Coughs in children

Coughs in children often have similar causes to those mentioned above. For example, respiratory tract infections, asthma and GORD can all affect children.

Causes of coughs that are more common in children than adults include:

bronchiolitis – a mild respiratory tract infection that usually causes cold-like symptoms

croup – this causes a distinctive barking cough and a harsh sound known as stridor when the child breathes in

whooping cough– look out for symptoms such as intense, hacking bouts of coughing, vomiting, and a "whoop" sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing

Occasionally, a persistent cough in a child can be a sign of a serious long-term condition, such as cystic fibrosis

When to see your GP

There's usually no need to see your GP if you or your child have a mild cough for a week or two. However, you should seek medical advice if:

• you've had a cough for more than three weeks
• your cough is particularly severe or is getting worse