Tricks To Get Rid Of A Dry Cough
Dry cough in children is a serious nuisance that does not produce any kind of phlegm. As such, it tends to cause irritation, and if its symptoms are left untreated it can get worse every time. It is a very common condition in children under the age of 10 and can occur several times a year for a variety of reasons.
This condition affects both children and adults. A cough, in fact, has its positive side as it allows you to get rid of a foreign body, a swallowed substance, or it can be a symptom of a disease.
While its dry form medically signifies an ailment, it is a natural mechanism the body uses to clear the airways.
Dry cough – what are its causes?
The causes of dry cough can vary widely. The most important are inflammation caused by rhinitis, bronchitis and laryngitis.
In addition, certain specific situations can cause a dry cough without ongoing illness. This is the case in environments contaminated with tobacco smoke, excessive humidity or sudden changes in temperature.
Some of the most common causes that cause a dry cough in children are as follows:
- Very cold or dry environments
- Places where air conditioners operate
- Strong odors
- Allergic reactions
- Places with a lot of dust
- Irritation of the respiratory tract from colds or flu
- Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
Parents often look for ways to combat dry cough in children. With both natural treatment and medication, the goal is to alleviate the child’s symptoms.
Natural remedies to relieve dry cough in children
There are many natural remedies to relieve the symptoms of dry cough in children that can help them and make them feel better.
Consume large amounts of fluids
Steam baths
Steam baths are another way to help your baby. For better results, your baby should breathe for about 20 minutes. This will help reduce irritation and moisten the airways.
Make sure the temperature is not too high beforehand to avoid burns.
Non-citrus fruit juices
It is important that the juices you give your baby are not too hot. Additionally, it is not a good idea to give them citrus juices as they generate more mucus and can be irritating.
Don’t forget that the airways are part of the membranes. Thus, the mucosa, like the rest of the dermis, should be treated at room temperature.
Air humidifier
Place the air humidifier in the children’s room, turn it on and leave it for a few minutes when the baby is not in the room. The point is for the child’s room to be moist and warm. You can add eucalyptus or laurel essential oil: the fragrance will help clear the airways and relax during sleep.
Drinking honey with lemon
Giving a small spoonful of honey with a few drops of lemon before going to bed will make your coughing milder.
Often, coughing increases at night, this is due to the horizontal position of the body. Accordingly, the feeling of stuffiness and irritation of the mucous membranes increases.
Natural dry cough syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup of honey (336 g)
- ½ glass of water (125 ml)
- 1 lemon
Preparation
- Put the honey in a pot and heat it over low heat (it shouldn’t boil as it loses its properties).
- Pour in the water and put all the lemon in the previously prepared pot.
- Boil the lemon for 3 minutes or until soft.
- Remove the lemon from the heat, drain the water and let it cool. Then, cut the lemon into slices and remove the seeds.
- Put the lemon in the heating honey and simmer it on a low temperature for an hour.
- After the indicated time, remove the mixture from heat and remove the lemon slices.
- Finally, cool and pour into a sterilized jar with a lid.
This syrup can be consumed by children and adults as it is ideal for fighting dry cough. Toddlers can be given half a teaspoon three times a day. Adults can drink the spoon as many times as they deem necessary.
It is very important to monitor the frequency of coughing in children. If after some time and after applying these treatments there is no improvement, consult a specialist.
