What to do if your child coughs at night until he vomits

Night attacks

The cough always gets worse at night.
This is due to the fact that in a horizontal position the blood supply to the body slows down; if the airways are blocked, then the mucus does not leave them normally and penetrates into the pharynx. This causes the child to cough and vomit at night. Pediatricians say that this is a normal phenomenon, especially in very small toddlers who cannot control their gag reflex. The reason for this is the close location of the cough and vomiting centers in children. If a child vomits when coughing, then he has a dry cough. At the same time, the face and neck are overly tense, tears may flow from the eyes, it seems that the baby is not getting enough air, and his skin becomes purple. The amount of vomit is small; the urge to vomit stops immediately after the cough subsides. However, children are very afraid of a new attack, they look confused and exhausted.

When gagging occurs between attacks, the cough is wet. It is provoked by phlegm collected in the body, which is not eliminated during the night's rest. The airways are swollen and blocked. Vomiting occurs because the stomach wants to get rid of mucus that has entered it and prevents it from functioning normally.

Even if you are sure that this condition in a child was not caused by poisoning, you should still seek the help of doctors, because severe coughing attacks leading to vomiting may indicate serious illnesses.

What to do if the cough reaches the point of vomiting: treatment methods and useful recommendations

If a child or adult patient has a predominant dry cough before an attack of vomiting with an internal feeling of nausea, we are talking about a serious pathology that needs to be diagnosed in a timely manner in the otolaryngologist’s office.

A characteristic symptom occurs not only with colds, but is also one of the ways whooping cough manifests itself.

Therefore, a cough with a gag reflex should not be ignored; it is necessary to promptly consult a specialist and undergo a detailed diagnosis.

What is coughing before vomiting?

This is not an independent disease, but an alarming sign from the body that not everything is in order with its health. The nature of the pathology can be determined by the intensity of the cough reflex, its duration and sound.

For example, asthma is manifested by a continuous cough, bronchitis by additional production of viscous sputum, and whooping cough by convulsive attacks. If an allergic runny nose is present, it is possible that the cough reflex is a consequence of intoxication.

To eliminate cough with vomiting in an adult and a child, you need to understand the cause and eliminate the provoking factor.

Causes in an adult

If an adult patient or child begins to cough severely, the first step is to make sure that the body is not exposed to harmful allergens. If present, it is necessary to exclude contact with the provoking factor, taking note of complete incompatibility with it. This will help ensure a satisfactory state of your own health without the help of antitussive drugs.

The main cause of cough is excess mucus in the respiratory tract. Sputum obtained from the bronchi during spasm irritates the pharynx and provokes a gag reflex. The patient may even suffocate.

Viscous mucus accumulates in the nasal passages and flows down the back of the throat into the pharynx, thereby provoking gagging.

The attack of vomiting worsens with severe coughing at night, when the patient at rest takes a horizontal position.

Dry cough leading to vomiting

If a patient is bothered by a cough to the point of nausea, it is important to clinically or laboratory find out why the vomiting centers are excited and to eliminate this unpleasant symptom with medication. There may be several reasons, here are the most common ones:

• bronchial asthma;
• presence of bad habits;
• environmental factor;
• acute and chronic bronchitis;
• pneumonia and bronchopneumonia;
• whooping cough, tracheitis;
• tuberculosis;
• colds, ARVI;
• oncological tumors of the respiratory system (lung cancer);
• cardiac disorders.

Why does a child vomit when coughing?

This health problem arises not only in adults, but also in childhood, and requires vigilance and the modern participation of caring parents.

The most common causes of inflammation of the mucous membranes are colds, when the cough is accompanied by sputum, and is noticeably worse at night.

Before making a final diagnosis, the doctor must determine the full clinical picture, for example, whether the child vomits when coughing, what is the body temperature. For example, the presence of foreign bodies in the oropharynx is also accompanied by a lingering cough.

