Summary
A cough in your child can be a bad thing or a good thing. In this Medical Minute, Dr. Richard Honaker explains how to tell when it’s a sign of something worse.
The warning signs Dr. Honaker describes:
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing, a raspy sound when breathing.
- A high fever, which could point to pneumonia.
- Retractions and use of extra muscles. If you take your child’s shirt off and watch them breathe in, you may see the ribs pulling in. That’s a retraction, and it means your child is working really hard to get air in. Children who struggle may also use their neck and stomach muscles to move air in and out.
- A dusky color, poor color, or breathing that gets progressively worse.
If any of these happen, or if you’re unsure, Dr. Honaker says to see your doctor. Your child may need an exam and possibly a chest X-ray.
Key takeaways
- Not every cough is serious, but some are signs of something worse.
- Warning signs: shortness of breath, wheezing, high fever, retractions, use of neck and stomach muscles to breathe, and dusky or poor color.
- If there’s any question, see your doctor; a chest X-ray may be needed.
Questions Dr. Honaker answers
When is a child’s cough serious?
When your child is short of breath, wheezing, has a high fever, shows retractions, uses extra muscles to breathe, or has a dusky color or is getting worse.
What are retractions?
When a child breathes in and you can see the ribs pulling in. Dr. Honaker says it means they’re working very hard to get air in.
What should I do if I’m worried?
See your doctor. Your child may need an exam and possibly a chest X-ray.
