Home Tooth pain How to distinguish an allergic cough in a child from a cold. How is an allergic cough treated in a child and how to recognize its first symptoms? What to give to a child for an allergic cough

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How to distinguish an allergic cough in a child from a cold. How is an allergic cough treated in a child and how to recognize its first symptoms? What to give to a child for an allergic cough

Allergic cough is paroxysmal and dry. Accompanied by itching in the throat and nose. Sometimes clear sputum is released, in which there are no purulent inclusions. Symptoms of an allergic cough in a child worsen in the evening and closer to night. Some attacks begin suddenly and last 1–2 hours. Only antihistamines can stop them. An allergic cough can turn into bronchitis or asthma if its cause is not eliminated in a timely manner.

Home diagnostics

Treatment of any disease begins with diagnosis. An allergic cough can be caused by:

dust and mites living in down pillows;
pet hair or saliva;
bird feathers;
household chemicals;
cosmetical tools;
pollen of indoor and wild plants;
Food.

To determine the cause of pharyngitis, the mother keeps a child’s diary. In it she writes down what plants the baby came into contact with during the walk, what he ate, what he played with and washed his hands. In the diary you need to indicate the composition of the dishes, as well as the brand of powder, baby shower gel and others detergents. If there are cats or dogs in the house, the mother records the time when the child was in contact with the animal, and then the baby’s reaction to the fur.

The most common food allergens to watch out for include:

citruses;
smoked meats;
canned food;
sausages;
mushrooms;
eggs;
exotic vegetables.

If it is not possible to independently determine the cause of the cough, the child is shown to a pediatrician and an allergist. Specialists give directions for biochemical and general blood tests, x-rays of the lungs and bronchi. Children from 3 years old undergo skin tests: several common allergens are applied to the forearm and the reaction is monitored. After identifying the cause, the doctor selects antihistamines that relieve cough and other symptoms.

Cleanliness and fresh air

The house where a child with allergies lives must be clean. Parents dust daily, wash floors, regularly vacuum upholstered furniture and refuse carpets. Down pillows and duvets are being replaced with options with synthetic fillers. Polyester and ecofiber do not accumulate dirt, dust, sweat and mites. Pillows filled with buckwheat husks are also suitable for children.

An ordinary soft toy can trigger an allergy. The child is bought plastic cars, dolls and dishes, construction sets and various Board games. But no teddy bears, bunnies or other animals.

Parents are prohibited from smoking in the house and even on the balcony. Smoke and the smell of tobacco, which remains on clothes and seeps into rooms, can cause spasms in the bronchi and an allergic dry cough.

Pets are regularly bathed, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms. A child can normally perceive the fur and saliva of a cat, but a dirty animal is a source of ticks, helminths and infections that weaken the immune system and make it susceptible to allergens.

Children who have a dry, spasmodic cough should not walk near highways. Exhaust gases and dust irritate the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and cause soreness. In winter and autumn you can go to the park and breathe fresh air. In spring and summer, during the period of active flowering, you should avoid alleys planted with shrubs, trees and ornamental plants.

Cough diet

When an allergic cough worsens, remove all hazardous foods from the child’s diet:

orange vegetables and fruits;
almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and peanuts;
natural cow's milk;
mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup;
smoked meats and sausages;
bee products;
chocolate and sweet baked goods;
mushrooms;
sea fish;
products containing preservatives.

Contraindicated for duck and goose allergy symptoms. Give your child chicken and turkey breast with caution. Poultry meat is replaced with beef or rabbit. Instead of cow's milk, goat's milk is given, but in small quantities.

Green vegetables are allowed: zucchini, broccoli, cucumbers, white cabbage, eggplant, and porridge. Cottage cheese, prunes, bananas and black bread are healthy. You can have green apples and boiled potatoes.

Prohibited foods are introduced into the children's diet after successful treatment cough. First, give 30 g of pumpkin or red apple puree, then increase the portion if the body reacts normally to the new components.

Products that cause allergic cough, left on the menu. But they give the child literally 10–15 g of strawberries, mushrooms or milk. Gradually, the body gets used to the component and stops producing antibodies.

Cough preparations

Suprastin injection helps to quickly stop a coughing attack. The medicine is released in the form of tablets, but they act in 20 minutes. The injection relieves allergy symptoms in 5–10 minutes.

Antihistamines are prescribed to children with one month old. Infants are prescribed Fenistil or Suprastin. Patients from 6 months of age are given Ketotifen and Zyrtec drops. Children over 1 year of age are prescribed Zodak at liquid form and "Erius".

Cetrin syrup is prescribed from two years of age, and Ketotifen tablets from three years of age. For allergic cough, children are given Diazolin, Loratadine and Tavegil.

Between taking antihistamines, it is recommended to cleanse the body with sorbents. "Polysorb" will do, Activated carbon, "Enterosgel" and "Polyphepan". The products relieve coughing attacks by reducing the concentration of allergens in the blood.

Pharmacy sorbents are supplemented with milk thistle seeds or oil. The plant cleanses the body of toxins and allergens, soothes sore throat and bronchi, and has wound-healing and hepatoprotective properties. The dried seeds are ground into powder and the child is given 5 g of the product twice a day. Milk thistle oil is used in a similar way. The plant should not be overused, otherwise the allergic cough will not disappear, but will intensify.

