Causes and Types of Cough

Children cough when the lining of their windpipe becomes irritated. This often happens when a child is sick, or when the body is trying to fight off an illness and makes lots of mucus, or phlegm.

Coughing is an important reflex because it removes the extra mucus and lets air flow more easily through the windpipe and into the lungs, which, in turn, helps the child to breathe.

A child's cough is often worse in the evening (or during the day with naps), especially when the child is lying in bed, because mucus can collect in the back of the throat. Also, kids tend to swallow mucus, instead of spitting it out (as most adults do).

Swallowing it can cause the child to have an upset stomach or to vomit mucus, especially when they have a coughing fit.

Coughing is normally a symptom of a respiratory infection, but it may also be caused by other respiratory diseases (such as asthma).

Children who are coughing will often have other symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, or difficulty breathing .

Take note of your child's other symptoms because it can help you figure out the cause of your child's illness.

There are four distinct types of cough: a dry cough, a wet cough, a croupy cough, and a whooping cough. It is important to know what type of cough your child has, and what it might mean.

Dry Cough
A dry, hacking cough is often caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat), such as a cold or influenza. (Listen to this example of a dry cough.) This type of cough usually gets worse in a warm room or after the child has gone to bed.

However, a dry cough may also be an early sign of an infection of the lower respiratory tract, such as with bronchiolitis, the inflammation of the smallest airways in the lungs, or pneumonia, which is inflammation of the lung tissue itself.

Other causes also include asthma, which often first appears as a dry nighttime cough, and exposure to cigarette smoke or other similar irritants.

Croup Cough
Croup is a disease, commonly found in young children, that causes a harsh, barking dry cough, which can sound similar to a seal barking. Listen to this example of croup.

Children with croup have a swollen upper trachea (windpipe) which is usually caused by a viral infection. The swelling, which is beneath the vocal cords, causes the barking cough. A child with croup also may make a high-pitched sound (known as stridor) when breathing in.

Wet Cough
A cough sounds "wet" because of fluid (secretions and mucus) found in the lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs). Listen to this example of a wet cough.

Common causes of wet cough include infections and asthma. The coughing helps to remove fluid from the lower respiratory tract.

Older children can spit out this mucus, whereas younger children swallow it into their stomachs. Swallowing mucus can cause a child to have an upset stomach, and the mucus can later appear in the child's vomit or stool (poop).

Whooping Cough
If your child is having severe fits of deep, fast coughing, he may have the disease pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Listen to this example of whooping cough.

At first, a child with whooping cough will have symptoms similar to an ordinary cold, but gradually his cough will become worse, especially at night. The frequent coughing fits generally have 5 to 15 staccato coughs in rapid succession, and after coughing, the child will breathe deeply, sometimes making a "whooping" sound.

The rapid coughing can lead to breathing problems and the child can look somewhat blue in the face due to the temporary shortage of oxygen.

If you suspect your child has whooping cough, call your doctor right away.

There is a vaccine available to prevent whooping cough, and children in the US receive it as part of their routine immunizations. However, even with the vaccination, it is still possible for children to develop a mild case of the disease.

Infants who have not been immunized are also susceptible to infection as are adults and adolescents with low immunity. Non-vaccinated individuals can easily spread the infection to others.