If a child develops a barking cough without fever, many parents start to panic. In fact, such a phenomenon is a response of the body to the impact of a certain stimulus that comes from the external environment.
Signs of barking cough
The main symptom that manifests itself at the initial stage of the disease is the sounds that accompany the cough. They are very similar to the barking of an animal. The reason for this phenomenon lies in the swelling of the soft tissues of the larynx. This, in turn, leads to a change in voice. In addition, the state of the child becomes more depressed. From trying to get rid of accumulated sputum, weakness appears, the voice becomes hoarse.
Symptoms of barking cough
The main symptoms of a barking cough include:
- hoarse voice;
- headache;
- general weakness, loss of strength;
- heavy breathing;
- appearance of edema and inflammation in the larynx;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
If treatment is not started in a timely manner, the risk of developingserious complications. If there is a rare barking cough in a child without fever, then you should carefully monitor the general condition of your child.
Features of barking cough
The most difficult thing for a child to tolerate is a dry cough. After all, it does not allow you to clear the respiratory organs of sputum. Attacks of barking dry cough can be protracted, and also very tiring for the child.
Do not forget that in babies up to a certain age, the lungs remain undeveloped. Because of this, the symptoms of some diseases appear more acutely. A barking cough without fever can occur very often in a child. This symptom got its name because of the similarity with the sounds made by animals.
In some cases, a cough is a sign of a serious illness. With certain ailments, it is accompanied by whistling sounds and wheezing. With a dry barking cough, the fragile body gets tired very quickly, causing a hoarse voice. In addition, the child may have difficulty breathing due to swelling in the airways.
Worth noticing
90% of all childhood illnesses are a sign of parasite infestation. Nasal congestion, sore throat, frequent colds, runny nose, rashes of various etiologies, allergic reactions are the consequences of exposure to harmful microorganisms. This needs to be fought.
As medical practice shows, a barking cough can manifest itself in a child without fever and without sputum discharge. Some children may not even have a runny nose. However, inin these situations, coughing may indicate the development of a serious illness.
Often, seizures disturb the child in the evening or morning hours. It is at this time that the respiratory organs are poorly ventilated. As a result, mucus stagnation occurs. Breathing may be impaired. The situation can become more complicated if there is no sputum discharge during a dry cough. It is for this reason that seizures can be painful for the child and cause a strong sense of discomfort. The task of parents is to soften the cough and calm the child, and then seek help from specialists.
Why cough occurs
So, why does a barking cough occur in a child without fever. The reasons for this phenomenon have long been studied. Most often, such a cough is caused by:
- Respiratory tract infections caused by exposure to airborne viruses. Most often, a barking cough occurs with laryngitis. The most common causative agents of such diseases are parainfluenza and influenza viruses.
- Tumor of the vocal cords.
- A lesion of the larynx that occurs with manifestations of allergies.
- Neoplasms in the region of the vocal cords or larynx.
- Foreign body in the larynx.
- Congenital disorders of the larynx. In such situations, the cough begins to bother the child from birth.
Foreign object in the lumen of the larynx
If a child has a barking cough without fever, this may indicate that a foreign object has entered the larynx. Atthis symptom may be accompanied by pain. If the foreign body is small, then the child may feel suffocation. Also, the baby may experience shortness of breath. Gradually, such a cough becomes obsessive and worries constantly.
If there is a suspicion that something is stuck in the laryngeal lumen of the child, you should immediately contact an otolaryngologist or a local pediatrician. Do not attempt to retrieve the item yourself. This is fraught with consequences. Only a specialist with a narrow profile is able to detect a foreign body and safely remove it without damaging the soft tissues.
Allergy symptoms
Dry barking cough in a child without fever may indicate an allergic reaction in the body. Such irritation in young children is extremely rare. This happens much more often in teenagers. There is such a cough as a result of exposure to the tissues of the larynx irritant. It could be a drug, a food, or an infection.
A specific symptom of this allergic reaction is a hoarse voice and persistent barking cough.
Psychological condition
Strong barking cough in a child without fever often occurs against the background of an unstable psychological state. Such violations are rare. In medicine, such a cough is also called "nervous". It has a psychogenic basis.
It is worth noting that with such a deviation from the norm, there are incessant attacksbarking cough. However, the child's general condition does not worsen.
When to sound the alarm
When is a barking cough dangerous in a child without fever? Treatment should be carried out only after consultation with specialists. If coughing attacks are often repeated and occur at certain intervals, then you should immediately show the child to the doctor. Attacks are also dangerous, accompanied by severe weakness, loss of strength, allergic reactions, vomiting and shortness of breath.
If you are worried about a runny nose, barking cough in a child without fever, then you should see a doctor. Only a narrow-profile specialist can prescribe adequate therapy and make an accurate diagnosis. Do not self-medicate, as this may aggravate the child's condition.
Deterioration
A barking cough in a child at night without fever can be very disturbing. In the absence of timely treatment, the patient's condition may worsen. Often this leads to the development of complications. Among the signs of deterioration, it is worth highlighting:
- strong change in voice;
- skin becomes bluish;
- body temperature rises;
- increases salivation;
- lethargy appears;
- child faints;
- difficulty swallowing and breathing;
- suffocating attacks appear.
It is worth noting that most of the listed symptoms carry a danger to the life of the child. For this reason, when they are detected, it is worth calling an ambulance.help. It is strictly forbidden to leave the premises with a sick child.
What drugs are prescribed
Treatment of barking cough in a child should be carried out under medical supervision. Any medications are prescribed in accordance with the diagnosis and the general condition of the baby.
Most often, barking cough, which is not accompanied by fever, is eliminated with the help of antibacterial, expectorant and mucolytic agents. The first group of drugs allows you to get rid of microorganisms that can provoke the development of the disease.
The barking cough is almost always dry. Therefore, for its treatment, mucolytic agents are used to thin the sputum. You need to take these drugs for three days. After that, the doctor should prescribe an expectorant. Such therapy is carried out only in cases where the barking cough is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
If a fever develops, this may indicate the development of a serious illness. When the temperature rises, you should immediately call a doctor.
Use of herbs and proper diet
To alleviate bouts of barking cough, the doctor may prescribe an herbal tea. As a rule, the composition of such funds includes St. John's wort, sage leaves, chamomile, mint. This collection contains a large amount of vitamin C. Thanks to this component, sputum is gradually liquefied and excreted.
To avoid dehydration, experts recommendgive your child more warm water. In addition, doctors advise adjusting the patient's diet. When a child is worried about a barking cough, it is worth excluding from the diet foods that can damage the soft tissues of the larynx and bronchial mucosa. You should also reduce the amount of s alt, spices and sugar consumed. Experts recommend including more warm broths, fruits and cereals in the diet.
Features of therapy
In order for the barking cough to pass faster, it is necessary to create optimal conditions in all rooms where a sick child stays. Rooms are recommended to be aired several times during the day. Treatment times can range from 10 to 30 minutes. Everything depends on weather conditions. Doctors recommend temporarily giving up outdoor walks.
If other members of the family are also sick, then it is worth minimizing the contact of the child with them. This will protect the weakened body from re-infection.
Finally
For the treatment of barking cough in children, not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, you can use not only medicines, but also alternative medicine. However, it is worth considering that even if all the recommendations are followed, the therapy process can take a long time. Seizures will disturb the child less often if you do wet cleaning and ventilate the room daily. In addition, the patient should have a complete diet with a high content of useful components and vitamins.
