. Also, during washing, some of the bacteria are washed out along with the solution.
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How to quickly get rid of green snot in a child, how to treat it
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Drops based on plant extracts (Pinosol, Sanorin) are effective in combating nasal congestion. Unlike vasoconstrictor drops, which negatively affect the delicate mucous membrane of children, herbal sprays gently cleanse the nose of snot and moisturize the walls of the nasal mucosa, disinfecting it at the same time.
When children begin to vomit, more water should be given. Taking action on your own can be dangerous, especially if it starts in an infant. It is difficult to say what caused such ailments, so the best option is to wait for the doctor.
It is impossible to give “adult” medicines for the common cold to children due to the fact that the concentration of substances in such medicines is much higher than in children’s medicines. And the use of tablets or drops only leads to a worsening of your child’s condition.
The medications necessary for therapy are prescribed by a doctor. He also prescribes the dosage and duration of treatment.
After some time, you should see your pediatrician again. By following all the doctor’s recommendations to cure your child, your child will be cured much faster.
How to calm a bad cough at night
These methods will help you feel better and sleep well until the morning. Some parents, without a doctor’s testimony, are at a loss and do not understand how to carry out treatment or at least alleviate the condition. So, you should call an ambulance during a coughing attack if it is accompanied by the following signs:
- strong increase in temperature;
- whistling when coughing;
- coughing up blood;
- cough with vomiting;
- complaints of severe pain;
- appearance of rashes.
If there are no symptoms listed above, then you can use the tips described above and wait until the morning. The famous pediatrician Komarovsky says that cough is the body’s defense, so it is necessary to establish its cause and treat it first. But at the same time, do not forget to relieve coughing, which causes severe discomfort. This is very easy to do by drinking plenty of fluids and frequently airing the rooms.
Preventing cough at night
Parents should pay attention to the prevention of attacks. When a child coughs during sleep, it interferes with proper rest and recuperation, which are very necessary for normal growth and development. To prevent attacks at night, you should do the following:
- Before going to bed, ventilate the room.
- Be sure to do wet cleaning at least 2 times a week.
- Prevent contact with potential allergens.
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Cough mechanism and why it is needed
The cough itself is a powerful defense mechanism of the body that helps clear the airways of any foreign objects or secretions. Cough can be caused by:
- allergic reactions;
- foreign objects (small parts, crumbs, drops of liquid);
- diseases.
It should be noted that this symptom can indicate not only inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract, but also problems with the heart or gastrointestinal tract. For example, the first may be indicated by frequent coughing at night.
The symptom can be of two types:
- wet cough (productive) - it removes phlegm and clears the pathways;
- dry cough (non-productive) - it does not produce sputum.
From the point of view of the attending physician, the most desirable is a wet cough, as it removes mucus and does not allow it to sink lower. The constant removal of sputum prevents the growth of bacteria and speeds up the healing process. A dry cough only exhausts the body and irritates the mucous membrane, so they try to first treat this type, and only then treat it.
How to eliminate night cough
A child has a severe cough at night, what should I do? This question worries many parents. Due to the characteristics of the larynx in children, coughing is most difficult at night. During this period, attacks may be so severe that the child simply cannot fall asleep.
It is worth distinguishing between an ordinary, albeit unpleasant, night cough and a paroxysmal cough - when the threat of suffocation seems quite real. During a normal wet or dry cough, coughing lasts no more than a minute, and the child himself does not complain of dizziness or spasms. The only complaint during this period is, as usual, a sore throat. But if a child has a seizure for 3-4 minutes, or when coughing there are clearly signs of breathing problems, this is a serious reason to worry.
It is important to remember that at the first suspicion of suffocation, you should call an ambulance! Failure to provide timely medical care can lead to death. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, since there are many infections and diseases that provoke such an attack. Only a doctor can determine the cause and correctly prescribe the appropriate treatment.
It is important to provide all the necessary information about the course of the child’s illness:
- when did the first symptoms appear?
In addition, the lungs must be listened to. This allows for an even more accurate diagnosis. After visiting a doctor, you must strictly adhere to his recommendations.
Girls, the child is choking on snot! What to do??? They were lying...
— At night, go to bed with your head higher up. Either on the pillow (adult) or under the mattress, put something to give. That’s what they told me in the infectious disease department, that’s what the pediatricians told me at the clinic, and I know from myself that it’s easier to breathe this way. When I’m sick, I sleep like a giraffe from good night kids))) you might also need to change your vasoconstrictors, since apparently they don’t help. And also nozzle ejector and nozzle ejector are different. I bought a baby vac at one time and didn’t regret it. Everything cleans up perfectly. As a rule, I cleaned my nose with it before bed and in the morning. Get better!!!
