What can I do for my 17month old baby when she has nasal congestion and a cough?

In most cases of infant cough, the cause is usually due to an upper respiratory tract infection caused by either virus or bacteria and the best form of supportive treatment is to encourage your infant's intake of fluids at all times in order to prevent dehydration and feelings of discomfort. Parents automatically start to worry about underlying illnesses when their baby's nose is stuffy; but in most cases nasal congestion is not a sign of any grave illness rather it is a symptom that can be caused by number of atmospheric agents or allergens. Some of the common reasons for an infant's nasal congestion include pollen, dry air, polluted atmosphere, allergies, foreign particles etc.

Saline nasal drops are believed to be extremely useful in moistening the nasal passages and clearing any secretions caused due to noisy breathing. Introducing a vaporizer in your infant's room may also be helpful during the winter especially when the air is extremely dry as this is one of the main causes for infant cough and nasal congestion. Gently encourage your infant to drink lots of fluids even though he/she may not feel like doing so. Nasal congestion and cough is often worse when lying down and hence attempt to keep your baby in a semi-upright position by raising the top end of the mattress or cushion.

Encourage all members of your family to wash their hands regularly and maintain clean hygiene to cut down the risk of spreading illness among other family members. Little children especially need a lot of care and hygiene around them as their immunity is still vulnerable to bacteria and virus. Prior to treating your infant, it is best to discover the source of the allergy so that the incidence of cough and nasal congestion can be avoided as much as possible.

As far as possible, refrain from giving your child over-the-counter medications or non-prescription medicines to treat the symptoms. In most cases, these drugs do not do anything other than stemming the symptoms rather than treating the cause. Some doctors are of the opinion that children's natural defenses heal in due course of time and hence jumping in haste to use medications at an onset of a cough or cold may actually be interfering with the body's natural healing processes. Please note that all medications cause side-effects which is far more evident in infants and toddlers, owing to their still-to-develop immune functionalities; hence it is important to measure the advantages and disadvantages of using medication for cough or nasal congestion.

If you are still unsure about the state of your child, it is wise to consult with a pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

answered by G M

With both nasal congestion and cough the child often becomes cranky and remains irritated. Try the following home remedies for your daughters cough and congestion

• Mix 1 tsp ginger powder in 1 tsp honey and make a thick paste, give her this paste 3- 4 times in a day. Add fresh holy basil juice for more effectiveness.
• Encourage fluid consumption. Include boiled water, orange juice, lemon water with honey, vegetable soups, broths, chicken soup with garlic. This will not only help her in terms of energy but will also give him protein (from chicken) and boost her immune system.
• Avoid cold foods, cold water, junk/fried foods, chocolates and candies completely as this would worsen her congestion.
• At night while sleeping, preferably use a humidifier. This will help reduce the cold and cough and make his condition better.
• Apply warm compresses on her chest to ease congestion. Fill a flat small bottle with warm water and apply lightly on the chest.
• If she is allergic to certain food then make a note of those foods and avoid it for few days.

answered by S P