Cough and vomiting in a child without fever

If the temperature regime in a child when coughing is not disturbed, it is difficult to explain such an unpleasant symptom with respiratory tract infections. Rather, we are not talking about colds and viral diseases, but about bronchial asthma, whooping cough, and accidental ingestion of a foreign body. Other pathological processes in the child’s body can also cause an alarming symptom, including:

• allergic reaction, contact with an allergen;
• intoxication of the child's body;
• structural features of the stomach (acid from the stomach back into the esophagus);
• whooping cough;
• the presence of cardiac pathologies.

The child coughs at night until he vomits

Coughing attacks leading to vomiting in an adult are less alarming than the pathology of the female body. This is one of the signs of a cold that needs to be treated with antibiotics.

In addition, coughing attacks are accompanied by pain in the sternum, disrupt breathing, and prevent you from sleeping peacefully at night. A small patient’s body temperature rises, which is unlikely to be corrected by drinking plenty of fluids.

If a child vomits from coughing at night, the reasons may be:

• infection;
• pneumonia;
• chronic pathology of the respiratory tract (tracheitis).

Treatment

If a child coughs to the point of vomiting, the first step is to determine whether it is a dry or wet cough. To do this, make an appointment with an otolaryngologist and undergo a clinical and laboratory examination.

Nausea, snot, sensation of a foreign body in the throat and other systemic symptoms significantly complicate the final diagnosis; differential diagnosis will be required.

As for removing such a complaint from a patient’s life at any age, general recommendations from specialists are presented below:

• it is required to ensure optimal air humidity in the room in the permissible range from 50 to 70%, not to overdry the air;
• it is important not to overcool, avoid exposure to drafts, and regularly ventilate the living space;
• eliminate the risk of developing an allergic reaction, try to find the main allergen yourself.

First aid

If nausea and dry cough reduce the quality of life, and unpleasant attacks of vomiting become more frequent, action must be taken immediately. To begin with, you should call a doctor, and until that time carry out the following pre-medical measures:

1. Take the patient out of the room and ventilate the room.
2. Remove constrictive clothing and ensure oxygen access to tissues.
3. Douse the patient under the shower to facilitate the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract.
4. Give the patient a mucolytic drink according to the instructions for use.
5. Take a walk in the fresh air when there is no high temperature.

Medications

Tuberculosis causes potential complications, so you should not delay starting intensive care. For cough and nausea with vomiting, treatment should be carried out by representatives of the following pharmacological groups:

• mucolytics: Bromhexine, Acetylcysteine, Lazolvan, Ambroxol;
• expectorants: Gedelix, Doctor MOM, Mucaltin;
• combination drugs: Stoptussin, Glycodin, Codelac Broncho, Codterpin;
• peripheral acting drugs: Libexin and Levopront;
• centrally acting drugs: Glauvent and Sinekod;
• antihistamines: Suprastin, Cetrin, Claritin;
• herbal remedies: Sage in tablets.

To quickly relieve a severe cough accompanied by bouts of vomiting, here are the most effective remedies:

1. Codelac Broncho. The drug is available in the form of tablets, which should be taken orally with meals, 1 piece. three times a day. The course of intensive therapy lasts 4–5 days.
2. Ambroxol. These are tablets for adults and syrup for children to take orally with meals. The syrup should be drunk at the rate of 30 mg per dose (over 12 years old) and 15 mg per dose (children under 12 years old). Take 1 tablet. the first 2-3 days, then reduce the dose by half.

Carrying out inhalations

An auxiliary treatment for cough with systematic bouts of vomiting is inhalations, which are prepared from herbal decoctions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ime54tyUv3k

These can be compositions of coltsfoot, St. John's wort, calendula, violet flowers, peppermint leaves, eucalyptus, raspberries, chamomile, which quickly and reliably remove inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

It is advisable to carry out home inhalations using inhalers or nebulizers. Suitable medications include:

• ACC injection;
• Ambrobene;
• Sinupret;
• Lazolvan;
• Pulmicort.

