Coughing is a normal defensive process which clears the excess mucus or aspirated material. Children are particularly prone to cough than adults as they have an increased frequency of respiratory infection as well as increased cough receptor sensitivity. This article gives an overview of the scale of the problem and offers a framework for assessment of cough. Cough generally occurs in children following a respiratory tract infection and on an average, it lasts for 2-3 weeks.
Viral infections are very common in children and some normal children get 10-12 infections per year. Adults, on the contrary, generally have 2-4 viral respiratory infections per year. Cough can also occur in the absence of recent infection or other obvious triggers. In the absence of any infection, there is minimal coughing seen in children, however, prolonged or nocturnal coughing can significantly impair quality…
