Cures for Dry Cough in a Child

Although there are ways to help soothe your child's dry cough momentarily, a child's cough can't be cured until the infection that's causing the dry cough disappears. So there's no cure for a cough, only temporary remedies.

Cause

• A dry cough is usually caused by an infection in the respiratory tract, which causes colds and the flu. Coughs of this sort will worsen in warmer temperatures or when a child tries to fall asleep. Dry coughs can also signal infections in the lower respiratory tract, however, which signals a sickness such as pneumonia.

Fluids

• A child should get plenty of fluids to prevent mucus from building up. Water or lukewarm tea are the best choices.

Moisturized Air

• Breathing air with moisture in it has a similar effect to giving your child plenty of fluids. Place a humidifier near your child's bed. Another method of exposing your child to air with moisture is running a hot bath or shower with the bathroom door closed, and sitting with him for 10 minutes while he breathes in the water vapor.

Cool, Humid Air

• Inhaling cool, humid air can also soothe a child's dry cough--for example, by having your child stand in front of an open refrigerator or open freezer and breathing in the cool air. Opening a child's bedroom windows for a few minutes to allow cool air to come in will accomplish the same thing.

Warning

• Don't expose a child with a dry cough to cigarette smoke, This will aggravate the cough. Also, children with a dry cough shouldn't exercise, as the cough will often become worse.