Children commonly develop coughs throughout the year with most being a result of the common cold. These types of coughs are caused by viral upper respiratory infections, meaning there are no antibiotics that can help to improve symptoms. Instead, children simply have to wait out the virus, which generally lasts no more than two weeks.

While coughs from the common cold usually aren’t a big deal from a medical standpoint, pediatricians in Glendale and other areas would like to point out that there are a number of other reasons as to why a cough can develop. If your child has a cough different from one developed during a common cold, it is essential that you visit with pediatric doctors for treatment as significant health dangers may be present.

The following are a few examples of conditions that produce coughing symptoms that should be treated by a professional specializing in Happy Valley pediatrics:

  • Asthma. While it is normal for children with asthma to cough, especially when the sun goes down or during exercise, coughing can become far more exaggerated upon development of a cold. Children with this chronic lung disease are more greatly affected by the common cold virus than those with healthy lungs, with many experiencing deeper, longer coughs as well as wheezing. For this reason, it is important that children with asthma visit with pediatricians in Glendale or other areas if their coughing symptoms increase for any reason.
  • Bronchitis. This viral upper respiratory infection greatly affects the chest area, and can also lead to wheezing, which can be especially dangerous in babies and toddlers. If your baby has a cold, always be on the lookout for the following signs: problems nursing or sipping formula from a bottle; deep or fast paced breathing; and a wet cough. If your baby has any of these issues, he or she may have developed bronchitis, and should visit with pediatric doctors immediately to help relieve symptoms.
  • Whopping Cough. This illness begins similarly to that of a common cold, but instead of getting better throughout the weeks, the cough actually becomes worse. Children that develop whopping cough will cough numerous times in a row, often losing their breath. As such, they will take a huge “whopping” breath at the end of a coughing episode to help quickly get air to their lungs. While whopping cough can be dangerous for children and adults alike, it is especially dangerous for babies. Babies that develop whopping cough often turn blue as they are unable to find a chance to breath, leading to potentially fatal outcomes. To help avoid the development of whopping cough, it is highly recommended that parents take their children to pediatricians in Glendale for a whooping cough vaccination.

If your child experiences coughing symptoms for any of the above reasons as well as others different from the common cold, visit with pediatric doctors as soon as possible for diagnoses and treatment.

At Pediatrix, one of the top pediatricians in Glendale and the surrounding areas, our pediatric doctors provide excellent medical care for the health and wellbeing of children. In addition to pediatric doctors that can treat a variety of illnesses that produce coughing symptoms, our pediatric allergists in Phoenix are able to provide treatments for coughs caused specifically by allergies. To make an appointment with our friendly, experienced pediatric doctors to alleviate your symptoms, call Pediatrix at (602) 866-0550 or contact us online.