Irritation and soreness in the larynx are removed with Glycodin. The syrup softens the mucous membrane of the throat and bronchi, relieves attacks of dry cough. Children under 7 years of age are given 5 ml of the drug 4 times a day. If a student has allergies, the portion is increased to half a teaspoon.

Coughs caused by pollen or dust are treated with Levocabastin, Cromohexal or Allergodil sprays. The drugs are prescribed from the age of 6 years. The medicine is injected into the nasal passages. It removes swelling, inflammation and soreness. Removes pollen and dust particles.

Allergic cough is treated with antihistamine syrups, tablets and sprays. But if the disease becomes more complicated, corticosteroids may be prescribed. Hormone therapy restores the functioning of the bronchi and lungs, protects against asthma.

Immunotherapy

Children from 3–4 years old are given specific immunotherapy. Doctors identify the allergen and then introduce it into the body by injection or oral route. The method makes the body get used to the product, cough-inducing, runny nose and swelling.

household chemicals;
hair, saliva and dander from pets;
mold and fungi living on the walls of the apartment;
dairy products;
citrus fruits;
pollen of ragweed and other plants;
dust.

Immunotherapy is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. Sometimes the course of treatment is delayed for 3–5 years. But the child gets rid of not only cough, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and other symptoms, but also allergies. The body gradually gets used to citrus fruits or pollen and begins to perceive them neutrally.

Treatment takes place at home. The doctor selects medications and doses. The first procedure is carried out in the hospital to monitor the reaction child's body to an allergen, and then are allowed to take medications on their own.

Inhalations

A dry cough is relieved by a nebulizer. The device is intended for inhalation for colds, bronchitis, tracheitis and pharyngitis. Nebulizer being filled mineral water or saline solution. The device turns liquid into steam, which cleanses the airways of allergens and moisturizes the mucous membrane, removing soreness.

Mineral water is replaced with special preparations designed to stabilize the membrane mast cells. Children from 6 months of age are prescribed the hormonal drug Pulmicort. The medicine prevents spasms in the bronchi, removes inflammation and swelling respiratory tract. The drug "Pulmicort" is diluted with saline solution. The dosage is selected depending on the age of the child and the severity of the disease.

The drug "Berodual" is prescribed to patients with a dry allergic cough and too viscous sputum. The drug expands the lumen of the bronchi, making breathing easier, and reduces spasms. "Berodual", like "Pulmicort", is mixed with saline solution.

Allergic pharyngitis is treated with Euphyllin and Ventolin. The drugs relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi, expanding their lumen. They moisturize the mucous membrane, thin the sputum and gradually reduce the frequency and duration of coughing attacks.

Spasms in the bronchi and lungs are removed by Berotek. A one percent solution is poured into the nebulizer, which is prepared from 10 drops of the drug and 1 liter of liquid. Steam inhalations carried out 4 times a day. The procedure can be combined with antihistamines and a special diet that will speed up the child’s recovery.

Massage and breathing exercises

For frequent and prolonged coughing attacks, parents are advised to perform a finger massage. The child lies on his stomach on the bed or sofa, hanging chest down. The mother holds the baby’s legs with one hand, and with the other taps the baby’s back in the area of the bronchi and lungs. The fingers move quickly but carefully. They “run” lightly over the child’s chest, kneading it and relieving spasms. Massage thins mucus and facilitates expectoration, relaxes the smooth muscles of the respiratory organs.

Children aged 5–6 years are recommended to do special exercises for allergic cough. Mom can study together with the child. Breathing exercises develop the muscles of the chest and bronchi, protect against asthma and calm the nerves.

The technique is simple:

Mom and baby sit on the mat or just on the floor, close their eyes and listen to their own breathing. Feel how the lungs fill with air and push it out.
They take a long breath. Take in air through your nose until there is no free space left in your lungs. You need to use both the chest and abdomen. Then exhale sharply and quickly through the mouth. Repeat 3-4 times.
Then the mother and child take three short breaths, gradually filling the lungs with oxygen. On the count of “4”, all carbon dioxide is exhaled sharply. Three repetitions are enough.
Mom and baby mentally count from 1 to 4 and at this time take one continuous breath. Air is drawn in slowly, working only with the nose. They imagine oxygen going down to the lungs and then flowing down to the navel area. They hold their breath while counting to eight. If the baby doesn’t succeed, you can reduce it to 6 or 4, and then gradually increase the number. The air is exhaled in short bursts for eight counts.

Gymnastics can be combined with moderate physical activity. Swimming, rollerblading or cycling are suitable. Skates and skis are contraindicated. Before training, the child should drink 150–200 ml of mineral or distilled water. The liquid prevents the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and protects against coughing attacks.

Traditional methods

Allergic pharyngitis caused by dust or animal hair is treated with a decoction of bay leaves:

Boil 20 g of spice in 500 ml. The drink is brought to a boil and removed after 5 minutes.
Add 25 g of baking soda to the strained medicine.
The medicine is seasoned with 30 ml of linden honey.

The child drinks 50–60 ml of medication daily until the attacks stop.

