Many kids and teens have coughing at times. Usually, it goes away on its own and isn't a sign of a serious illness.

Treatment for a cough depends on the cause. You can do things at home to make your child more comfortable while the cough gets better.

• Many coughs are caused by viruses and will go away without any treatment.
• If your health care provider prescribed medicines, give as recommended.
• Talk to the health care provider before giving your child any supplements or vitamins.
• Don't give any cough or cold medicines to children younger than 6 years old. These medicines do not seem to work in children and may have bad side effects. Ask the health care provider before giving cough or cold medicines to children older than 6 years old.
• To ease a cough:
  • If your child is older than 12 months, it's OK to give 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey at night for coughing. Don't give honey to babies younger than 12 months old.
  • Running a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom, especially during sleep, might help your child feel better. Clean it after each use.
  • Offer your child plenty to drink. Warm liquids (such as broth) may be soothing. Avoid carbonated drinks like soda and citrus juices like orange juice, which can bother your child's throat.
  • For a "barky" or "croupy" cough, sitting in a steam-filled bathroom for about 20 minutes might help your child feel more comfortable.
  • If your child is older than 6 years, they can try lozenges (cough drops) or hard candy to soothe a tickle in the throat.
• To prevent the spread of germs from coughing, teach all family members to:
  • Cover coughs with a tissue or, if no tissue is available, cough into their sleeve or elbow, not their hands.
  • Wash their hands often using soap and water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and dry thoroughly. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before and after eating. If soap and water aren't available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used.

Your child:

• has a cough that gets worse or lasts longer than 3–4 weeks
• develops severe coughing fits or coughs so much that they vomit (throw up)
• develops noisy breathing
• has a new or higher fever
• coughs up mucus with blood in it

• Your child has trouble breathing. Signs could include:
  • muscles pulling in between the ribs
  • nostrils puffing out with each breath
  • breathing that's faster than usual
• Your child is younger than 3 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) taken rectally (in the bottom).

Call 911 if your child struggles to breathe, is too out of breath to talk or walk, or turns blue.

Why do kids cough? Coughing is how the body clears the airways in the lungs. Coughs can be caused by:

• infections, such as colds, flu, or pneumonia
• breathing in chemicals or cigarette smoke
• allergies
• asthma
• acid reflux

Can kids go to school if they have a cough? Most kids and teens with a cough can return to school if they haven't had a fever for 24 hours and feel well enough to do regular activities. Ask your health care provider if you're unsure if your child is OK to return to school.

Does a cough always need to be treated? Not always. Only treat a cough if it bothers your child or makes them uncomfortable. If your child feels good, eats and sleeps well, and is playing normally, a cough might not need any treatment.