What Causes A Pediatric Cough
The number one cause of cough in children would the common cold . Generally this cough is secondary to drainage of mucous down the back of the throat, thus stimulating the cough reflex center. Most children less than eight years of age cannot “cough up” this material efficiently.
How Do I Know If My Baby Has Colic Or Reflux
Filed under:baby colic, baby reflux, colic, newborn, newborn crying, reflux
Colic and reflux are two of the most common conditions that can affect newborn babies. Around a quarter of all babies suffer with colic, and reflux is estimated to be double that. As an expecting or new parent, it is important to know the difference between the two so you can know how to comfort your baby. At babocush, we are extremely familiar with both colic and reflux, so these pointers on how to address the conditions should help.
Symptoms Of Silent Reflux
Crying
Tears, perhaps better described as screams, are your babys way of telling you theyre in discomfort, however a lot of babies with reflux wont cry, instead they may be difficult to settle or get to sleep.
But first things first. Just because your baby is crying a lot doesnt mean they have silent reflux.
There may be a number of underlying issues causing them tears. Make sure to rule out everything on our list that may cause your baby to cry, before suspecting silent reflux.
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When To See A Doctor
Hopefully, your childs congestion will be short-lived and leave their immune system stronger than it was before. However, see your doctor if things dont get better after a couple of days.
If you dont already have a pediatrician, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
Get urgent care if your baby isnt wetting enough diapers , or if they start vomiting or running a fever, especially if they are under 3 months old.
- panicked look
Can My Coughing Hurt My Baby
Answer. The uterus and amniotic fluid are only a cushion. Any trauma to your belly can harm that baby and so you should be careful when going up and down steps, or on slippery side walks. Coughing, even if excessive, likely wont harm your baby, though I would run it by your OBGYN to get his, or her opinion.
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How Is Ger Diagnosed
Some tests may include:
Upper GI and/or esophogram – the stomach is filled with barium . Then an X-ray of the digestive tract is done to measure the frequency and severity of GER.
Milk scan – the child drinks or bottles a liquid that has a contrast material added. Then an X-ray of the stomach is done to measure how long it takes the stomach to empty and to evaluate GER. Results are available in 24 hours.
H probe monitoring – a small flexible tube is passed through the nose into the esophagus. This tube measures how often acid from the stomach comes up into the esophagus. It will stay in place for up to 24 hours.
Endoscopy – The child is given anesthesia. Then the doctor uses a flexible tube with a light on the end to examine the esophagus, stomach, and/or first part of the small intestine.
Bronchoscopy – The child is given anesthesia. Then the doctor uses a flexible tube with a light on the end to check for aspiration . This is usually done at the same time as the endoscopy.
Infant Reflux And Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion can also be a symptom of infant GERD. Though experts arent sure exactly why the two are linked, stomach acids could reach the back of the nasal cavity in babies with GERD, causing inflammation of the nasal passages.
If your baby has nasal congestion along with other symptoms of GERD, try home remedies for GERD and talk to your doctor about medications. In the meantime, if congestion is severe, try these tactics for stuffy nose relief.
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A Note On Sleeping And Silent Reflux
Your baby should always be put to sleep on their back, even if they have silent reflux. Putting baby to sleep on their stomach or side increases their risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Also, as the American Academy of Pediatrics warns, you should never elevate the head of babys crib in an attempt to relieve silent reflux. This may cause baby to roll into a position that could cause serious breathing complications.
How Do You Get Mucus Out Of A Newborn Baby’s Lungs
Patting on the Chest or Back Another way to loosen the mucus, making it easier to remove it, is by patting your babys chest or back. Pat him firmly on the back in the lung area. Use a cupped hand to pat while he lays across your legs, with his head positioned slightly lower than the rest of the body.
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What To Do For A Congested Baby
Fortunately, many home remedies are quite effective at making your little one more comfortable. Here are a few easy treatments to try. Best part? You probably have many of these already at home.
Breast milk. It doesnt get more naturalor easierthan this. A drop or two in the nose can help loosen congestion, Altmann says. Let baby sniff it up, then give him tummy time when he lifts his head, itll drain out. You can also drain by holding your congested baby upright.
Nasal saline. As with breast milk, add a drop or two in each nostril. You can buy nasal saline or make it at home: Mix a quarter teaspoon of table salt and 8 ounces of bottled water, Altmann says.
Cool mist humidifier. Fill up the humidifier with plain waterno Vicks or other substancesand run it in babys room while shes sleeping. Put this close to the crib it really makes a difference, Posner says.
Steam room. Steam up the bathroom and sit baby on your lap or breastfeed in there for 20 minutes, Altmann says. The humidity loosens any dry congestion in the nose to help it drain.
Warm juice. For babies 6 months and up, try feeding baby a little warm, unsweetened apple juice or water . Just as with OTC products, theyll soften any mucus that ends up in the back of babys throat.
Babies Cant Blow Their Noses And Need A Little Help
Older children and adults can easily clear mucus out of their noses by blowing them, says Benaroch. Little babies cant do that, so they tend to stay congested.
