Why Does My Child Cough While Sleeping?

During the growth stage, children's physical resistance is weaker than adults. It is a common occurrence for children to cough while sleeping, which can be worrying for parents. Coughing during sleep may be caused by factors such as not covering the blanket properly or a low indoor temperature leading to respiratory infections. However, there are also many other triggers and viruses that can cause coughing in children.

Coughing at night in children may be due to respiratory infections caused by exposure to cold, most commonly viral infections such as influenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, can also cause coughing. Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infections can also lead to coughing and sputum production. Inflammation can increase respiratory secretions and inflammatory cell infiltration, stimulating the throat or trachea to cause coughing. It is recommended to seek prompt medical attention for evaluation.

Symptom 1: Upper respiratory infections typically have a 2-3 day incubation period. Initially, children may present with symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and mild coughing. These symptoms are generally mild and can resolve naturally within 3-4 days.

Symptom 2: Children may begin to experience hoarse voice, increased throat secretions, redness and swelling of the throat (tonsillitis), herpangina, sinusitis, otitis media, enlarged submental lymph nodes, and fever lasting 2-3 days to about a week. Fever in infants and young children can easily lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

Symptom 3: Children may also experience refusal to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, as well as redness, swelling, and pain in the eyes.

Symptom 4: Children may have a high fever reaching 39-40 degrees Celsius or higher, accompanied by headache, general weakness, loss of appetite, and disturbed sleep. This type of severe symptom can be associated with frequent coughing due to nasal and throat secretions. A slightly red pharynx with blisters and ulcers is indicative of herpangina.

Febrile seizures due to acute upper respiratory infections are more common in infants and young children, usually occurring within 1 day of illness onset and rarely recurring. It is important to be aware of febrile seizures and acute abdominal pain, and to differentiate them from other diseases. Acute abdominal pain can sometimes be severe, often located around the umbilicus without tenderness. It is usually transient and may be related to increased bowel motility.