For an allergic cough, it is recommended to strengthen the immune system with a lemon-honey drink:

Medium-sized citrus is washed, doused with boiling water and passed through a meat grinder without peeling.
For 100 g of lemon pulp you will need a glass of linden honey.
The products are mixed and diluted with 400 ml of distilled water.
The drink is placed on water bath and heated to 40–50 degrees.

The heat-treated medicine is cooled to room temperature and divided into 3-4 servings. The child drinks the product a day, before and after meals.

Important: Lemon-honey drink should not be brought to a boil. At temperatures of +60 degrees and above, vitamins evaporate and the medicine loses its beneficial properties.

Viscous sputum during an allergic cough is diluted with camphor oil. The product is heated to 37–39 degrees and rubbed into the chest. Mustard plasters are applied to the right side and wrapped with cling film and a thick scarf on top. Keep the camphor compress for 20–30 minutes.

Allergic cough in children is treated with folk and pharmaceutical products, nebulizer and diet. To prevent pharyngitis, it is recommended to perform breathing exercises, swim a lot, keep the house clean and strengthen the child’s immunity with walks in the fresh air and vitamin complexes.

Video: how to distinguish an allergic cough from an infectious one

Content

Violation protective function human body, at which Negative consequences can cause seemingly harmless substances called allergies. To unexpectedly harmful factors include food, pollen from various plants, animal hair, and even the sun or cold. How to recognize an allergic cough? The immune system of an allergic person exhibits an inadequate response to a certain type of pathogen. The cough in this case is accompanied by a number of other symptoms, which are described in more detail below.

Causes of the disease

As a rule, allergies appear in spring or summer, less often in cold seasons. When allergens enter the body, the immune system begins to attack foreign substances. As a result, symptoms arise - itchy skin, redness, tearing, runny nose. An allergy cough begins as a result of irritation of the respiratory tract by a pathogen. Often the symptom is accompanied by inflammatory processes in the throat, trachea, and bronchi. The causative agents of such a cough are usually light volatile substances:

pet hair;
pollen;
dust;
mold spores.

Types of cough due to allergies

There are a large number of possible allergens that can cause this symptom in healthy people. However, a serious paroxysmal, suffocating cough, as a rule, is evidence of the body’s reaction to the pathogen. The symptom indicates that a person has a phenomenon such as an allergy. The cough inherent in the disease can be recognized by several signs - the absence of fever, skin manifestations, duration and suddenness of attacks. Cough allergic type divided into 3 main types:

dry;
barking;
wet.

Dry

Chemicals, gases, tobacco smoke, pollen, wool and many other substances. The manifestation of a symptom indicates an attempt by the body to eliminate the irritant that has gotten inside. Less commonly, cough occurs as by-effect after taking medicines– for example, tablets that regulate arterial pressure. If the cause of the allergic reaction is the use of medications, the reaction appears immediately after taking them.

Wet

Coughing with phlegm is often a sign of allergic rhinitis - inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which was caused by an allergen. The disease can be recognized by frequent sneezing, itching in the sinuses, heavy discharge mucus. An allergic wet cough causes a lot of inconvenience to a person, disrupting sleep, reducing mental and physical activity.

Barking

This symptom can be caused by an allergy to a certain product, plants, odors, household chemicals, or pet hair. It often appears in young children in winter, when the air in the home becomes too dry due to infrequent ventilation. This leads to irritation of the lining of the respiratory tract. Characteristic features allergic barking cough are:

absence of fever and runny nose;
seasonal nature with periodic manifestations;
Symptoms intensify upon close proximity/contact with the allergen.

Main signs and symptoms

Allergic cough is not a disease. It occurs as a result of the action of certain allergens on the respiratory tract. This type of cough sometimes leads to inflammation of the trachea, bronchi, and throat, which is also typical for other organ pathologies respiratory system. For this reason, a symptom may lead to an incorrect diagnosis. Find out the signs of allergic cough in adults and children.

In adults

It often has a paroxysmal character, starting suddenly. On average, it lasts several weeks without fever. More often, an allergic type cough begins at night; during the day, attacks occur less frequently. Coughing attacks at night in an adult cause serious inconvenience, preventing the allergy sufferer and his loved ones from sleeping. This becomes the main incentive to see a doctor. The symptom may be accompanied by:

sputum without any impurities;
itching in the nasopharynx or throat;
sneezing.

Allergic cough during pregnancy absolutely cannot be treated on your own. Most drugs and remedies traditional medicine at this time it is contraindicated for women. If you do not go to the hospital in time, allergies can lead to the development of more serious illnesses- For example, bronchial asthma or chronic bronchitis. Such pathologies can harm not only the mother, but also the baby.

In children

Children who suffered from diathesis rashes in infancy are more susceptible to allergies. This indicates their predisposition to the disease. A paroxysmal cough in a child can be stimulated by even a minimal amount of allergens. The symptom sometimes occurs as a result of poor nutrition of the baby or late vaccination. A cough attack at night in a child, as a rule, is not accompanied by sputum secretion and more often occurs during the off-season. The reasons may be different: flowering plants, viral infections, and others.

Methods for diagnosing the disease

To determine the nature of the cough, people temporarily take cough suppressants. If medications have no effect on the disease, the symptom indicates an allergy. However, it is better not to experiment and immediately consult a doctor, since the treatment of a cough such as an allergic one is specific. In the hospital, you will be examined to identify the pathogen that needs to be eliminated, and drug therapy will be prescribed.