Traditional methods

A composition with baking soda, honey and milk is often used to relieve a lingering cough reflex. The product is effective, but it does not help everyone with vomiting - it can cause acute disgust and another gag reflex. Here is a worthy alternative at home to normalize the general condition of a patient of any age:

1. Grind the dried roots of oregano and marshmallow, prepare coltsfoot herb. Combine 1 tbsp in containers. l. each ingredient, mix, steam in 1 tbsp. boiling water Infuse, strain, consume chilled up to 3 times a day for 7 – 14 days.
2. You need to combine wild rosemary shoots, calendula, violet herb, licorice root, chamomile and mint in equal proportions. For 1 tbsp. l. dried raw materials account for 1 tbsp. boiling water Prepare breast milk using the classic method and drink the resulting dose throughout the day. You can be treated in this way for 7–10 days.

Prevention

To prevent coughing and vomiting with purulent sputum, it is important to take timely measures to prevent the underlying disease. To do this, the first step is to strengthen the immune system using known methods, and during a seasonal epidemic, it is advisable to avoid large crowds of people and your appearance in public places. Other preventative measures are presented below:

• toughen up, lead an active lifestyle;
• give up bad habits forever;
• Healthy food;
• avoid prolonged hypothermia;
• undergo a full course of vitamin therapy.

Coughing attacks leading to vomiting in adults: treatment and causes

Cough to the point of vomiting in adults can occur independently or be a clinical sign of a number of diseases. If it occurs repeatedly, it usually indicates a serious illness, so you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. For the same reason, self-medication is highly not recommended.

Coughing attacks that lead to vomiting can be caused by various diseases that require diagnosis

Treatment of cough that leads to vomiting depends on the cause that caused the development of the pathological process, and this cause should be established as early as possible. It is important to find out whether vomiting is caused by a cough, or is a symptom of any concomitant disease.

Reasons for violation

A variety of disorders can cause gagging during coughing or between attacks at night. The most common reasons that do not pose any particular danger to the baby are:

• reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus;
• indoor air is too dry;
• breathing through the mouth, during which the mucous membranes dry out;
• teething, when the child does not have time to swallow saliva in a lying position.

These phenomena cause a physiological cough, which intensifies at night. However, parents must be on alert; the baby must be supervised at all times so that he does not choke on his own vomit.

It is best to fix the child in a half-sitting position; this will help remove mucus naturally and prevent severe irritation of the vomiting center. This position will ease his condition and allow him to get at least a little sleep.

Treatment

To cope with a cough and stop vomiting, you need to find an effective treatment. It must be comprehensive.

Inhalations

Steam inhalations will help eliminate attacks of dry cough. This procedure helps to moisturize the mucous membranes and dilate the bronchi. It helps make breathing easier. When carrying out inhalations for young children, you should be careful. In this case, you need to make sure that there is no accumulation of mucus in the throat. The fact is that this substance can swell under the influence of steam and block the larynx.

Before inhalation, the child should be given warm water, which will help wash away the mucus. To carry out the procedure, you can use a solution of soda or a decoction of chamomile. You can add a small amount of essential oil to it - lavender, thyme or eucalyptus.

You can also use a nebulizer for inhalation. Various medications can be added to the device. Alkaline mineral water is often used. This product helps to liquefy and remove mucus.

It is worth considering that inhalation is permissible only at normal body temperature. With increased parameters, this procedure will only aggravate the problems.

See also

Reasons why headaches occur when coughing and basic treatment methods

Read

Compresses

When a cough occurs, you can apply medicinal compresses. They are a multi-layer bandage that should be applied to the child's chest and back. The inner layer of the compress must be moistened in the medicinal solution. A film and warm cloth are placed on top.

Traditional methods of treatment are highly effective:

1. Take 2-3 potatoes and boil them in their skins. Mash with a fork and pour in a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil. Form into a cake and place it on a soft cotton cloth. Place it on the baby's chest and secure it with a scarf. Leave until the cake has cooled down.
2. Take a large cabbage leaf and heat it with boiling water. Lubricate the inner part with honey and apply it to the child’s chest. Secure with film and a woolen scarf. Keep the compress on all night.