What you can do: To clear out baby noses safely and easily, both Benaroch and Duda suggest the NoseFrida baby nostril aspirator because it works well and is safe to use for babies. Generally, it does the same thing as a bulb syringe by clearing out the mucus in their noses, but its easier to clean than typical syringes. Parents suck the mucus out of their babies noses using the nostril aspirator .
Where to buy: NoseFrida The Snotsucker
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How To Relieve Nasal Congestion
The moment you notice your baby is a little congested, you probably begin wondering what you can do to help. Depending on the severity of the congestion, you have varied options.
Be Sensitive To Their Tummies
If tummy time is uncomfortable, dont push it. Although this position is key for their early development, its not going to be effective if it really hurts them.Keep this time short if they start crying, then sit them upright, or put a cushion under their torso.
Using tight baby carriers can also cause discomfort to your little one if they have silent reflux. Be gentle when winding too.
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What Else Should I Know
Noisy breathing and other laryngomalacia symptoms usually get worse over several months, then start to improve after 36 months. Symptoms clear up completely in most kids. Occasionally, an older child with a history of laryngomalacia may have noisy breathing while exercising, during a viral infection, or when sleeping.
Burp The Baby Frequently During Feeding
Sometimes, the baby wakes up 30 45 minutes after feeding crying and in utter distress. They are crying because they are in pain. The causative factor may be that gases have built up in the baby, and this means the baby has reflux. Before the baby takes a nap, burp the baby for as long as possible. Burping him/her frequently will eliminate gases from his system. This way, the baby wont have any difficulty sleeping and would not have reflux
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Whats The Relationship Between Gerd And Sinusitis
Acid reflux can cause sinus issues so there is a definite possibility that GERD is causing your sinusitis. In fact the more appropriate term is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux which is a different form of acid reflux which primarily affects around the throat area and a typical symptom with it is sinus and breathing issues.
The Difference Between A Dry And Wet Cough
If your babyâs cough sounds wet, itâs most likely due to chest congestion. The cough will often last longer than a runny nose, if your baby has that symptom as well. Itâs best to consult your babyâs healthcare provider if she has a cough, especially if sheâs under 2 months old.If the cough sounds dry or irritated, your baby most likely wonât have chest congestion. Dry coughs are often characteristic of conditions like croup or whooping cough, both of which can have a barking sound.If your baby does indeed have a dry cough that has a barking sound, or if your baby makes a wheezing sound when breathing, contact her healthcare provider as she may need prescription medication to treat the underlying cause.Be aware that experts do not recommend over-the-counter cough medicine for children younger than 6 years old as it may cause serious side effects such as slowed breathing.
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How Can You Treat Colic And Reflux
Treating colic and reflux can be frustrating because both can last for months. Colic especially can be hard to manage. When your newborn cries for hours on end, it can become incredibly stressful for everyone involved.
It is important to wind a baby regularly anyway, but more so if they suffer from colic. Babies can become uncomfortable after drinking their milk, simply because their tummies are so small that they become full a lot quicker. Their milk can add bubbles of wind to their tummies too, creating even more discomfort.
The only thing that can help with colic is to ride it out. Keep yourself and your baby as relaxed as possible. Hold your baby when they are crying, it will pass in time.
For reflux, feed your baby in as upright a position as possible and keep them upright after feeding. Take the time to wind them regularly during and after a feed and feed them slowly. In fact, feeding little and often may be the ideal solution for your baby as this will allow their digestive system to make the workload more manageable. Reflux in babies does usually go away on its own. If you are struggling with some of these symptoms, particularly with lack of weight gain, do contact your doctor as they may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe something for your baby.
Understanding Pepsin And Its Important Role In Sinus Congestion
Before I mentioned about pepsin and how it really causes the problems with our sinuses. I want to delve into a bit more detail about it here.
If you didnt know already pepsin is an enzyme that is produced in the stomach. As I mentioned before pepsin is used to break down proteins in the stomach. When someone has gaseous reflux, which is more typical for someone with LPR the acid from the stomach and the pepsin come up into the throat and then from there into the sinuses. This often leads to sinus inflammation or other symptoms like a dry or irritated nose, sometimes the nose may even bleed.
If you didnt know how pepsin works it basically becomes more active when the pH or acidity is more acidic, as can be seen in the chart below. When the pepsin gets into the sinuses even if you dont have acid reflux the pepsin can lay dormant which can be reactivated by coming in contact with something acidic.
Also, when something alkaline with a pH above 8 comes into contact with it, it will neutralize it.
This is important to understand, I will cover exactly why in the section below oh how to stop acid reflux inflaming the sinuses.
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Infant Congestion: Why Do Newborns Sneeze So Much
Parents of newborn babies often find it difficult to know whats normal baby behavior and what isnt. Often, newborns sneeze much more often than adults and even older kids. It helps babies deal with stuffy noses. But infant congestion isnt the only reason for a baby sneezing. Read on to learn why babies sneeze a lot and when it might be a sign of illness.