How and what to treat allergic cough

It is impossible for allergy sufferers to completely get rid of the disease, but it can be alleviated. It may relieve some symptoms, including cough. The main thing is to determine in time what caused the allergic reaction and stop contact with this substance. The doctor may prescribe antihistamines and recommend a suitable diet. Let us dwell on each method of treating cough as a symptom of allergy.

Identifying the allergen and stopping contact with it

The first step towards recovery will be to identify the allergen that provoked the body’s negative reaction. Sneezing, nasal congestion and cough are the main symptoms of allergies. Modern medicine methods for finding the pathogen are still unknown. It will be necessary to check the reaction to each possible allergen. To do this, resort to the following measures:

alternately remove from the menu foods that could serve as an allergen;
carry out wet cleaning of the home daily if a reaction to dust is possible;
give the pet away for a while;
change household products (for laundry, washing dishes);
They do tests (skin tests using prick and scratch methods).

Diet therapy

How to cure allergies? Allergist for successful therapy prescribes a special diet in addition to taking medications. Allergy sufferers are prone to display various symptoms of the disease. It is better for them to adhere to the prescribed diet constantly. The situation becomes especially acute during an exacerbation of allergies, when the body becomes hyperactive. At such a time, even fleeting contact with an irritant can lead to the active development of the disease. To reduce the risk, you must adhere to a diet and exclude from the menu:

eggs;
seafood, fish;
hot, salty, smoked, spicy, fatty foods;
broths;
sausages, sausages;
liver;
sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise;
sauerkraut, pickles;
nuts;
mushrooms;
bright vegetables (tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers);
citruses, berries;
sharp, processed cheeses;
chocolate, cocoa, coffee;
sweets with flavors.

Drug therapy

If an allergic cough occurs, a course of treatment with antihistamines is required, which are prescribed by a doctor after identifying the causative agent of the allergy. As a rule, taking such drugs is long-term – it can last for 2-3 months. IN special cases antihistamines are taken for life. The group of antihistamines includes:

"Suprastin";
"Loratadine";
"Cetirizine."

Since modern pharmaceuticals do not have drugs for complete cure for allergies, the main goal of therapy is to suppress the symptoms of the disease. In case of allergic manifestations, the doctor prescribes a remedy whose action is aimed at the unhealthy organ. When coughing, an inhaler is often used. The drugs used for inhalation include:

"Ventolin";
"Eufillin";
"Pulmicort".

When treating allergies, your doctor may prescribe enterosorbents. The substances act as additional therapeutic agents. Their use should not last longer than 14-16 days, since enterosorbents impair the absorption of vitamins and nutrients coming from food. In addition, it is forbidden to use such drugs simultaneously with antihistamine tablets, as their effect will be reduced. The group of enterosorbents includes:

"Enterosgel";
"Polysorb";
"Filtrum STI".

If the causative agent of a person’s allergic reaction is fur, pollen or another volatile substance, the doctor prescribes a nasal antihistamine spray. Such gentle drugs are indicated even for small children. The spray effectively moisturizes the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and helps relieve unpleasant symptoms. The following nasal allergy medications are available:

"Allergodil";
"Cromohexal";
"Levocabastine".

Folk remedies

Salt preparations, garlic and lemon are used in “grandmother’s” medicine:

Garlic syrup. Finely chop a couple of cloves of garlic, mix with a tablespoon of honey. When the cough mixture has been infused for 14 days, take a tablespoon of the product every morning. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. Syrup can be taken additionally when a coughing attack begins.
Saline solution. During the flowering of allergy-causing plants, rinse your sinuses and throat with the solution several times a day. sea salt(1 tbsp per cup of warm water).
Lemon jam. Pass 1 citrus through a meat grinder, mix with 4 tbsp. water and 2 tbsp. honey Cook the ingredients over low heat until the mixture becomes completely homogeneous. Cool the jam and take 1 tbsp for cough 5 times a day.

How to relieve a coughing attack in a child

If your baby begins to have a suffocating cough, you should immediately take emergency measures:

provide your child with enough fresh air;
give antihistamine;
rinse your sinuses and throat with a weak saline solution(2 tsp per 1 cup of water) to remove pathogen particles from the respiratory tract;
if the baby does not get better after the measures taken, you need to call an ambulance.

Disease Prevention

An important element of help for allergic phenomena is preventive, it includes:

Cleaning and ventilation. Wash the floors in the house more often, ventilate the room at least three times a day. Avoid thick carpets as they collect dust, which can cause allergies. Get rid of other objects on which dirt accumulates (figurines, decorative items of intricate shapes).
Minimal use of household chemicals. If you are allergic, try to avoid aggressive detergents. Give preference to natural-based cosmetics and household chemicals, without fragrances.
Preventive measures. For allergic coughs, it is recommended to rinse your throat and nasopharynx 2-3 times a day. Follow the prescribed diet whenever possible.

Video: how to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold

The cause of an allergic type cough is always something that a person has recently come into contact with. When allergens enter the body, they irritate the respiratory tract, resulting in a coughing attack. However, the reason this symptom may not be an allergy, but other diseases: ARVI, influenza, bronchitis, etc. After watching the video, you will learn how to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold.