Medicines

It is necessary to treat cough with medications taking into account the cause of the pathology. Most often, doctors prescribe the following categories of drugs:

• expectorants - these include Gedelix and Mucaltin;
• combined – this category includes Codterpin;
• mucolytics – Ambroxol is considered an effective representative of this group;
• centrally acting antitussives - these include Sinekod;
• allergy medications - you can use Zodak or Cetrin;
• drugs to combat nasal mucus - it is allowed to use Aquamaris or saline solution;
• Vasoconstrictors – help facilitate nasal breathing.

Traditional methods

To cope with a painful cough in a child, you can use effective folk recipes.

Plantain and mallow tea

Take 1 large spoon of plant material and mix with a glass of boiling water. Strain the infused solution. Give the child 2 tablespoons.

Fruits and color of viburnum

Take a glass of flowers or fruits of the plant and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes. Take the resulting product morning and evening.

Warm tea with raspberries

You can make healthy tea from raspberries. It makes phlegm less viscous and removes toxins from the body.

Herbal infusions

Herbal infusions are highly effective. They can be prepared with the addition of mint, chamomile or nettle.

When to see a doctor

If your child is constantly vomiting, you should immediately call an ambulance. Also, urgent consultation with a doctor is required in the following situations:

• blue tint of the nasolabial triangle;
• symptoms of suffocation;
• fainting;
• pale skin;
• bloody impurities in the sputum;
• foam at mouth;
• signs of dehydration.

How to calm down at night

To quickly stop a night cough and help your baby, you should do the following:

1. Place a high pillow under the back and turn the child on his side. This will help avoid a pronounced outflow of mucus that has accumulated during the day.
2. If you are not allergic, you can give your child a spoonful of honey. The product has an enveloping and calming effect.
3. To soothe a cough, you can give your child warm tea or water. However, citrus juices or carbonated drinks are not recommended. They irritate inflamed mucous membranes.

Disease provocateurs

Not only natural physiological processes, but also some diseases can cause coughing and vomiting in children. Parents should consult a doctor in time to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.

Let’s consider under what pathologies a baby’s nighttime sleep can be disrupted by bronchospasm, which causes vomiting.

Contributing factors for dry cough before vomiting

Many people are frightened by a dry cough with vomiting, and they begin to fool themselves by inventing various diseases. But, as practice shows, most often these symptoms indicate the presence of a cold. Now, if it is not treated in time, then it will develop into a more serious pathology.

The causes of cough in the morning in an adult are described here.

A vomiting cough can be diagnosed by convulsive attacks at the time of contraction of the diaphragm. The next cause of cough is the accumulation of large amounts of mucus in the nasopharynx. The result of this process is its flow down the wall of the pharynx, which provokes a feeling of nausea, and then a gag reflex.

An untreated, running cough can provoke vomiting, which is the cause of the formation of a serious pathological process.

Also read about the causes of night cough in adults.

There are also situations when adult patients begin to swallow sputum released during an attack. The result of such actions is an uncontrollable urge to vomit. But this happens very rarely and does not cause any dangerous consequences.

The gag reflex is only a consequence of colds and respiratory ailments, which include acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, influenza, pneumonia, tracheitis and bronchitis. During diagnosis, the doctor may detect other diseases that cause such an unpleasant symptom:

• Insufficient functioning of the heart in the acute phase . This symptom is characterized by a lack of air and an attempt to swallow it in large quantities.
• Allergy . During a convulsive contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm during an allergic reaction, it often provokes a gag reflex in a person. In addition, the presented pathology may be accompanied by rhinitis and sneezing. The link describes in detail allergic cough in adults.

