Coughing is one of the most common childhood illnesses, and while sometimes the sound of a baby’s cough can be a little scary, it is not necessarily a sign of a serious illness. In fact, coughing is sometimes a healthy and important response to the throat and chest clearing the airways. Types of cough: 1. Dry cough A dry cough is usually caused by inflammation or swelling of the upper trachea, which is usually caused by laryngitis. Prosthetic laryngitis can be caused by allergies, temperature changes, or respiratory infectious bacteria. When a baby’s trachea is inflamed, swelling occurs near the trachea and the vocal cords can cause even more difficulty breathing. Children younger than 3 years old are especially prone to a dry cough because their airways are still narrow. Often this cough is accompanied by a hoarse breathing sound. 2. Whooping cough Whooping cough is caused by a respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is clinically characterized by paroxysmal spasmodic cough and cockle-like inspiratory roar, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as low fever, sneezing and runny nose. 3. Wheezing Cough When a child’s cough is accompanied by wheezing sounds during inhalation, it indicates inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, which may be caused by foreign objects or blockage of respiratory mucus. 4. Choking cough at night Many coughs may worsen at night because the baby’s nose is congested while sleeping, thus causing obstruction. This problem can also occur if the baby cannot sleep at night, and asthma is also an important cause of nighttime coughing. 5. Cough with fever If your baby has a cough, a slight fever and a runny nose, he is likely to have a cold. However, if the cough is accompanied by a high fever, the child is likely to have pneumonia, especially if the baby is breathing rapidly, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. A baby who coughs too much can easily vomit. Usually vomiting is not necessarily a symptom of a serious illness, unless the vomiting continues. When should I call the doctor? 1) Difficulty breathing; 2) Shorter than usual breathing; 3) Dark purple lips, face or tongue; 4) High fever, especially in babies younger than 3 months old; 5) Coughing for hours in babies younger than 3 months old; 6) Wheezing after coughing; 7) Coughing and bleeding; 8) Grumpiness. One of the best ways doctors usually judge a child’s cough is to listen, and then judge treatment based on that. Since most respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses, doctors usually do not prescribe antibiotics to children. Cough medicine is usually unnecessary unless the cough is interfering with your baby’s sleep and appetite. If you are going to give your child over-the-counter medications, be sure to seek your doctor’s advice first, as they can be dangerous for your baby