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make treatment recommendations based on individual characteristics specific patient.

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Cough is a reflex reaction of the body to irritation of the respiratory tract (most often by a foreign object). This is a normal physiological manifestation, a variant of the protective function. However, in some cases, the described phenomenon occurs outside of the specified cause.

One of these typical situations is an allergic cough. What is the irritant in this case, how does an allergic cough develop and how can its origin be understood? It should be sorted out.

An allergy is an autoimmune false reaction of the body when the body’s own defense system, designed to protect the body, fails and mistakes its own cells and harmless substances for dangerous invaders from the outside. How does the development of allergies and allergic cough occur?

The basis, as already mentioned, is the induced immune response. The antigen enters the body. What an antigen is, only an allergist can say based on the results of specialized tests. In a general sense, it is a substance to which a person is allergic.

The most common causes of allergic cough are animal hair, house dust, plant pollen, and red food products (due to the content of natural dyes in them). After the invasion of the antigen, the immune system produces antibodies designed to fight the “uninvited guest”.

An antigen-antibody complex is formed. A similar structure settles on the surface of healthy cells, destroying them. Moreover, as a result chemical reaction destruction of the antigen, damage occurs to mast cells (basophils), which contain a large amount of histamine in their structure. Histamine, actively spreading, also destroys cells.

Accordingly, the above applies to special cases.

An allergic cough in a child develops precisely according to this pattern. The antigen-antibody complex is localized on the walls of the bronchi, trachea (upper and lower respiratory tract), causing destruction of local cells epithelial tissue. As a result, a cough reflex is provoked (due to irritation of a special bronchial epithelium designed to cause coughing).

In addition, the walls of the respiratory tract are also irritated by sputum, which is produced abundantly. Its function is to remove pathogenic microflora. But in this case there is simply no pathogen. The whole reaction from beginning to end is false, but it causes considerable discomfort.

Probable causes of allergic cough

There are at least 6 main reasons for the development of this manifestation:

Laryngitis. It is an allergic lesion of the larynx. It develops in both children and... This pathology of allergic origin accounts for only about 15% of all clinical cases (insignificant figure).
Allergic tracheitis. It is an inflammation of the trachea of allergic origin.
Allergic bronchitis. As its name suggests, this is an inflammation of the walls of the bronchi of allergenic etiology.
Bronchial asthma. Severe allergic polyetiological disease. It is a specific inflammation of the structures of the bronchi and lungs. It occurs quite often (one case per 10,000 representatives of the population of developed countries). Most often the disease begins in childhood and progresses as you get older. In some cases, the opposite happens: the disease recedes with age.
Allergic inflammation of the oropharynx.
Quincke's edema.

These diseases can be distinguished only by their characteristic symptoms.

Symptoms of allergic cough in a child

An experienced doctor is already capable of initial examination, when interviewing the patient, make an approximate diagnosis. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the disease only on the basis of such a symptom as an allergic cough in a child. This requires an objective study.

However, even on your own, listening to your own feelings, you can assume the presence of a particular disease. What are the characteristic symptoms?

Allergic laryngitis is characterized by the following symptoms:

Pain in the throat area, just below the soft palate. Pain syndrome raw, burning. The feeling of discomfort can radiate beyond the sternum, to the region of the heart (which will be falsely mistaken for a heart attack or an attack of angina). The allergic form of laryngitis is characterized by the absence of a rise in body temperature. The pain intensifies when swallowing and talking.
Hoarseness of voice. The voice may disappear completely, it all depends on the severity of the allergic reaction. It is possible to develop laryngitis in combination with Quincke's edema.
Feeling of a foreign object in the throat. Develops due to dry mucous membranes.
Feeling of throat scratching, soreness.
Cough . Cough with laryngitis is dry, so-called. “barking cough” because it is similar in character to a dog barking. Later, after a few days, sputum appears. The cough becomes wet, with the release of clear discharge (the main difference from bronchiectasis and other non-allergic diseases, in which the sputum is rarely light). Characteristic for allergic laryngitis and the fact that the duration of the illness is only a few days.
Shortness of breath. Evidence in favor of a difficult current process. Difficulty breathing requires immediate medical attention.

The disease can develop acutely, or perhaps gradually over a long period of time. The chronic form tends to recur constantly. The symptoms are especially noticeable at night and in the morning. During the day they weaken or disappear completely.

Tracheitis

It is similar in nature to laryngitis. The following specific manifestations are encountered:

Cough. The cough is of a fundamentally different nature. It is dry, without sputum production, and lasts throughout the whole day. Prevails in the morning moist cough with the release of a large amount of viscous, light-colored sputum. Without expectorants, it passes extremely poorly.
Pain behind the sternum. It is impossible to accurately determine its location. Gives it to the back.
Pain syndrome in the neck area. As a rule, this is where the source of pain is located.

Allergic bronchitis

Characteristic manifestations:

Constant painful cough any time of the day.
The sputum is mucous and does not come away without expectorants at all. It has no shape at all or has the shape of balls (according to the nature of the alveoli).

