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If your child experiences frequent nighttime coughing spells or prolonged coughs accompanied by unusual breathing sounds, it could be a warning sign of respiratory illnesses that require prompt medical attention.
Why do children often experience nighttime coughing and vomiting?
As all mothers know, when children have nighttime coughing spells, they often also experience vomiting. So why do children vomit at night and what contributes to this condition?
Children who cough and vomit at night often do so due to the following primary reasons.
Causes stemming from external factors.
- Impact of Temperature on Sleep
At night, the air temperature often drops, which may lead to children catching colds from air conditioning or chilly nights, resulting in coughing fits.
Especially during summer or when using air conditioning, transitioning from hot to cooler weather can dry out the air, causing coughing at night.
- Incorrect Sleeping Position and Coughing Fits
Sleeping in an improper position is a common cause of nighttime coughing in children. When the head isn't elevated or positioned properly, mucus can drip down the throat, irritating the child and leading to coughing fits.
- Inadequate Hygiene in the Child's Bedroom
Another factor contributing to nighttime coughing in children is a bedroom filled with dust and dirt, lacking proper cleanliness. This is especially true for families with pets, as pet dander can easily trigger coughing in children.
- Allergic Reactions to Household Triggers
Pollen, pet dander, or dust mites are common triggers of coughing symptoms in children. Therefore, mothers should pay attention when their child comes into contact with these substances. If the child experiences frequent coughing accompanied by sneezing, itching, or watery eyes, it may be due to an allergy to these triggers.
Underlying Respiratory Conditions
- Due to Childhood Asthma
Nighttime coughing in children can also result from childhood asthma, where the child experiences uncomfortable coughing fits accompanied by wheezing, shallow sleep, especially during weather changes or exposure to allergens.
- Childhood Sinusitis or Pharyngitis
Sinusitis is a condition that affects people of all ages, including children. It involves nasal congestion, leading to increased mucus secretion that can drip down the throat at night, causing irritation and intense coughing in children.
Additionally, if a child has pharyngitis, it can cause nighttime coughing during sleep, accompanied by other recognizable symptoms such as throat itching, fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and more.
- Acid Reflux in Infants Resulting in Coughing and Spitting Up
Acid reflux from the stomach can stimulate the respiratory nervous system, causing irritation and coughing in infants, especially if the child has overeaten, sometimes leading to spitting up, particularly in newborns.
What Should Mothers Do When Their Child Coughs at Night?
When a child coughs at night, mothers can improve this condition by following these methods:
- Use Gentle Saline Solution to Clean the Baby's Nose
Before sleeping or when the child coughs, parents can instill 5-10 drops of 0.9% sterile saline solution into the child's nose to remove mucus, balance moisture, and physiological mucosal function, helping reduce coughing.
For children under 3 months old, their nasal mucosa is delicate, so it's important to choose specialized saline solutions such as single-dose sterile saline solution without preservatives.
- Ensure Proper Air Humidity Balance in the Room.
Mothers can use a humidifier to increase air humidity in the room, helping keep the baby's airways moist and reducing throat mucus, thereby alleviating nighttime coughing.
- Use Immune-Boosting Syrups for the Baby
Mothers can administer immune-boosting syrups to strengthen the baby's immune system. Some effective and safe options for young children include Kan syrup, Pediakid immune booster,...
Note that mothers should purchase immune-boosting syrup products for their baby from reputable sources like Mytour to avoid buying low-quality products.
Through this article, mothers can see that nighttime coughing in children is a common and generally not dangerous phenomenon. However, if the cough persists accompanied by symptoms such as heavy breathing, wheezing, mothers should take the baby for timely medical examination.
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