Cold Cough in Children and What You Can Do
- Johanna
- Mar 7
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 10
Coughing is one of the most common symptoms in children and is often a natural protective reflex that clears the airways of mucus, foreign particles and irritants. Especially in the cold winter months, it can feel like the cough will never end - from mild viral infections to longer-lasting symptoms.
In this article, you will find evidence-based information that will help you classify a cold cough in your child and provide the best possible support.
Acute Versus Chronic Cough
Acute cough
Acute coughs usually occur with viral and bacterial infections, often accompanied by symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat and mild fever. This cough is usually a short-term, self-limiting symptom that goes away on its own within a few weeks. Supportive measures such as sufficient fluid intake, a pleasant room climate and plenty of rest will help your child to recover quickly.
Chronic cough
Chronic cough occurs when the cough lasts longer than eight weeks. Causes such as asthma, gastroesophageal reflux or, in rare cases, genetic diseases can play a role. Pay particular attention to other symptoms such as shortness of breath, frequent infections or growth delays, which require more detailed clarification by a pulmonologist.
My child has been coughing for weeks – is this a chronic cough?
Especially during the winter months, it is not uncommon for children to cough over an extended period.
Infections often spread rapidly in daycare centers and schools, so your child repeatedly picks up a new, usually harmless viral infection and moves from one mild cold to the next. Individual infections can last up to 14 days, while a post-infectious cough—caused by overreactive airways—may persist for several weeks afterwards.
In most cases, these recurring infections resolve on their own.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep an eye on your child’s overall health. If unusual symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, or a noticeable change in behavior occur, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
So, a frequently occurring cough in winter does not automatically have to be classified as chronic – it is often simply the natural course of recurring viral infections.
Recurring Cough – A Sign of a Weak Immune System?
A child's immune system is still developing.
Frequent infections are generally not a sign of a weak immune system but rather a normal part of the "infection school," during which the immune system learns to build specific defense mechanisms and develop memory cells through exposure to various viruses.
Up to 5-11 infections per year are considered normal for children. The older they get, the fewer infections they should experience.
In the cold season, dry heating air, reduced sunlight (and consequently a lower vitamin D level), as well as close contact in daycare centers, promote the development of infections, even though the immune system itself is not weak.
Only when infections proceed unusually severely, last for an extended period, or frequently lead to complications should one consult with a doctor to determine whether there might be an underlying immune disorder.
Causes and Risk Factors
Coughing in children can have many causes, which often interact with each other:
If coughing occurs together with symptoms such as fever, sputum or unusual breathing sounds, this may indicate an infectious Cause:
Viral infections : The most common cause - symptoms usually subside within one to two weeks.
Bacterial infections : Occur less frequently and often require targeted antibiotic therapy.
Non-infectious Causes:
Allergies : Pollen, dust mites or animal hair can trigger a dry cough.
Gastroesophageal reflux : Stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus can cause coughing, especially at night.
Environmental factors : Air pollution, passive smoking and dry air further irritate the respiratory tract.
Foreign body aspiration : Inhalation of a foreign body can cause coughing, especially in small children, and should definitely be investigated.
Drug Treatment – When is it Useful?
Cough medicines show no significantly better effect than a placebo in studies. These remedies often do not work any better than a sham treatment. Especially in children, certain ingredients can have unwanted side effects. Therefore, it is better to do without these remedies and instead take natural supportive measures.
It is scientifically proven that honey has a positive effect on cough – only use it in children from one year of age onwards.
Read more about cough syrup vs. honey here
In exceptional cases, doctors prescribe a cough suppressant to allow the patient an undisturbed sleep. In this case, however, the cough is not combated, but merely suppressed – even though it is an important natural protective reaction of the body.
Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Viral infections cannot be treated with medication.
What You Can do to Support Your Child
Although coughing can be worrying, there are things you can do as a parent to provide relief for your child:
Calm and Security:
Create a soothing environment in which your child feels safe and secure. Many studies have shown that even the expectation of treatment can subjectively ease coughing. As a parent, this means that simply feeling like you’re actively doing something can contribute to an improvement. Use this insight: be there for your child, spend valuable time together, and turn honey into a natural cough syrup.
Honey:
Give your child 2 teaspoons of honey every morning, noon, and evening from 12 months of age, either plain or dissolved in lukewarm (no hotter than 40 °C) tea or water. >>>Read more here about cough medicine vs. honey
Observation:
With viral infections, coughing usually resolves on its own. Often, the best approach is to be there for your child, patiently wait, and carefully monitor whether any additional symptoms occur. If you like, note down when and how severely the cough appears. This can be helpful in case you need to consult a doctor.
Fluid intake:
Make sure your child drinks enough. Warm tea or water will help loosen mucus and soothe the throat.
Optimize the Indoor Climate:
A pleasant room climate with sufficient humidity relieves the respiratory tract. Regular ventilation and short walks in the fresh air can also help.
Adjust Sleeping Position:
A slightly elevated sleeping position – for example by placing a file folder under the mattress – can reduce nighttime coughing.
Warm Chest Wrap without Additives/Chest Massage with Neutral Oil:
This can additionally promote comfort and relaxation.
Physical Activity When Your Child Is Well:
If your child has mucus to cough up, physical movement can help mobilize it. A walk or a short visit to the playground can also provide a welcome distraction. If your child feels like bouncing on a trampoline, let them bounce :) Or do a little yoga session together.
When Should You See a Doctor?
It is advisable to seek medical advice if:
your child shows symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, flaring of the nostrils, abnormal breathing sounds, or a noticeable change in behavior.
Infants need to be seen more quickly if they have a fever above 38.5°C, reduced fluid intake, or abnormal breathing.
signs of a bacterial infection appear.
the cough lasts longer than four weeks.
your child shows a significantly changed general condition.
Call emergency services on 112 if your child has aspirated a foreign body.
Diagnostics and Therapy
If you go to the doctor with your child, he or she will first take a detailed medical history. He or she will ask you about the duration, intensity and accompanying symptoms of the cough. This will be followed by a physical examination, which will check the respiratory rate, depth of breathing and breathing sounds, among other things. In rare cases, further diagnostics are necessary. The doctor will advise you and prescribe medication if necessary, e.g. in the case of a bacterial infection.
Conclusion
A cold cough in children can be a real challenge for parents. The good news is that in most cases these are temporary symptoms that go away on their own. Support your child with plenty of fluids, a pleasant room climate and plenty of rest. Make sure to closely monitor any changes in health and do not hesitate to seek professional help if in doubt.
Status: 03/2025
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