Bronchial asthma - along with Quincke's edema, this is the most severe, and sometimes fatal disease allergic nature. Typical for her:

Paroxysmal course. In the most severe cases, several attacks may develop in a day.
Chronic.
Duration of symptoms.
Increased pathological symptoms during the night.
Shortness of breath, suffocation (upon contact with an allergen).
Producing a small amount of sputum after an attack (usually).

As far as can be judged, an allergic cough in a child, the symptoms of which are described and treatment should begin immediately, is a nonspecific manifestation.

It is inherent in many diseases at once. Point to question differential diagnosis are called upon to carry out instrumental and laboratory studies.

The difference between an allergic cough and a cough due to infectious diseases

There are two fundamental differences between an allergic cough in a child and a cough of an infectious-inflammatory nature.

First and the most important difference is the nature of the sputum produced. In case of allergic diseases, it is always and in all cases transparent. This allows you to exclude a bacterial process.

Second the difference is the nature of the cough itself. It is paroxysmal, dry and the attack lasts, on average from several hours to several days. At its end, the specificity of the cough process changes: the described manifestation becomes moist, and a large amount of medium-viscous sputum is released.

To summarize, we can say that an allergy cough has the following properties:

He is dry, possibly barking.
It is painful, it is impossible to clear your throat normally.
It is less long-lasting, although it can last for years in the form of attacks.
Multiple associated symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, tears, itchy skin, since the reaction is usually complex.
The amount of sputum increases after the attack ends.
The sputum is light, without inclusions of yellow or green pus.

Taking conventional antitussive medications does not help, since the nature of the process is by no means inflammatory. But the attack is quickly relieved by taking antihistamines..

Diagnostics

If the upper respiratory tract is affected, consultation with an ENT doctor will also be required.

Before starting treatment for an allergic cough in a child whose symptoms have already been discussed, a thorough diagnosis is required. The examination begins for the patient with the selection of a specialized specialist. This doctor is an allergist or pulmonologist-allergist.

At the initial appointment, the doctor will ask questions regarding the nature and duration of the complaints. Already at this stage, as noted above, it is possible to make an approximate diagnosis.

Then comes the turn functional studies: the doctor listens to the patient’s breathing, usually dry or moist scattered wheezing is noted (typical of allergies).

Instrumental studies include:

FVD. Function external respiration designed to assess the condition of the lungs and respiratory tract, vital volume of the lungs and other indicators.
Endoscopy (laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy). Allows you to assess the condition of the respiratory tract and see the walls of the respiratory organs with your own eyes.

Unfortunately the majority instrumental studies powerless to determine the nature of the process. This requires specialized laboratory tests.

The first and most important is an allergy test. Small scratches are applied to the skin, after which they are lubricated with concentrates of various substances. The nature of the inflammation determines whether there is an allergy and to what.
Provocative tests. Should only be carried out in a hospital setting.
General blood analysis. The main indicator of the presence of allergies is eosinophilia ( high level eosinophils in the blood).
Blood test for immunoglobulin E. Designed to assess the presence or absence of allergies.

Research data is sufficient to formulate accurate diagnosis. If necessary, X-rays and MRI/CT are prescribed (all these examinations are needed to exclude third-party non-allergic processes).

Treatment

Treatment of allergic cough in a child is predominantly medicinal. Several groups of drugs are used:

Antihistamines. There is some dilemma here about which generation of medicine to choose. To relieve acute manifestations of allergies in the form of coughing and choking, they are best suited pharmaceuticals first generation (Tavegil, Suprastin, Pipolfen, etc.). If it is necessary to stop mild manifestations, preference should be given to third-generation drugs: Cetrin, etc. The use of second-generation drugs is strictly prohibited, they have a toxic effect on the heart.
Preparations based on corticosteroids. Designed to eliminate allergic manifestations, as they say, “in the bud.” They can only be used in a hospital setting. Such drugs should be prescribed to children with great caution.
Inhalation drugs (Salbutamol, Berodual, etc.). Necessary for quickly relieving bronchospasm and eliminating cough.
Expectorant medications (Bromhexine, Ambrobene, etc.).

The combination of these drugs is enough to relieve an allergy attack.

Prevention

Prevention of allergic cough involves avoiding contact with the allergen as much as possible.

Thus, allergic cough in children is a nonspecific symptom. It appears when various diseases. It is extremely difficult to figure out the reasons on your own; moreover, it is a dead end. You need to see a doctor. This way the most reasonable decision will be made.

Allergy medicines – School of Dr. Komarovsky

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In general, allergies are pathological process. The basis is inflammation caused by the reaction immune system to an exogenous allergen (V.I. Pytsky, 2003).

Allergies may occur various symptoms. And a symptom such as coughing is quite common among allergy sufferers, especially those who have.

Allergic cough is widespread, as the number of children suffering from allergies is growing every year.

this is primarily due to the increasing deterioration of the environment, air pollution by industrial and photochemical smog, and industrial allergens;
in addition, children with allergic cough often have genetic predisposition. If parents have allergic diseases, then there is a high probability of their occurrence in children;
also have a significant role in the development of allergies in children artificial feeding, intestinal dysbiosis, atopic dermatitis, perinatal damage to the respiratory and central nervous systems, dysbiocenosis of the skin and mucous membranes.

