Cough in children under 12 years
Cough in children under 12 years
Children’s cough is often due to a viral infection causing mucus to trickle down the back of the throat. If the infant/child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there's no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about. However, it can still be uncomfortable, so some products may be useful to help manage it.17
NOTE: It is important to check the child’s age to ensure product suitability. Children under 6 should not be offered over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants.17 They can be offered demulcents to ease cough symptoms.
Symptom management
Click the products to find out more.
DEMULCENTS FOR A DRY COUGH – SYRUP, GLYCEROL
Similarly to adults, demulcents can be used in children to soothe a tickly cough.
PRODUCTS FOR DRY, TICKLY COUGHS
Benylin® Dry & Tickly Cough Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL, SUCROSE)
Liquid containing 0.75ml glycerol and 1.71g sucrose per 5ml
For the relief of irritating, tickly dry coughs and sore throats
Clinically proven with immediate soothing relief
DOSAGE:
Adults and children over 5 years:
10ml 3-4 times a day;
Children 1-5 years:
5ml 3-4 times a day
NOT to be given to children under 1 year
Benylin® Infant's Cough Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL)
Syrup containing 0.75ml glycerol per 5ml (15%v/v)
For relief of dry, tickly coughs
Immediate soothing relief, for day and night use
DOSAGE:
Children 1–5 years:
two 5ml spoonfuls 3-4 times a day.
Children 3 months – 1 year
one 5ml spoonful 3-4 times a day
NOT to be given to children under 3 months
Benylin® Children’s Dry Cough & Sore Throat Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL, SUCROSE)
Blackcurrant-flavoured syrup containing glycerol 0.75ml, sucrose 1.7g per 5ml
For the soothing relief of irritating, tickly dry coughs and sore throats
DOSAGE:
Adults, elderly and children over 5 years:
10ml
Children 1-5 years:
5ml. Dose may be repeated 3 or 4 times a day
NOT to be given to children under 1 year
EXPECTORANTS FOR A CHESTY OR PRODUCTIVE COUGH
Expectorants aim to loosen bronchial secretions, which can then be coughed up more easily.
Benylin® Children’s Chesty Coughs (P) (GUAIFENESIN)
Syrup containing 50mg guaifenesin per 5ml
Effective relief of acute productive (chesty) coughs without causing drowsiness
DOSAGE:
Children 6–12 years:
10ml 4 times daily, maximum daily dose 40ml
NOT to be given to children under 6 years
NOT to be used for more than 5 days without the advice of a doctor
ANTIHISTAMINES such as diphenhydramine can help aid a restful sleep, particularly when experiencing a cough alongside other cold symptoms e.g. runny nose.11
Benylin® Children Night Coughs (P) (DIPHENHYDRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, LEVOMENTHOL)
Syrup containing 7mg diphenhydramine HCl and 0.55mg levomenthol per 5ml
Relief of cough and associated congestive symptoms, runny nose, sneezing, and treatment of hay fever and other allergic conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract
DOSAGE:
Children 6-12 years:
10ml every 6 hours
NOT to be taken by children under 6
Red flags17
A child should be referred if they have any of the following signs or symptoms:
A cough that has lasted longer than 3 weeks
A high temperature or feeling hot and shivery – sign of infection
A cough that’s worse at night or worsens during activity – sign of asthma
Diagnosis of asthma
Signs of meningitis or sepsis
If a child is finding it hard to breathe, advise the carer to take them to A&E or call 999.
Other types of cough in children that require referral13
WHOOPING COUGH. A bacterial infection causing intermittent attacks of uncontrollable, violent coughing that can feel exhausting and painful. During a coughing episode, the release of air from the lungs causes people to violently inhale with a ‘whoop’. Babies are at a higher risk of contracting whooping cough and vaccination has been proven to be the best way to avoid falling ill with it.
CROUP COUGH. A viral infection that causes irritation and swelling in the airways. It usually affects children under 5 years of age. Symptoms include a characteristic ‘barking’ cough, a raspy voice and squeaky breathing noises – the latter due to swelling around the voice box. Children can struggle to breathe, breathe very quickly or make high-pitched noises during inhalation.