What is a cough?

A cough is your body’s natural way to clear your throat or airways from something irritating it, such as mucus (snot), dust or a foreign object.

Your baby may cough for many reasons. There are different types of coughs. Sometimes you may hear or see phlegm. This is a wet cough. Your baby can also have a dry cough. You will not hear or see any mucus with a dry cough.

Your baby’s cough can be:

• acute, where it goes away within 7 to 10 days
• chronic, where it lasts longer than 4 weeks

Sometimes, your baby’s cough and other symptoms can be a sign that they need urgent medical attention. It is important you know when to seek urgent care.

What symptoms are related to coughs in babies?

If your baby has a cough, they might also have trouble breathing. Your baby may:

• breathe faster than usual (tachypnoea)
• have stridor — a loud and high-pitched sound when your baby breathes
• have chest wall retractions — as your baby breathes in, the skin around their ribs pulls inwards, showing their ribs
• be wheezing
• have pauses in their breathing (apnoeas)

Your baby may also have:

• fever
• runny or blocked nose
• lethargy
• reduced appetite, weight loss or slow weight gain

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

Read about how to tell if your child is sick.

What causes coughs in babies?

There are many reasons why your baby may cough, including:

• bacterial or viral infections — bronchiolitis, croup, whooping cough (pertussis) or pneumonia
• exposure to triggers in the environment — cigarette smoke, pollution, allergens and hot or cold air
• medical conditions — cystic fibrosis and other conditions
• inhalation of a foreign object or food into their lungs
• post-viral cough — after your baby has recovered from a virus, their cough lingers and becomes chronic

How is the cause of a cough diagnosed?

Your baby’s doctor can diagnose the cause of their cough by:

• asking you about your baby’s cough and medical history
• observing and physically assessing your baby
• requesting tests — chest x-ray, CT scan, blood tests, a sample of mucus from their throat, bronchoscopy or lung function test

Your baby’s doctor will use their judgment to decide which tests are needed.

It is important to know what is causing your baby to cough so they can get the right treatment.

When should I see my doctor?

If your child is otherwise healthy, a cough alone usually doesn’t require a visit to the GP.

You should take your baby to their doctor if they:

• have a cough and you are worried about their health
• have a cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks or has not gone away after treatment
• have a cough and are not drinking much or have less wet nappies than usual

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

When to seek urgent care

You should seek urgent medical care if:

• your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C
• your baby is struggling to breathe or their lips are turning blue
• you suspect your baby has inhaled food or a foreign object

How is a cough treated?

Your baby’s doctor will treat their cough and what is causing it. Treatment includes tips to relieve their coughing, medicines and monitoring their symptoms.

Your baby may be admitted to hospital.

Self-care at home

Here are some tips to help your baby’s cough:

• use a cool-mist humidifier
• make sure your baby is drinking fluids, so they are hydrated
• avoid exposing your baby to triggers — dust, cigarette smoke or fumes
• suction your baby’s nostrils (nares) if mucus is affecting their breathing or feeding
• use nasal saline drops before feeding your baby

Speak with your baby’s doctor for advice on which strategies can help them.

Medicines for a cough

Your baby’s doctor may prescribe:

• medicines to relieve fever or pain
• antibiotics
• steroids
• inhalations
• oxygen
• fluids

Do not give your baby over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. They can harm your baby. Babies under 12 months should not have honey to relieve their cough.

Read about medicines for babies and children.

Other treatment options

If your baby has a chronic wet cough that is not getting better with antibiotics and causes have been ruled out, their doctor may request some tests.

Read about treatment for RSV in babies.

Read about treatment for croup.

Read about treatment for whooping cough.

What are the complications of a cough?

Some conditions that cause coughing can have health complications. For this reason, if your baby has a cough, they should be checked by their doctor.

Coughing affects both you and your baby’s quality of life. It can be distressing hearing them cough. Coughing may affect their sleep by waking them up. Your baby’s cough can also affect their ability to feed. They can become dehydrated.

Can coughs be prevented?

You can prevent some coughs in babies by:

• vaccinating your baby against infections that cause coughs — whooping cough or haemophilus influenzae type b
• protecting your baby against triggers in the environment — cigarette smoke, fumes and pollen
• protecting your baby from inhaling foreign objects
• avoiding people who have respiratory infections

Read Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s vaccinations guide.

Visit Australia’s National Immunisation Program Schedule.

Resources and support

• Lung Foundation Australia has a useful resource about chronic cough in children.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital has a handout about cough in children.
• Visit the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network to learn more about croup.

If your baby or child is not well and you are not sure what to do, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a nurse.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

The King Edward Memorial Hospital has a collection of parenting resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

The Royal Children’s Hospital has translated its factsheet about croup in many community languages.