You settle them into bed, turn out the light, and then it starts: cough, cough, cough, just as everyone’s trying to sleep. By morning, you’re both tired and you’re wondering whether this cough is simply part of a cold or a sign of something more.
Coughs are one of the most common reasons parents worry during the colder months. Most are caused by everyday viruses and improve on their own, but some deserve a closer look.
Here’s how to stay informed when cold and flu season rears its head.
Common Reasons Kids Cough During Cold and Flu Season
A cough is the body’s way of clearing the airways, and plenty of things can set it off. Common causes include:
- Colds
- Flu
- COVID
- RSV
- Allergies
- Postnasal drip
- Bronchitis
- Asthma symptoms
- Other respiratory infections
You may have heard that a barky cough means one thing and a wet cough means another. The sound of a cough can offer clues, but it can’t tell the whole story on its own. That’s why an exam and testing can be so helpful.
Cough Symptoms Parents Should Watch Out For
A cough by itself isn’t usually cause for alarm. It’s the company it keeps and how it changes over time that matter most. Keep an eye out for:
- A cough with fever
- A cough that’s getting worse
- A cough that’s disrupting sleep
- A cough with wheezing
- A cough with chest discomfort
- Coughing that leads to vomiting
- A cough with fatigue or poor appetite
- A cough that doesn’t seem to be improving
So when does a cough need a closer look?
When to Visit KidsStreet Urgent Care
When a cough isn’t an emergency but still has you concerned, KidsStreet can help. Our team provides urgent care for kids and can take a careful listen to your child’s lungs. Consider a visit for:
- A cough with fever
- A cough with sore throat
- A cough with ear pain
- A cough with congestion that isn’t improving
- A cough after exposure to flu, COVID, or RSV
- Symptoms that may need testing
If you’re worried, that’s a good reason to have a provider take a look.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Breathing problems should never wait. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1 if your child has:
- Trouble breathing, such as working hard to breathe or being unable to speak comfortably
- Blue lips or face
- Wheezing or breathing distress that seems severe
- Chest pain
- Extreme sleepiness or confusion
- Symptoms that feel life-threatening
If you’re ever unsure whether something is an emergency, it’s always okay to choose the emergency room.
Testing During Cold and Flu Season
Because so many illnesses can cause a cough, testing for flu, COVID, RSV, or strep may be recommended depending on your child’s symptoms.
Why does this matter? Because there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for respiratory infections. Many are caused by viruses, which don’t respond to antibiotics. Testing may help narrow down what is causing your child’s cough so a provider can recommend next steps.
What to Expect During Your KidsStreet Visit
When you bring your child in for a cough, our team will review their symptoms and a medical provider will perform an exam, including listening to their breathing. If a provider recommends testing, our team will walk you through what to expect.
Before you leave, you’ll get clear recommendations on next steps and what to watch for at home.
Visit KidsStreet for Cough Concerns
A cough that keeps your whole household up at night can wear everyone down. The good news is that help is close by, even after regular office hours.
KidsStreet is open late 7 days a week! When a cough has you wondering what to do next, we’re here to help.
Register online to save your spot in line! Online registration is not an appointment, but it can help reduce in-clinic wait times by adding you to the queue before you arrive.