It is important to be able to differentiate between allergic and other types of cough. The treatment tactics and how quickly we can stop (eliminate) it depend on this. You should not self-medicate, but consult a doctor for medical help.

The main causes (allergens) of cough in children

1. Aeroallergens are those that are present in significant quantities in the air:

house dust allergens (house dust mites, cockroaches, etc.);
pollen allergens (weeds, trees, meadow grasses);
allergens of mold and yeast fungi;
animal allergens (cats, dogs, birds) - secretions sebaceous glands, wool, excrement, saliva, dandruff.

2. Food allergens (dairy products, eggs, fish, chicken).

Exactly food allergens are more often the cause allergic manifestations in infants.

3. Drug allergens(penicillin antibiotics, aspirin, vitamins).

4. Allergens from the venom of stinging animals.

Signs of an allergic cough in a child

For allergic cough the following is typical:

sudden onset after contact with an allergen;
absence of symptoms of respiratory infection - fever, general malaise, weakness;
Allergy cough is dry, paroxysmal; discharge of viscous transparent sputum is possible;
Without eliminating the allergen, cough symptoms may be protracted;
often appears in parallel with cough allergic rhinitis(itching in the nose, stuffiness, sneezing, mucous discharge).

What can trigger an allergic cough and other symptoms in a child?

For children suffering from allergic cough, it is important to adhere to the so-called gentle regime, so as not to provoke the body into exacerbations.

Exacerbations can cause the following points:

viral respiratory infections. Since an allergic cough occurs due to inflammation, swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, respiratory infections also lead to inflammation, thereby provoking a cough.
the increasing prevalence of smoking, including passive smoking;
exercise stress. Hyperventilation at large physical activity may provoke bronchospasm;
increasing the use of industrially canned food and beverages in the diet;
deterioration of indoor environment. This includes the use in everyday life of gas stoves, fireplaces, synthetic wallpaper, varnishes, linoleum, carpeting and fungal damage to premises.

How do signs of an allergic cough develop?

As soon as the allergen enters the body, a complex process is launched, as a result of which so-called mediators (histamine, tryptase, etc.) are released from mast cells. Under their influence, vascular permeability increases in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, gland secretion increases, swelling and thickening of the mucosa occurs, and smooth muscle spasm develops.

These changes in the mucous membranes and smooth muscles cause coughing, rhinorrhea, itching, and sneezing.
Cough in children with allergies may differ depending on the location of the respiratory tract.

For example, with an allergic cough, the cough is often barking and rough. The child is concerned about hoarseness, sensations foreign body in the throat, laryngeal stenosis may develop - life-threatening complication. In case of allergies, most often occurring at night and with painful sensations behind the sternum.

How to recognize?

If you notice the signs described above in your child or the cough is prolonged and does not respond well to conventional treatment, you need to examine your baby for the presence of an allergic component.

In order to diagnose an allergic cough, it is very important to correctly collect anamnesis, identify a direct connection with the allergen, find out if there are family members with allergic diseases.

It is also necessary laboratory confirmation:

in a general blood test, an increase in eosinophils (“allergy cells”) and an increased amount of total immunoglobulin E are more often detected. In addition to determining the level of general immunoglobulin, specific ones are also determined;
when examining external respiration functions, changes in parameters are revealed;
Children undergo various allergy tests and scarification tests, thanks to which the cause (allergen) causing the cough can be detected.

Treatment of allergic cough in children

Sufficient attention is paid to how to treat an allergic cough, since not treated in a timely manner can lead to a transition to a chronic process. In some cases, when a child meets large dose allergen may develop acute reaction, severe swelling of the mucous membranes, which often leads to death.

The main thing in treatment is the elimination of the causative allergen, gentle regime for the child and improvement of the home environment.

Parents are talked to about the importance of elimination activities at home. This includes removing carpets and soft toys from everyday use, sleeping on a padding polyester pillow, frequent ventilation, and preventing mold growth.
If you have a food allergy, then you need to adjust your diet and follow a diet.
Drug treatment is prescribed only by a doctor.
Such children are prescribed antihistamines for periods of cough exacerbation and sometimes for prevention if allergies are seasonal.
An excellent assistant in the treatment of allergic cough is an inhaler (nebulizer), which delivers medicine directly into the respiratory tract, thereby helping to quickly eliminate the cough. To eliminate cough during the period of exacerbation, medications are prescribed - bronchodilators (for example, Berodual).
For faster discharge of sputum, medications are added to dilute it, for example Lazolvan, Ambrobene, ACC.
Children are often prescribed hormonal drugs, with the help of which it is stopped inflammatory process in the respiratory tract. Parents should not be afraid of them, as these drugs do not have any systemic action on the child’s body and work only in the respiratory tract.
Children with prolonged allergic cough are prescribed long-term therapy (basic), especially if these are seasonal manifestations.
Except medicines, in the treatment of allergic cough, vitamin therapy, oxygen therapy (if severe forms), specific immunotherapy.

Hello, dear readers. In this article we look at why children may develop an allergic cough.

Let's discuss what symptoms it differs from colds or whooping cough, what therapeutic methods are used for treatment.

Cough in childhood allergies: manifestations, diagnosis, therapy

Very often, when a child coughs, and even spasmodically, this indicates an allergy. Therefore, it is important for parents to know the basics about an allergic cough in a child, its symptoms and treatment.

