Children get recurrent upper respiratory tract infection quite often especially when they are young and when they start nurseries. If they have older siblings, the catch infections quite easily as well. These infections normally cause mild fever, sore throat and cough. While the infections usually settle within a few days with or without treatment, sometimes the cough persists up to 2-3 weeks. Then the cough disappears  only to reappear when they catch another infection!

Causes:

1. • Post viral cough
   

2. • Post nasal drip from enlarged adenoids
   

3. • Allergies
   

4. • Passive smoke inhalation
   

5. • Asthma
   

6. • Chronic infections
   

7. • Gastro oesophageal reflux
   

Seek advice, in case of:

1. •  Loss of weight or appetite
   

2. • Persistent fever
   

3. • ‘wet cough’ bringing out foul smelling sputum
   

4. • Other recurrent infections like skin, urine infections
   

5. • Choking while feeding
   

6. • Gasping while sleeping, mouth breathing