• Tuberculosis and lung cancer are two dangerous and unpleasant diseases, which are characterized not only by vomiting, but also by convulsive coughing. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then a certain amount of bloody discharge begins to come out of the patient’s mouth. In addition, his temperature rises.
• Bronchial asthma . This pathology is characterized only by coughing attacks, but also vomiting. As a rule, these unpleasant symptoms occur at the initial stage of the disease. But there have been cases where vomiting and coughing bothered adults with chronic bronchial asthma.

How to help your baby

Vomiting when coughing indicates that the attacks are very strong, and phlegm cannot easily exit the respiratory tract. The task of parents is to create ideal conditions for the removal of mucus, this will help the child sleep normally at night and not wake up from severe attacks.

To alleviate the condition, use these recommendations:

• Maintain optimal humidity in the nursery; dry air irritates the mucous membranes and causes spasm of the respiratory tract. The optimal humidity level is 60-70%, it can be achieved with the help of special humidifiers, regular important cleaning (2-3 times a day), towels hung on radiators, spraying the room with a spray bottle, and placing bowls of water near the radiators will also help.
• Ensure the optimal temperature, it should not exceed 19° C, heat will not help the child recover faster, it will only provoke new attacks of night cough. Try to always have fresh air in your baby's room, but avoid drafts. It is better when the room is cool and the blanket and pajamas are warm.
• Take a walk during the day with your baby if he does not have a fever. Fresh air helps to thin out and remove mucus. The longer you spend time outside, the greater the chance that your child will be able to sleep peacefully throughout the night rather than waking up from coughing attacks.
• Do not deny your baby a bath or shower if he does not have a fever. You can swim on the second day after body temperature has stabilized. Moist warm air improves the functioning of the cilia of the ciliated epithelium, which remove mucus from the respiratory tract. Allow your child to splash in the water until it cools down; water procedures will help normalize night sleep.
• Use aromatherapy, add fir, spruce, pine and eucalyptus oils to the water when you bathe your baby, or to the aroma lamp that will be in his room. However, please note that children may be allergic to some natural oils.
• Give your child inhalations using special nebulizers. Various medications can be added to these devices. Most often, alkaline mineral water is used, which thins mucus and promotes its removal. Procedures can only be carried out when the child does not have an elevated body temperature, otherwise they will only worsen the problem.

How to treat cough before vomiting

This unpleasant symptom requires very serious treatment. To eliminate it, you must contact a specialist and undergo a series of relevant tests.

How to treat a cough before visiting a doctor? Until the cause is determined, you can only use methods that alleviate the patient’s condition: inhalation, rubbing, warm, copious drinks.

Warm milk with honey and butter, medicinal tea with ginger, viburnum, linden, raspberries, and currants are good to drink. These drinks help soothe irritated airways. The patient should eat mainly fresh vegetables and fruits.

Food should be low in calories so that the body does not waste its energy on digesting it. The patient must be given rest so that he rests and does not become overtired.

These measures can improve the patient’s well-being, but treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Medical assistance

Self-medication of cough is not recommended even for adults. The most correct solution is to contact a specialist. Taking into account the type of disease, its stage and symptoms, he will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

There are 3 types of medications used to treat cough:

• antitussives – suppress the cough reflex, reducing the sensitivity of receptors;
• mucolytic agents - dilute sputum, facilitate its removal;
• expectorants – stimulate coughing and are used to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.

For a severe dry cough, the patient is prescribed antitussive drugs - Codeine, Oxeladin.

When coughing with thick, viscous, difficult to separate sputum, mucolytics are prescribed - Ambroxol, ACC, Bromhexine.

For a productive, wet, profuse cough, expectorants are used - Mucaltin, Pertussin, Solutan.

You cannot use antitussives and expectorants at the same time, because you can provoke stagnation of sputum in the bronchi.

An adult, depending on the cause and complexity of the disease, is additionally prescribed the following medications:

• antibiotics, in the presence of a bacterial infection;
• antihistamines, if allergies exist;
• vitamin complexes;
• warming ointments for rubbing the chest and back with eucalyptus or mint;
• syrups to soften mucous membranes.

