Dealing With Cough in Child During This Covid Time

As a parent, it's not easy to see our little one struggles with cough and not being their best self. This time of the pandemic a simple cough made me paranoid and Covid-19 will always be at the back of my head as it is one of its main symptoms. And it makes me worry more and overreact.

My daughter, Tia (5 years old) just got home from school coughing. So I gave her Calpol right away. That night she can't sleep because of her dry tickly cough and her temperature rise, she's very hot. It's Friday and the clinic is not open on Saturday to book an appointment with her doctor.

What bothers me the most is the type of cough Tia has. She never had and I never experience one before. It's very dry and persistent. It's not giving her peace. And it's not making me sleep either as I lay down next to her while rubbing her back with a vapour rub.

To make sure that it's not covid I do a Covid-19 rapid test at home. It's not easy to do the swabbing on a child. She nearly chokes and it scared me. We have to be extra careful when doing this.

The Self Test Kit is very easy to follow as there's a step by step guide included. I'm so thankful that it comes out negative. I'm so relieved. Now, I have to make some research on what can help my daughter with her dry tickly cough in the meantime that we can't see the doctor.

Types of Cough

I watch the 9 different types of coughs on Youtube. It's very informative and parents should be glad to watch this too:

I learned that not all coughs are the same in kids. And that coughs can be caused by a virus or a bacteria while some others may be due to neither.

9 Different Cough Types in Kids

• Barking Cough

• Cough with Phlegm

• Dry Night Time Cough

• Miserable Cough

• Whooping Cough

• Gross Sounding Cough

• Rattling Cough

• Reflux Cough

• Allergic Cough

But what Tia has doesn't match with its symptoms. Tia has a dry tickly cough and fever. No phlegm. No nasal congestion. So I have to give her something that might help her.

• Give her plenty of fluid

• Have a good rest

Let me share with you what I'm doing to ease her struggle.

Natural Remedies

Honey + Cinnamon

I learned this from Dra. Farrah and every time we have a cough, honey and cinnamon is my trusted natural remedy.

Honey and cinnamon boost our immune system and protect us from foreign bacteria and viruses. Both are a rich source of antioxidants and have anti-bacterial properties. 

It's very tricky for me to make Tia drink this though she loves honey she doesn't like the taste of cinnamon. But she drinks it after some kind of negotiation.

Ginger Soup

Ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds that can relax membranes in the airways which can ease a dry cough.

I try to give her plenty of fluids as much as possible and give her ginger soup to help relieve her coughing. I only give what she can take and if she says no more then that's it.

Slice of Onion in her Room

I put slices of onion in her bed. It's not the best air freshener but I believe that it absorbs the flu virus.

I also used to put onions on her feet but this time she doesn't want socks on as she's feeling too warm.

Right now she still has a cough and fever but the thing is she's feeling better and running around with a smile on her face. But she gets upset when the cough starting a round from time to time. I'm still giving her Calpol and cough syrup as well. But I'm looking forward to Monday so we can talk to her doctor regarding this. They are the one who knows the best and can give the right prescription. I just want my baby to get well very soon. And she will be.

Thank you so much for reading.

Have you got any cough/fever remedy that you can share with me and other readers? Please share in the comments below.