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作为一个拥有丰富生活经验的人，你可能不需要“咳嗽”这个词来定义你。在你的生活中，你可能至少经历过一次反复咳嗽，如果不是无数次的话。有时咳嗽会在短时间内自行消失。有时咳嗽是一种疾病的症状。
So, when should you worry about your child’s cough? What’s the difference between a “wet cough” and a “dry cough?”
Keith Hanson, MD, is a pediatric hospitalist atOSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinoisin Peoria. His insights can help you identify the type of cough your child is experiencing, and what other symptoms to look for to help you know whether you should call your child’s pediatrician.
“A cough by itself is not very worrisome, really,” Dr. Hanson said. “But if it is accompanied by other symptoms of illness, it can help you identify when it’s time to call your child’s pediatrician.”
Wet vs. dry
你可能见过或听过“湿咳”和“干咳”这两个词，它们被用来帮助诊断疾病。这些术语描述了两种不同病因的咳嗽。
- Wet cough:Coughing up mucus from the airway makes the cough sound “wet,” as mucus shifts in the airway.
- Dry cough:也被称为干咳，这种咳嗽有一个一致的语气，因为它没有粘液的声音。它是由呼吸道的刺激和炎症引起的。
Assessing the situation
“If your child has a cough but is running around the room, they’re probably fine,” Dr. Hanson said. “But if they’re coughing and feeling miserable, that is concerning.”
So how do you know if you should contact a doctor? Dr. Hanson suggests going through these questions, and if you answer “yes” to any of them, contact a physician.
Any other COVID-19 symptoms?
COVID-19 symptomscan be very similar to those of a common cold, including a cough. Know the symptoms of COVID-19, and if your child exhibits any of them, call their physician’s office. FindCOVID-19 informationand resources to help you know how to respond to a possible COVID-19 infection.
Does the cough stay bad or get worse after a week?
Even a cough by itself with no other symptoms should be checked out by a physician if it lasts longer than a week. It could still be nothing serious, but this is a good point at which it makes sense to see a physician for peace of mind.
Is it a deep cough from the chest, bringing up thicker yellow or green mucus?
This is a sign of a possible bacterial infection likepneumonia. Contact a physician for an appointment to get it checked out promptly.
Is it a loud cough that sounds like a seal bark and accompanied by high-pitched breathing?
This could becroup, and the cough can often be accompanied bystridor, a high-pitched breathing sound from the upper airway. Croup is a viral infection that causes some narrowing of the airway at the level of the vocal cords. This usually clears up, but severe cases can require hospitalization, so contact your child’s pediatrician immediately.
为你自己和你的孩子找一个医生是很重要的，这样你就有一个你信任的人来处理任何健康问题。If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can find one that fits the needs of you and your familyhere.