A child's cough of an allergic nature is not always easy to recognize and is not confused with a cold. An allergic cough that occurs in children is a reaction of the bronchi to an allergen, and not a disease.

Typically, the irritant enters the bronchi by air, and coughing acts as a defense that is activated to cleanse the bronchi.

It can be considered as a signal either of the possibility of developing asthma, or of already developed asthma. There is also a possibility that this is a manifestation of a general allergy.

Symptoms of cough in case of allergies

Is it possible to determine that this is an allergic cough in children, but not any other?

Allergy symptoms:

The cough appears suddenly, it is usually paroxysmal, suffocating (sometimes parents notice that before the attack there was contact with a potential irritant: for example, the child was stroking a cat, smelling a flower).
The attacks are long and repeated at certain intervals.
The cough is painful, dry, and can last up to three weeks; there is no fever, no itching in the nasopharynx or sneezing.
For the most part, attacks occur at night; during the day they occur much less often.
As a rule, doctors note dryness of the allergic children's cough. However, sometimes clear sputum is released, in which there are no impurities.
Sometimes rhinitis (allergic in nature) is present.
Enough to accept antihistamine as soon as the cough disappears.

Symptoms of allergic reactions depend on the type of allergy. A timely visit to an allergist during coughing attacks will help eliminate the risk of allergic bronchitis or asthma.

Childhood allergy cough and whooping cough: difference in manifestations

Whooping cough is also accompanied by attacks of dry cough. The disease is very serious. For babies, it can lead to respiratory arrest.

The basic differences between whooping cough and allergic attacks are as follows:

Whooping cough causes an increase in temperature, but with allergies the temperature is normal.
Allergy attacks occur as a result of encountering an irritant.
With an allergy accompanied by a cough, there is no whistling noisy inhalation, which is a sign of whooping cough.
Attacks of whooping cough cannot be controlled with an antihistamine.
Sputum from whooping cough is often viscous and difficult to remove.

If there is any paroxysmal cough, you should immediately show the child to a specialist.

What causes a cough?

Doctors list the main reasons that can cause allergic cough in children:

The saliva and particles of cat skin (or rather, the protein-protein) found in them can sometimes cause other animals to cause an allergic reaction. There is always saliva and dead skin in the smallest form on the fur of pets.
Ticks. There are many of them in pillows, carpets, etc.
(it contains tick particles).
Chemical household products, cosmetic aerosols.

Sometimes an allergic cough develops after diseases of the respiratory tract: the virus or bacteria is no longer in the body, but the immune reactions triggered by the microbe still last.

How is it treated

Inevitably, parents are faced with the problem of how to treat an allergic cough in a child. Such manifestations of allergies will disappear if the child is removed from contact with the irritant or from reacting to it.

Why the attacks occur and what the child reacts to, parents will not figure it out on their own. The risk of developing allergic manifestations increases if one of the parents is allergic.

Therapy is prescribed and carried out exclusively by an allergist. But some easy preventive measures can be taken at home.

This general rules: frequently ventilate the apartment, do daily cleaning (wet). You can teach children to rinse their mouth and throat with warm water, especially after going out.

Diagnostics and therapy

Possible at home acute attack Give the child an antihistamine prescribed by a specialist to stop the reaction.

To effectively prevent cough, your doctor usually prescribes comprehensive treatment.

The doctor will carry out the necessary diagnostics (perhaps they will be prescribed, or perhaps) to identify what provokes an allergic reaction in such a painful form.

So, how is an allergic cough in a child treated? Therapy occurs in two courses: first it is stopped acute condition, then medications are prescribed for the time between attacks.

At acute manifestations allergic cough shows:

Medicines that combat excess histamine in the body (second or third generation).
Agents that bind toxins that are necessarily present in childhood allergic manifestations.
Drugs for dilation of bronchi.

The doctor will advise you to definitely adhere to hypoallergenic diet: all cocoa-containing products, tangerines, oranges, seafood, and red fruits are excluded.

Between attacks, the specialist will definitely prescribe:

Taking accumulative antihistamines.
Immunity-boosting procedures (the identified allergen is injected under the skin, gradually increasing the dosage). This reduces the allergic reaction to the pathogen. Such therapeutic measures shown only for a child over three years old.

Self-medication is unacceptable; trust your allergist. This will help avoid severe allergic complications.

Preventive measures

Refusal during pregnancy will be a certain preventive anti-allergenic measure for your baby.
Contact with the identified allergen must be excluded. If it is impossible to do this (for example, if the attacks are seasonal, as a reaction to flowering plants), immunotherapeutic procedures are performed.
If the irritant is not identified, you should do the following: introduce for the child, refuse animals in the house, do wet cleaning every day, remove carpets, remove down pillows, purchase synthetic hypoallergenic pillows, refuse plants in the children's room.

Important to remember

Allergic coughing attacks can be a reaction to any allergen.
There are basic symptoms that distinguish children's allergic cough from any other.
The appearance of a paroxysmal cough is a reason for an immediate examination of the child by a specialist who will prescribe comprehensive treatment. Without timely treatment, a serious illness such as asthma can occur.

See you in the next article!