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Suggest Treatment For Dry Cough In A Child

Posted on Mon, 22 May 2017

Question: Hello,
My baby is having dry cough. He is coughed 8 times in 3 hours from 8 pm. His cough is 2-3 dry cough at one time sometimes followed by sound or breathe. I gave him ventryl expectorant 5 drops 11 am 10 drops 5 pm and 8 drops at 11 pm today. He was having cough from 2-3 days. It increased more today so started with syrup. Please suggest

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be due to a viral cause

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through the details and understand your concern. Most often such symptoms are due to viral infections and antibiotics are ineffective in such cases. Irrespective of treatment it usually spontaneously resolves in 5-7 days. Some children are more prone to catching cold and recurrent episodes are seen.

You need to give steam inhalation to your child. It helps in reducing the congestion. Just sit with your child on your lap and place the source of steam before you. The water vapor will be in the air and automatically the child will breathe it in. Water vapor will reach deep inside and would help in diluting the cough and thus would provide relief. Ventryl expectorant acts in the same manner by making the cough productive. Use Nasoclear Saline Nasal Drops in case of nose block.

To know whether the dose of Ventryl expectorant is adequate I would need to know the body weight of the baby. Also mention the age and let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 hours later)

My baby weight is 5.6 kg and 3 months 10 days old

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ventryl Expectorant need not be given to a child of this age.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for the inadvertent delay in replying. Ventryl Expectorant is usually not given in children below 6 months although I guess it would not harm since you have already given it. I do not think that you need to continue it. In this context let me add that in cough in children of this age can also occur due to reflux. The junction of the stomach and food pipe is not tight and the stomach contents regurgitating back to the food pipe can cause irritation and thereby cough. It is not something to be concerned about. Proper burping should provide relief.

Feel free to write back.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 hours later)

The child is coughing 3 times straight more in day n night. He has difficulty in breathing. It was given by child specialist. I heard its inappropriate for a child of 3 months to breathe

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No problem if you continue the medicine

Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back. You can give it as I do not expect any untoward effect from the medicine. Unless the rate of breathing is more than 50 per minute you need not worry (you can count the movement of the abdomen of the baby at rest for one full minute). It is only if the respiratory rate is raised that you need to consider pneumonia and get treatment with antibiotics done.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)

I check yesterday it was 35-40. Is it problem??

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Normal. Not a cause for concern.

Detailed Answer:
No, respiratory rate of 35-40 per minute for a child of this age is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T