Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s causing a baby cough. You just know hearing that sound is scary, and you want to know what’s wrong. Until your baby can talk, you’ll need to do a bit of detective work to figure if this cough is something you need to worry about. Listen closely to your infant cough and follow the advice of medical experts to help get your baby well again.
Luckily, most coughs aren’t worrisome, but there are some instances when you shouldn’t wait to see a doctor. “A cough in a baby under 3 months of age is unusual and may indicate a serious lung problem,” says Dr. Robert H. Pantell, coauthor of Taking Care Of Your Child and professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco.
If your infant is coughing and under 3 months old, Pantell says to call your pediatrician immediately. Dr. Hannah Chow-Johnson, pediatrician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, urges that you call 911 immediately “if an infant is struggling to breathe, gasping for air or if apnea (pausing of breathing for longer than 20 seconds) occurs.”
Here are some common causes of coughs and what to do about them:
A Cough and the Common Cold
A baby cough may simply be a symptom of a cold — a viral infection in a baby’s nose or throat. Other symptoms that might be present include a runny nose, a low-grade fever, decreased sleep and trouble nursing or drinking a bottle because of nasal congestion. A cough from a common cold sounds wet and productive, says Chow-Johnson, and a wet cough is related to mucus or a runny nose.
Pantell recommends that you call your pediatrician if your baby is younger than 3 months old and is coughing or if your baby has had a cough for more than 10 days. Chow-Johnson adds, “It is time to call the pediatrician if a baby’s cough is worsening, if the child has a fever higher than 100.4 degrees, if the baby is having difficultly breathing or if breathing seems very labored.”
Whooping Cough
Pertussis — which is commonly called whooping cough — is a highly contagious and dangerous bacterial infection in the airways caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Whopping cough is an airborne virus that spreads very easily. This can be prevented through a series of vaccinations but is still common in infants.
Pantell advises that all expectant mothers get a pertussis booster shot as a means of prevention. Whooping cough sounds like several coughs in a row without a break for a breath in between, says Pantell, adding that the “whoop” sound occurs when baby has a chance to take in a breath again. He recommends calling your pediatrician immediately if you suspect your baby has whooping cough, as it can be fatal for infants. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics.
Croup
A croup cough sounds like a seal barking when the child inhales, notes Pantell. It can sound scary but is usually mild. Croup is a viral infection caused by swelling around a baby’s vocal chords and windpipes. He advises calling your pediatrician if the cough lingers with no sign of improvement. Call 911, he urges, if breathing becomes very labored or the child’s physical appearance changes — for example, if the child turns pale or blue. Otherwise, keep your child calm, use a humidifier and try sitting with your child in a steamy bathroom.
Bronchitis
When a cold moves down into baby’s lungs you could have a case of bronchitis on your hands. Other symptoms may include your baby running a slight fever, having a runny nose and/or loss of appetite. Bronchitis sounds like a wheezing cough and noisy or labored breathing, says Pantell.
Wheezing is also a characteristic of asthma. Pantell recommends calling the pediatrician if your baby is wheezing to confirm a diagnosis of bronchitis. As it is usually caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t work, but your doctor might suggest medications to help your baby’s cough and keep her comfortable. Be sure to keep your baby hydrated.
Pneumonia
Coughing accompanied by rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, especially a few days after a cold, is often pneumonia, says Pantell. Pneumonia often starts as a common cold and then moves into the lungs. Pantell advises, “Call the pediatrician if you suspect your baby has pneumonia or has a fever that accompanies a wet phlegm-filled cough.”
When in doubt about any baby cough, it’s best to have a pediatrician advise you of your next steps. However, both Pantell and Chow-Johnson say you should call 911 directly if your baby becomes lethargic, is gasping for air, has a change in color (becomes blue), has a sudden coughing fit (possible choking) or is struggling to breathe.
For more on baby health, check out Your Baby Has a Cold: Now What?
NJ Rongner is a parenting and lifestyle blogger who writes at A Cookie Before Dinner. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
