Child wake-up cough

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The tiring, persistent cough of a child is one of the most common reasons for visiting a primary health care physician. It is usually a symptom of an upper respiratory tract infection, so it is not a serious illness. However, the doctor, without examining the child, cannot guarantee that the cough is only associated with a banal infection. We know that it accompanies many diseases, but the lack of studies assessing the extent to which acute coughing in a child with a cold disease indicates infection in the lower respiratory tract. Aim: The aim of the study was to establish the causes of acute awakening and/or tiring cough in children suffering from upper respiratory tract infection. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of data from the medical history of children examined due to cough interrupting sleeping and/or tiring cough upon awakening. 112 children up to six years of age (median age 2.8 years) with an upper respiratory tract infection were included in the study. Based on information obtained from parents, it was determined whether the family had SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the 10 days before or after the test. The group of children with the acute nonobstructive bronchitis was analyzed in an additional analysis. In these patients, the number of days with coughing before diagnosis and the nature of percussion and auscultation changes were assessed.