Domestic medicine provides a wide range of cough medicines, in various forms: aerosols, powders, solutions, syrups, tablets.

One of the most effective methods is considered to be inhalation using a compressor or ultrasonic inhaler with the drugs Ventolin, Dekasan, Lazolvan. The specific design of this device helps medications easily and effectively penetrate all parts of the pulmonary-bronchial system.

Treatment of cough is prescribed by a doctor on an individual basis, taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the patient’s condition. The same cough remedy can cause significant harm to the body if used incorrectly.

Folk remedies

In addition to medications, there are a large number of traditional methods of treatment that can be used at home.

1. This manifestation can be treated with a special breast mixture, which is sold in every pharmacy. It is recommended for adults to drink it 3-4 times a day.
2. You can take infusions or decoctions of medicinal plants that have an expectorant, anti-inflammatory effect: wild rosemary, oregano, St. John's wort, licorice root, plantain, chamomile, thyme, sage, rose hips, eucalyptus.
3. Rub the chest and back with honey, badger or goat fat. The procedure is carried out at night, after which you must wrap yourself in a warm scarf.
4. Mustard plasters and warm compresses help a lot.
5. You can also do steam inhalations with extracts of fir, sage and eucalyptus.
6. It is recommended to drink a lot of warm milk, tea, raspberry jam, honey, propolis.

These methods will make an adult’s cough more productive and improve his overall well-being. But if the symptoms of the disease do not decrease, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Cautions

If a child has coughing attacks at night to the point of vomiting, parents should remember that under no circumstances should they prescribe medications themselves. It is prohibited to use mucolotics, antitussives, expectorants, combination or antiemetic drugs until a doctor prescribes them to you.

If you want to help your baby before starting treatment, bring him into the bathroom, first open the hot water tap so that the room is filled with steam, this will help relieve the spasm.

You also need to sit next to the child all night to help with the next attack.

Before going to bed, give your kids warm milk with honey and mineral water; this drink slightly expands the lumen in the airways and stimulates the release of mucus from them. Between coughing and vomiting attacks, give your baby water to drink; you need to drink it in small sips and slowly, this will help prevent dehydration.

Causes of severe cough at night

When a child has coughing attacks at night before vomiting, even the most stress-resistant adult becomes frightened. Moreover, young children often panic less than adults.

There is no way to get rid of such negative symptoms. Because without identifying the provocateur, the child will again and again scare his parents with night attacks. To understand why your night cough is bothering you, you should consult a doctor. He will identify the cause and recommend treatment.

As for the reasons, the following pathologies can provoke this negative symptom:

• infectious defect of whooping cough;
• ascariasis;
• colds;
• a foreign substance that has entered the respiratory system;
• gastrointestinal pathologies;
• external negative factors to which the child’s body reacts with an allergic response;
• dry air;
• hypothermia;
• mucus in the throat.

With the intensive development of the pharmaceutical industry, almost everyone has at least several cough remedies in their home medicine cabinet. However, they should not be used until the child has been examined by a doctor.

Drawing conclusions

Coughing that causes vomiting does not happen very often in children, but it is quite frightening for parents. Such an unpleasant condition can be caused by natural physiological processes that accompany the development of the baby. However, serious respiratory diseases can also be the cause of the disorder.

Seeing a doctor if you have constant attacks is mandatory. If you do not get professional help in a timely manner, your child will face not only sleep disorders, but also more serious health problems.

