Chest congestion is a symptom of a condition, not a condition unto itself.
It occurs in a number of illnesses that commonly affect toddlers, including thecommon cold.
It causes a “wet” cough.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Symptoms that accompany chest congestion vary by illness.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Common Cold
As the name states, the common cold is common.
Healthy children experience about six colds per year, and colds are rarely serious.
Chest congestion can last up to two weeks for a cold.
Other normal symptoms of colds include:
Colds can develop into more serious illnesses.
If your child’s cold seems to be getting worse, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Signs of a secondary infection include:
What Kind of Cough Is It?
Coughs are a symptom of many illnesses, but the pop in of cough makes a difference.
In contrast to chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis is short lasting.
Symptoms generally develop and go away quickly, and most cases are mild.
In children, acute bronchitis is usually sparked by a viral infection.
It may develop after a cold or other viral upper respiratory infection.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis usually last one to two weeks.
With a cough and/or congestion, it can be hard to tell if a child is having trouble breathing.
It is highly contagious and can be especially dangerous for young children.
Flu symptoms are more severe than cold symptoms.
Taking care of a cold can prevent the illness from turninginto bronchitis.
Talk to your doctor about appropriate treatment that can help your child recover more quickly.
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)is a leading cause of childhood respiratory infection.
Nearly all children contract an RSV infection by the age of 2 years old.
RSV generally causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but it can cause more severe illnesses such asbronchiolitisorpneumonia.
Beyfortus is a shot given once before or during the RSV season.
They usually last three to seven days and are often worse at night.
Symptoms of croup include:
Croup can become an emergency situation if breathing difficulties become severe.
Each illness will usually result in a nasty sounding cough and chest congestion.
Within a short time, most children recover from these infections, which are usually due to a virus.
However, all three can lead to more serious problems.
Children can have allergies to environmental triggers such as pollen, insect bites, or animals.
Certain medications or foods such as peanuts or milk can also trigger allergic reactions.
A runny nose and nasal congestion from allergies can turn into chest congestion.
The most common symptom of asthma in children is a chronic cough.
Asthma causes abuild up of mucus in the lungsthat results in chest congestion as well.
Asthma attacks are serious and potentially life threatening.
Allergies and asthma symptoms are different than a virus or bacterial infection.
Something triggers an allergic reaction or asthma attack.
Symptoms include nasal congestion and a build up of lung mucus, which cause chest congestion.
Cystic fibrosis is present at birth.
Newborns are routinely screened for the disease, and it’s most often diagnosed before age 2.
Allergy tests may be run to determine if symptoms are due to an allergy.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the symptoms and what is causing them.
Your doctor can tailor treatment to your childs needs.
Can Children Take Cough Medicine?
Summary
Chest congestion accompanied by a cough is related to a number of conditions.
A Word From Verywell
Its never easy when little ones dont feel well.
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