Some examples of common cough.

• Sudden, single cough.
  Suddenly - and without an obvious reason - your child starts coughing. And then - just as suddenly - it is over. It may be that your child has just swallowed some food or water the wrong way, or something is caught in his or her throat. In this case, the coughing is a normal reaction and no reason to worry. It is just the body trying to clear the airways.
• Coughing at night.
  Your child starts coughing occasionally in the night. Most of the time, this is no reason for being alarmed. Any congestion in the child's nose and sinuses drains down the throat at night and may cause a little irritation. So there is usually no need to worry, however, it is advisable to keep an eye on.
• Coughing with a cold.
  It is perfectly normal that your child develops a cough during a cold. At first, this kind of cough is usually non-productive and becomes productive as the cold develops. Generally, this cough lasts about a week, although it can last for longer. At the latest if the symptoms last longer than one week, you should visit your doctor.
• Coughing with vomiting.
  When a child coughs, it is more exhausting than it is for adults. It may trigger a vagal reflex and make them vomit. Although this can be very alarming, this temporary irritation of the vagus nerve is usually harmless unless the vomiting persists.

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Some examples of cough that require medical attention.

• Barking cough.
  This cough is often caused by pseudo croup (spasmodic croup) or an inflammation of the voice box and the windpipe. Croup can occur suddenly in the middle of night, which can be frightening for both you and your child. Call your doctor if you suspect your child has barking cough.
• Whooping cough.
  Whooping cough sounds actually like a "whoop" and occurs after the cough attack, when your child tries to take in a deep breath after a bout of coughing.
  Whooping cough is often a symptom of a disease known as pertussis. This is an infectious disease that can be very serious. Seek medical advice immediately.
• Coughing with wheezing.
  In this case, your child makes a wheezing sound while breathing. This might be caused by a swelling of the vocal cords as a result of a respiratory infection or spasmodic croup. Wheezing may also be caused from an object that lodged in the child's airway. Take your child to visit your medical professional as quickly as possible.
• Coughing with fever.
  A cough plus a high fever may be serious. Put wet compresses around the child's lower legs to reduce the fever. Seek medical advice.
• Coughing in young infants.
  Whether your child's cough seems to be normal or alarming, you should keep a close eye on any cough your infant develops. It is better to ask your doctor once too often than not enough.

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