Author: Dasha Pashchenko

Algorithm for helping a child

If your baby suffers from a debilitating cough, which is then supplemented by vomiting, and you don’t know how to help and what to do in such a situation, because everything you did turned out to be ineffective, then consider the following recommendations:

• try to find out what reasons may cause the appearance of such a disease;
• if you notice other symptoms (fever, loss of appetite and memory, weight loss, diarrhea and sweating), consult a doctor as soon as possible and do not self-medicate, this may harm your child;
• it is possible that the cause of such a cough is a foreign body entering the bronchi or larynx, then it is necessary to call an emergency medical team to eliminate the obstruction. If the child is still very small, you can turn him upside down and tap him on the back;
• maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the house; in a dry room, the development of this type of cough occurs much more often and is more difficult to treat;
• if the cough is caused by allergic reactions, you can use antihistamines: Tavegil, Suprastin, Clemastine;
• For dry and unproductive cough, the following drugs are most often used: Stoptussin, Libexin, Pertussin. If the cough has become wet, then to facilitate its clearance you can use Lazolvan, Mucaltin, Ambroxol;
• you should stay with the child in a preheated room or steam room for about fifteen minutes;
• Give your child some warm herbal tea. It is best to use tea with licorice infusion, fennel seeds, as well as rose hips and plantain. If this is not possible, you can replace it with hot compote or milk;
• in order to stabilize the condition, you can carry out inhalations with Lazolvan (if the child is less than 6 years old) or Ambroxol (when the child is 5 or more years old), you can use ordinary mineral water. If the child does not have an allergic reaction, fir and eucalyptus oils, 1 drop of each, will be very useful. However, be careful with them!

At night, the child’s body relaxes, and the blood supply to organs and systems deteriorates, which is why the release of mucus from the respiratory tract is inhibited, which causes a hysterical night cough in the child, sometimes even accompanied by vomiting.

If such symptoms recur more and more often, consult a doctor and under no circumstances self-medicate! The doctor will identify the causes of this problem and prescribe the correct therapy.

Be attentive to the health of your child, do not neglect the advice you receive and do not forget that in matters of maintaining and restoring health, the best assistant is a doctor!

Why does a child vomit when coughing: possible reasons

This health problem arises not only in adults, but also in childhood, and requires vigilance and the modern participation of caring parents. The most common causes of inflammation of the mucous membranes are colds, when the cough is accompanied by sputum, and is noticeably worse at night.

If the temperature regime in a child when coughing is not disturbed, it is difficult to explain such an unpleasant symptom with respiratory tract infections. Rather, we are not talking about colds and viral diseases, but about bronchial asthma, whooping cough, and accidental ingestion of a foreign body. Other pathological processes in the child’s body can also cause an alarming symptom, including:

• allergic reaction, contact with an allergen;
• intoxication of the child's body;
• structural features of the stomach (acid from the stomach back into the esophagus);
• whooping cough;
• the presence of cardiac pathologies.

Coughing attacks leading to vomiting in an adult are less alarming than the pathology of the female body. This is one of the signs of a cold that needs to be treated with antibiotics. In addition, coughing attacks are accompanied by pain in the sternum, disrupt breathing, and prevent you from sleeping peacefully at night. A small patient’s body temperature rises, which is unlikely to be corrected by drinking plenty of fluids. If a child vomits from coughing at night, the reasons may be:

• infection;
• pneumonia;
• chronic pathology of the respiratory tract (tracheitis).

Most respiratory diseases in children are accompanied by a wet or dry cough. During an attack, the muscles of the small intestine reflexively contract, which is why the food bolus begins to move in the opposite direction - towards the oral cavity. When a child coughs for a long time, the contents of the intestines penetrate the stomach, from where they enter the mouth and windpipe.

Activation of the vomiting center can be triggered by coughing attacks that occur when:

• whooping cough and parawhooping cough;
• flu;
• tonsillitis;
• rhinorrhea and nasopharyngitis;
• lung abscess;
• tuberculosis;
• bronchitis and pneumonia;
• tracheitis and laryngitis.

Coughing and vomiting in a child with fever occurs due to an infectious lesion of the mucous membrane of the ENT organs. Vomiting is provoked by irritation of the nerve endings that are located at the root of the tongue and in the pharynx. A suffocating cough in a small child is often accompanied by sputum production. Irritation of the laryngopharynx by mucus leads to a reflex eruption of vomit.

Together with saliva, a viral infection sometimes penetrates the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. With a weakened immune system, this causes inflammation of the mucous membranes of the esophagus and bleeding. If there are bloody spots in the expectorated mucus, you need to show the child to the doctor.

