Management of cough in children

Cough is a common symptom among children, accounting for many consultations, and affecting the quality of life of both children and their families. Clinically, coughing is described by a forceful expulsion of air from the lungs which is expressed by a characteristic sound. Generally, cough is self-limiting (acute cough) since among healthy children it is most often induced by respiratory tract infections triggered by viral, bacterial, and fungal airway pathogens. In children ≤14 years of age, a cough lasting more than 4 weeks is considered chronic and needs specific management protocols taking account of a systematic validated approach to establish the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.