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What Causes Severe Cough With Fever In A Child?
Question: Hi doctor, my son is 12 months and 26 days old so almost 1 year old.
The past 3 days he developed slight fever of about 37.3 and sometimes goes up to 38.5 , i started giving him paracetamol syrup when ever his fever goes above 38 degree celsius , the past three days i only gave him the fever medicine twice because his fever is mostly around 37.4 to 37.8 so it's not very high.
Today he developed a barky like sound cough that continues until his face goes red, it's like 5 to 8 continues coughs and then stops for a while and plays around and starts coughing again the same way.
otherwise he is playful in the morning even though at night he is crunky and keeps waking up and cries easily.
1.could this cough be pneumonia, or bronchitis ? or is it normal cold cough?
2.what signs should i expect if he might got pneumonia or bronchitis etc?
3.any medicines for cough relieving you suggest?
thanks
The past 3 days he developed slight fever of about 37.3 and sometimes goes up to 38.5 , i started giving him paracetamol syrup when ever his fever goes above 38 degree celsius , the past three days i only gave him the fever medicine twice because his fever is mostly around 37.4 to 37.8 so it's not very high.
Today he developed a barky like sound cough that continues until his face goes red, it's like 5 to 8 continues coughs and then stops for a while and plays around and starts coughing again the same way.
otherwise he is playful in the morning even though at night he is crunky and keeps waking up and cries easily.
1.could this cough be pneumonia, or bronchitis ? or is it normal cold cough?
2.what signs should i expect if he might got pneumonia or bronchitis etc?
3.any medicines for cough relieving you suggest?
thanks
Brief Answer:
It is probably due to croup. It is a common viral infection of this age.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through the details and understand your concerns. It seems to be a case of a viral infection that is commonly referred to as croup or bronchiolitis. Steam inhalation is the best thing to give to him. Just sit him on your lap and place the source of steam before you. Water vapour will be in the air and the child will automatically breathe it in. It will dilute the cough and would soothe the respiratory airways and would provide relief. Since the child is otherwise active, you need not worry.
1. & 2. This is neither pneumonia nor bronchitis. In pneumonia the rate of respiration will increase. It is likely to be associated with fever and laboured breathing. Since that is not the case you need not worry.
3. You can give him cetirizine syrup 2.5 ml once daily for 3-4 days. Other than this, steam inhalation is all you need to give. Give paracetamol as and when required.
Hope that helped.
Regards
It is probably due to croup. It is a common viral infection of this age.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through the details and understand your concerns. It seems to be a case of a viral infection that is commonly referred to as croup or bronchiolitis. Steam inhalation is the best thing to give to him. Just sit him on your lap and place the source of steam before you. Water vapour will be in the air and the child will automatically breathe it in. It will dilute the cough and would soothe the respiratory airways and would provide relief. Since the child is otherwise active, you need not worry.
1. & 2. This is neither pneumonia nor bronchitis. In pneumonia the rate of respiration will increase. It is likely to be associated with fever and laboured breathing. Since that is not the case you need not worry.
3. You can give him cetirizine syrup 2.5 ml once daily for 3-4 days. Other than this, steam inhalation is all you need to give. Give paracetamol as and when required.
Hope that helped.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor, thanks a lot for your quick response.
Today is his 4th day with the coughing and other flu symptoms such as runny nose etc.
I think he still has the coughing he had before even though i noticed that he coughs more often the before but he coughs less coughs at a time, i mean that he coughs twice to three times at once while the first day he was coughing till he gets red upto 7 times at once. at night when he is sleeping he sleeps well and coughs less, the cough become more when he wakes up during day time.
Secondly today he had a lot of phlegm came out with cough before he was coughing without phlegm, the phlegm looked liquidy (water like but thick) and transparent similar to the one from his runny nose.. He also doesn't eat well. he eats like two spoons and refused to eat more , but i insist on giving him breast milk which he kinds of drinks, he also showed little diarrhoea today
Finally tonight after i put him to sleep i noticed some wheezy like sounds while breathing, it's not high pitched and can be heard when i get close to him , i checked his lung sounds with my stethoscope (i'm second year medical student) and somewhere in his right lung i could hear some occasional disturbance sounds, i don't know if i could call it crackles or wheezy sound, but it did make some sounds that's not normal sound.. his breath rate is normal 24 breaths per minute.
1.is the or less coughs per time phlegm a sign of improvement or that it's getting worse?
2.could the lung sounds be a sign of stridor that needs medical attention? can he have stridor with normal breath rate?
3.how many days does usually croup cough take to recover ? it's 4 days now ?
4.do you suggest to take to hospital to do more checkups or wait and observe for signs ?
THANK YOU AGAIN ..
I forgot to mention that he has no fever since 2 to 3 days ago , the only symptoms he has now is what I mentioned above
Today is his 4th day with the coughing and other flu symptoms such as runny nose etc.
I think he still has the coughing he had before even though i noticed that he coughs more often the before but he coughs less coughs at a time, i mean that he coughs twice to three times at once while the first day he was coughing till he gets red upto 7 times at once. at night when he is sleeping he sleeps well and coughs less, the cough become more when he wakes up during day time.
Secondly today he had a lot of phlegm came out with cough before he was coughing without phlegm, the phlegm looked liquidy (water like but thick) and transparent similar to the one from his runny nose.. He also doesn't eat well. he eats like two spoons and refused to eat more , but i insist on giving him breast milk which he kinds of drinks, he also showed little diarrhoea today
Finally tonight after i put him to sleep i noticed some wheezy like sounds while breathing, it's not high pitched and can be heard when i get close to him , i checked his lung sounds with my stethoscope (i'm second year medical student) and somewhere in his right lung i could hear some occasional disturbance sounds, i don't know if i could call it crackles or wheezy sound, but it did make some sounds that's not normal sound.. his breath rate is normal 24 breaths per minute.
1.is the or less coughs per time phlegm a sign of improvement or that it's getting worse?
2.could the lung sounds be a sign of stridor that needs medical attention? can he have stridor with normal breath rate?
3.how many days does usually croup cough take to recover ? it's 4 days now ?
4.do you suggest to take to hospital to do more checkups or wait and observe for signs ?
THANK YOU AGAIN ..
I forgot to mention that he has no fever since 2 to 3 days ago , the only symptoms he has now is what I mentioned above
Brief Answer:
The situation seems to be gradually improving. Relax.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The wheezy sound or the stridor are due to croup and both the absence of fever and the liquification and productivity of the cough is a sign of betterment. You will have to be patient and the episode is likely to persist for around 7 days. Your child will require medical attention if he grows lethargic or develops rapid or laboured breathing. Unless such a thing happens you can wait and watch. Steam inhalation should provide relief. In case the situation worsens, you will have to visit a hospital without delay. However, I do not think that would be required.
Regards
The situation seems to be gradually improving. Relax.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The wheezy sound or the stridor are due to croup and both the absence of fever and the liquification and productivity of the cough is a sign of betterment. You will have to be patient and the episode is likely to persist for around 7 days. Your child will require medical attention if he grows lethargic or develops rapid or laboured breathing. Unless such a thing happens you can wait and watch. Steam inhalation should provide relief. In case the situation worsens, you will have to visit a hospital without delay. However, I do not think that would be required.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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