Coughing is a healthy reflex that helps clear the airways. A severe cough or one that lasts more than a week requires a medical checkup. But many coughs are caused by a virus that just needs to run its course. What to Do If your child develops a "barky" or "croupy" cough, sit in a steamy bathroom together for about 20 minutes. Offer plenty of fluids (breast milk or formula for babies; cool water and juice for older kids). Avoid carbonated or citrus drinks that may irritate a raw throat. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom. Use saline (saltwater) nose drops to relieve congestion. Never give cough drops (a choking hazard) to young kids or cough or cold medicine to kids under 6 years of age. Get Medical Care if Your Child: has severe cough spasms or attacks, wheezing, or stridor (a high-pitched sound when breathing in) has a cough that lasts 3 weeks, gets worse, happens the same time every year, or seems caused by something specific (such as pollen, dust, pets, etc.) has a fever that lasts more than a couple of days is younger than 3 months old is breathing fast or working hard to breathe has a blue or pale color in the lips, face, or tongue during or after coughing Think Prevention! Follow the doctor's treatment plan if your child has asthma or allergies. Avoid anyone who smokes or has a cold. Make sure your child gets the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine or combination booster (Tdap) on time. Teach kids to sneeze or cough into their albow, not their hands. Wash hands well and often. Back to Articles Related Articles Flu Center Get the basics on how flu spreads and how to protect yourself. Read More Asthma Center Asthma means breathing problems. Find out what's going on in the lungs and how to stay healthy, if you have it. Read More Flu Center The flu can make you sick for a week or more. Find out how to get protected from the influenza virus. Read More Flu Center Learn all about protecting your family from the flu and what to do if your child gets flu-like symptoms. Read More Asthma Center Asthma keeps more kids home from school than any other chronic illness. Learn how to help your child manage the condition, stay healthy, and stay in school. Read More Your Child's Immunizations: Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccine (DTaP) Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine. Read More Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Pertussis is characterized by severe coughing spells that end in a whooping sound when the person breathes in. It can be prevented with the pertussis vaccine, part of the DTaP immunization. Read More Your Lungs & Respiratory System What's something kids are doing all day, every day? Breathing! Your lungs are large and in charge of breathing, so read all about them in this article. Read More Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa Germs are tiny organisms that can cause disease - and they're so small that they can creep into your system without you noticing. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Is It a Cold, the Flu, or COVID-19? Your child has a sore throat, cough, and a high fever. Is it COVID-19? Could it be the flu? Or just a cold? Here are tips on what to look for, and what to do. Read More Hand Washing: Why It's So Important Washing your hands well and often is the best way to keep from getting sick. Here's how to teach this all-important habit to your kids. Read More Coughing Coughs are a common symptom, but most aren't a sign of a serious condition. Learn about different coughs, how to help your child feel better, and when to call your doctor. Read More Lungs and Respiratory System Each day you breathe about 20,000 times. Find out more about the lungs and breathing process. Read More Croup Croup often causes kids to have a loud cough that sounds like a seal barking. Most cases of croup are caused by viruses, are mild, and can be treated at home. Read More Colds Colds are the most common infectious disease in the United States - and the top reason kids visit the doctor and miss school. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.