What are the causes of chronic cough and how to deal with it?
The cooler weather and autumn wind are triggering factors for coughing. If the child coughs a little, but it does not affect sleep and normal work and rest, parents are advised not to worry too much. But what should be done if the child coughs for a long time?
If the cough lasts for 7 days, we will define it as a short cough. For example, a cold will recover quickly, so there is no need to worry about this situation. However, some coughs last for 14 days or more, or even 30 days, and then cough again after taking medicine for a few days. This is generally called chronic cough, and this situation should be handled carefully.
When a child has a chronic cough, doctors usually consider that it may be caused by tracheal sensitivity, nasal sensitivity, or even certain viral infections. There are other causes that can cause a persistent cough. The treatment methods for different causes of chronic cough naturally vary. For example, if chronic cough is caused by tracheal sensitivity, the doctor will first ask the medical history to find out whether the cough is more frequent at night, or even when the weather changes, or the cough is aggravated when running. These are all symptoms of tracheal sensitivity. For cases of nasal sensitivity, the doctor will first ask the father and mother whether they have any medical history of nasal or skin sensitivity. If your nose runs backward, you cough at night, or you have a runny nose in the morning but not in the afternoon, these are generally symptoms of nasal sensitivity.
If the long-lasting cough is caused by a virus, it will be more difficult to diagnose and may require the assistance of X-ray examination. You should also ask for a clear medical history and carefully check whether there is any noise in the lungs. Therefore, it is recommended that children with chronic cough need to discuss their medical history with their doctor and undergo an examination.
Is it tuberculosis if you cough for a long time?
There is data on tuberculosis in Hong Kong. In particular, every doctor will think about a child who has been coughing for 30 days. We will consider whether the child has tuberculosis or tuberculosis. We will use X-rays and even skin tests to determine whether the child has tuberculosis. Most data show that these children have some close contact history, such as open tuberculosis, but don't worry, there are very few cases in Hong Kong.
Sometimes I hear parents say that if a long-term cough is not treated, will it turn into asthma?
Even if you cough for a long time and seek medical treatment late, it will not turn into asthma. If you have asthma, you will have asthma. Asthma has certain causes, such as tracheal inflammation and narrowing, and chronic cough is very different. It can be dealt with as long as you see a doctor early. Therefore, the most important thing is to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Some parents asked, can children with chronic cough do exercise?
Exercise is important for every child and is very important for physical development. Even if there are patients with chronic cough, I encourage them to exercise. As long as they warm up properly before exercise and relax after exercise, stop if there is any discomfort during the process. In fact, exercise can also be helpful for children with chronic cough.
Case sharing
One case was a 4-year-old child. I was very impressed with him. He came to see the doctor mainly because of a chronic cough. He coughed frequently at night. During a detailed examination, it was found that he had a stuffy and runny nose in the morning. He sneezed and also had skin sensitivity. This was a case of nasal sensitivity. Therefore, the doctor recommended that the mother clean her home more and use oral antihistamines and nasal spray steroids. After only one week of use, the child coughed less at night, and the nasal congestion and runny nose also decreased, and the overall condition improved.
Many parents are wary of using steroids. How do you discuss this with them?
Many parents are wary of using steroids. If they follow the doctor's instructions, the side effects of using steroids are actually very few and can be controlled. For example, if you have a nosebleed, you can stop the bleeding by gently pressing your nose. If you do not follow the doctor's instructions, long-term use of steroids and high doses of steroids will have many side effects, such as affecting height, osteoporosis, and even diabetes. Therefore, you must follow the doctor's instructions.
吳瑞芬醫生 