Dry cough in children is common in the following cases: 1. Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or acute upper respiratory tract infections, which cause congestion in the pharynx and result in an irritating dry cough. If the child is allergic, he or she can develop a dry cough after exposure to allergens, often accompanied by runny nose and sneezing. 3. In addition to treating the cause of the dry cough, children with dry cough can take oral cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan hydrobromide, if the symptoms are obvious.