Why does my child always cough at night?

Nov 10, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In general, a child's cough at night may be caused by improper sleeping posture, allergic reactions, gastroesophageal reflux, rhinitis, colds, or other reasons, and management should be based on the specific situation. If the child's nighttime cough persists or is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms such as fever or rapid breathing, prompt medical attention should be sought to determine the cause and implement targeted treatment.

Generally, a child's cough at night may be caused by improper sleeping posture, allergic reactions, gastroesophageal reflux, rhinitis, the common cold, or other reasons, and requires management according to the specific situation.

1. Improper sleeping posture: Incorrect sleeping posture in children, such as sleeping on the stomach or with excessive neck flexion, may lead to airway obstruction and cause coughing. Parents should help the child adjust to the correct sleeping posture, placing the child on their back or side to maintain airway patency.

2. Allergic reaction: Children may be sensitive to allergens such as dust and dust mites in the bedroom, and nighttime exposure may trigger respiratory allergic reactions, causing coughing. It is recommended to keep the bedroom clean, regularly change bedding such as sheets and pillowcases, and use a vacuum cleaner with a mite-removal function to eliminate dust mites.

3. Gastroesophageal reflux: The lower esophageal sphincter in children is not fully developed, and during nighttime sleep, gastric acid may reflux into the esophagus and even reach the throat, irritating the mucous membranes and causing coughing. It is recommended to avoid overeating at dinner. If symptoms are severe, medication such as omeprazole magnesium enteric-coated tablets or famotidine capsules should be administered under a doctor's guidance.

4. Rhinitis: Children with rhinitis produce large amounts of nasal secretions, which may flow backward into the throat when lying flat at night, irritating the throat mucosa and causing coughing. It is recommended to follow medical advice in administering medications such as Nasal炎Shu Oral Liquid (nasal sinus soothing oral solution) or mometasone furoate nasal spray to alleviate rhinitis and relieve symptoms.

5. Common cold: When children have a cold, viral or bacterial infections can cause congestion, swelling, and secretion production in the respiratory mucosa. During sleep at night, these secretions may irritate the throat, causing coughing. It is recommended to use cough medications under a doctor's guidance, such as ambroxol hydrochloride syrup or dextromethorphan hydrobromide syrup, for treatment.

If nighttime coughing persists without improvement or is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms such as fever or rapid breathing, prompt medical attention is advised to determine the underlying cause and implement targeted treatment measures.

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Does whooping cough still require medication if there is still an occasional cough at night?

If pertussis has entered the recovery phase, and the patient has completed a full course of standardized treatment, with daytime coughing nearly resolved and only occasional mild coughing at night—without other symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, or vomiting—medication may generally be discontinued after medical evaluation. At this stage, the mild cough is usually a normal response during the healing process of the respiratory mucosa, and the body can gradually recover on its own without continued reliance on medication.