My daughter is 1 year 10 months old and she has a cold and coughs at times. Sometimes she chokes. Should she consult her doctor?

Question

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, In general, coughing is not a serious symptom. The action of coughing is part of the body's defense mechanisms to protect the lung passages. On the other hand, coughing can become bothersome at times, especially if your child drinks and coughs at the same time, so it can be relieved with non-pharmacological methods: Give your child something to drink often (water, soup...). Avoid liquids that are too acidic, such as orange or grapefruit juice, as this can make his sore throat and cough worse. Cold drinks can also relieve him. You can also give a spoonful of pasteurized honey (2.5 ml) to your child if he is over 1 year old. Studies, although small, suggest that honey may be effective in soothing coughs. On the other hand, it is recommended that you do not give cough and cold medicines (syrup, suppository or other) to children under 6 years old. For his cold, proper nasal hygiene is recommended 3 to 6 times a day to loosen secretions to improve breathing, especially before drinking. This will reduce the risk of him choking while drinking. I am attaching this guide from CHU Ste-Justine for detailed steps and the amount of saline water to use for proper nasal hygiene: https://www.chusj.org/getmedia/d81f7af6-a93c-4e86-9011-f523e13279a8/depliant_F-886_hygiene-nasale.pdf.aspx?ico=.pdf Consult a doctor if your child : has a cough that persists for more than 10 days; coughs so much that he or she often chokes or vomits; has a temperature that reaches 40°C (104°F), or has had a fever for more than 48 hours; has wheezing; has difficulty eating adequately or is losing weight coughing up blood; is pale or has blue lips; has difficulty breathing or is breathing faster than usual; is especially lethargic Do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions. Happy day, Kamilia Idir, Pharmacy Intern. Supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacy