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module menu icon Cough in children under 12 years

Cough in children under 12 years

Children’s cough is often due to a viral infection causing mucus to trickle down the back of the throat. If the infant/child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there's no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about. However, it can still be uncomfortable, so some products may be useful to help manage it.17

NOTE: It is important to check the child’s age to ensure product suitability. Children under 6 should not be offered over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants.17 They can be offered demulcents to ease cough symptoms.

Symptom management

Click the products to find out more.


DEMULCENTS FOR A DRY COUGH – SYRUP, GLYCEROL

Similarly to adults, demulcents can be used in children to soothe a tickly cough.

PRODUCTS FOR DRY, TICKLY COUGHS

Benylin® Dry & Tickly Cough Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL, SUCROSE)

  • Liquid containing 0.75ml glycerol and 1.71g sucrose per 5ml

  • For the relief of irritating, tickly dry coughs and sore throats

  • Clinically proven with immediate soothing relief

DOSAGE:

Adults and children over 5 years:

10ml 3-4 times a day;

Children 1-5 years:

5ml 3-4 times a day

  • NOT to be given to children under 1 year

Benylin® Infant's Cough Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL)

  • Syrup containing 0.75ml glycerol per 5ml (15%v/v)

  • For relief of dry, tickly coughs

  • Immediate soothing relief, for day and night use

DOSAGE:

Children 1–5 years:

two 5ml spoonfuls 3-4 times a day.

Children 3 months – 1 year

one 5ml spoonful 3-4 times a day

  • NOT to be given to children under 3 months

Benylin® Children’s Dry Cough & Sore Throat Syrup (GSL) (GLYCEROL, SUCROSE)

  • Blackcurrant-flavoured syrup containing glycerol 0.75ml, sucrose 1.7g per 5ml

  • For the soothing relief of irritating, tickly dry coughs and sore throats

DOSAGE:

Adults, elderly and children over 5 years:

10ml

Children 1-5 years:

5ml. Dose may be repeated 3 or 4 times a day

  • NOT to be given to children under 1 year


EXPECTORANTS FOR A CHESTY OR PRODUCTIVE COUGH

Expectorants aim to loosen bronchial secretions, which can then be coughed up more easily.

Benylin® Children’s Chesty Coughs (P) (GUAIFENESIN)

  • Syrup containing 50mg guaifenesin per 5ml

  • Effective relief of acute productive (chesty) coughs without causing drowsiness

DOSAGE:

Children 6–12 years:

10ml 4 times daily, maximum daily dose 40ml

  • NOT to be given to children under 6 years

  • NOT to be used for more than 5 days without the advice of a doctor

ANTIHISTAMINES such as diphenhydramine can help aid a restful sleep, particularly when experiencing a cough alongside other cold symptoms e.g. runny nose.11

Benylin® Children Night Coughs (P) (DIPHENHYDRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, LEVOMENTHOL)

  • Syrup containing 7mg diphenhydramine HCl and 0.55mg levomenthol per 5ml

  • Relief of cough and associated congestive symptoms, runny nose, sneezing, and treatment of hay fever and other allergic conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract

DOSAGE:

Children 6-12 years:

10ml every 6 hours

  • NOT to be taken by children under 6

Red flags17

A child should be referred if they have any of the following signs or symptoms:

  • A cough that has lasted longer than 3 weeks

  • A high temperature or feeling hot and shivery – sign of infection

  • A cough that’s worse at night or worsens during activity – sign of asthma

  • Diagnosis of asthma

  • Signs of meningitis or sepsis

If a child is finding it hard to breathe, advise the carer to take them to A&E or call 999.

Other types of cough in children that require referral13

WHOOPING COUGH. A bacterial infection causing intermittent attacks of uncontrollable, violent coughing that can feel exhausting and painful. During a coughing episode, the release of air from the lungs causes people to violently inhale with a ‘whoop’. Babies are at a higher risk of contracting whooping cough and vaccination has been proven to be the best way to avoid falling ill with it.

CROUP COUGH. A viral infection that causes irritation and swelling in the airways. It usually affects children under 5 years of age. Symptoms include a characteristic ‘barking’ cough, a raspy voice and squeaky breathing noises – the latter due to swelling around the voice box. Children can struggle to breathe, breathe very quickly or make high-pitched noises during inhalation.