Gastroesophageal reflux is often the cause of gagging when coughing in children. The disease is characterized by the reflux of stomach contents into the ENT organs, which leads to irritation of the mucous membranes and coughing attacks. Due to the contraction of the smooth muscle muscles of the intestine, a reflex eruption of the food coma occurs through the mouth.

When there is excessive tension in the larynx, a gag reflex occurs. Small children are not able to suppress it and control their cough, so it is not surprising that such an attack ends with the eruption of vomit.

Similar symptoms accompany other diseases of the digestive system:

• pyloric stenosis;
• gastroenteritis;
• duodenitis;
• chronic gastritis.

In infants, cough with vomiting appears due to insufficient muscle development. A sharp exhalation of air from the lungs of infants is often accompanied by the release of vomit.

Foreign body

If a cough with vomiting is accompanied by pale skin, lacrimation and shortness of breath, this indicates penetration of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract. Children aged 2 years often experience laryngo- and bronchospasms due to small objects getting into the respiratory tract.

If symptoms are detected, the child should be taken to a pulmonologist or pediatrician. Ignoring the problem is fraught with collapse of the lung (atelectasis) and suppurative processes.

Coughing attacks caused by irritation of the cough center indicate damage to the medulla oblongata. With pathologies of the central nervous system, the child does not have a high fever, runny nose or other manifestations of a cold. Disturbances in the functioning of the vomiting and cough centers can be caused by:

• benign or malignant tumors in the brain;
• hydrocephalus (water on the brain);
• meningoencephalitis;
• cystic formations in the posterior part of the brain.

Due to the penetration of gastric juice into the respiratory tract, irritation of the mucous membranes of the ENT organs occurs and the formation of cracks on them. Therefore, bloody inclusions are found in the sputum during a wet cough.

Psychogenic factor

In some cases, vomiting without fever during coughing is psychogenic in nature.

Of no small importance in eliminating this problem is the rationalization of the daily routine: the child should sleep both day and night, walk more on the street, spend a little time at the computer or TV, or completely eliminate such useless pastime. Moderate physical activity will be useful: physical therapy or visiting sports clubs.

Regurgitation (reverse movement) of stomach contents in patients under 3 years of age is observed against the background of:

• stress;
• fear;
• anxiety;
• tense atmosphere in the family.

If the child has vomited during an attack more than once, but there are no other signs of ENT diseases, you should consult a specialist. In such situations, it would not be superfluous to consult a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

The disease occurs due to irritation of the bronchial mucosa by allergens - plant pollen, animal hair, dust mites, perfumes, etc. When a child sleeps, the sensory receptors in the respiratory tract are irritated, causing a response - coughing and gagging. Allergic bronchitis is also indicated by:

• lacrimation;
• no high temperature;
• swelling of the laryngopharynx;
• burning or sore throat.

If a child coughs until he vomits due to an allergy, all things that cause irritation of the respiratory mucous membranes are removed from his room - soft toys, down pillows, carpets, blankets, indoor plants, etc.

Worms

If your child is coughing, feeling sick or vomiting, you should consider preventing or treating parasites. Coughing attacks and vomiting sometimes indicate penetration of helminths into the bronchi, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Preschool children who have not yet learned sanitary and hygienic rules and often come into contact with animals are susceptible to helminthic infestations.

As parasites multiply, they release toxic substances that lead to poisoning of the body. Because of this, vomiting occurs, aimed at cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of poisons.

Other reasons

The reverse movement of stomach contents accompanies both nonproductive and productive cough. Symptoms in a child can be caused by:

• diffuse goiter;
• thymomegaly;
• dry air;
• cystic fibrosis;
• teething;
• rotavirus infection (an additional symptom is diarrhea).

If a child has a cough accompanied by vomiting, you should consult a doctor. Based on the results, he will determine the cause of the symptoms and draw up a treatment regimen.