Cough facts for kids

A cough (also called tussis) is a quick action your body takes to clear your throat and lungs. It's like a powerful sneeze for your breathing tubes! When something irritates your airways, muscles in your chest (called the thoracic cavity) squeeze hard. This pushes air out of your lungs very fast, often making a special sound. Coughs usually happen quickly and can repeat many times.

Coughs often happen when you are sick, because infections can make your breathing passages feel irritated. You might also cough if you breathe in air that isn't clean, like when there's dust around.

What is a Cough?

A cough is a reflex, which means it's an automatic action your body does without you thinking about it. It's a very important way your body protects itself. Imagine your throat and lungs are like a highway for air. If something gets in the way, like a crumb or some dust, your body uses a cough to push it out.

Why Do We Cough?

Your body has tiny sensors in your airways, from your throat all the way down to your lungs. When these sensors detect something irritating, they send a signal to your brain. Your brain then tells your chest muscles and diaphragm (a strong muscle under your lungs) to contract suddenly. This forces air out of your lungs with a lot of power, carrying away whatever was bothering your airways.

Common Causes of Coughs

Many things can make you cough. Most of the time, a cough is a sign that your body is trying to get rid of something. Here are some common reasons:

• Common cold: A very common illness that can make your throat scratchy and cause coughing.
• Flu: A stronger illness than a cold, often with more severe coughing.
• Pneumonia: A lung infection that can cause a deep cough.
• Tuberculosis: A serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs.
• Smoking: Breathing in smoke can irritate your lungs and cause a long-lasting cough.
• Lung cancer: In some cases, a cough can be a sign of a serious illness like lung cancer.
• Sarcoidosis: A condition where tiny clumps of cells grow in different parts of the body, including the lungs, which can cause a cough.

How Illnesses Cause Coughs

When you have a cold or flu, viruses can infect the lining of your airways. This makes the lining swollen and irritated, leading to a cough. Your body also makes more mucus to try and trap the germs, and coughing helps to clear this extra mucus.

Other Reasons for Coughs

Sometimes, you might cough even if you're not sick. For example, if you accidentally breathe in a small piece of food or a tiny bit of dust, your body will cough to push it out. Allergies can also make you cough if you breathe in things like pollen or pet dander that irritate your airways.

How to Feel Better

If you have a cough, there are simple things you can do to feel more comfortable:

• Drink plenty of fluids: Water, juice, or warm tea can help soothe your throat and thin out mucus, making it easier to cough up.
• Rest: Giving your body time to recover can help you get better faster.
• Avoid irritants: Try to stay away from smoke, dust, or very cold air if they make your cough worse.
• Use a humidifier: A humidifier adds moisture to the air, which can help calm an irritated throat and airways.

Images for kids

• 

  Coughing is viewed as a public health issue.

Related Topics

• Flu