“How long should a child have a cough before seeing a doctor?”
My son is 5 years old and he has a dry cough. How long should a child have a cough before seeing a doctor?
4 Answers
Usually, a dry cough may go on for a couple weeks, and if no other issues, it's fine to let it go that long without seeing a doctor. But with the issue of COVID-19, you should call after a couple days as the doc may want your child tested.
Coughing is never "normal" and its causes can range from mild/self limited to severe. There is no "one answer" when it comes to childhood coughing, so checking with your pediatrician is always the best idea.
Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
If the cough is not bothering your child (he can sleep fine and it is not disturbing his class at school) and he has no fever or respiratory difficulty, he can wait 7-10 days. Many coughs are viral in origin and will go away on their own within this time. You can use Delsym 12hour cough. It works very well. If the cough does not go away after this time, it is time to see your pediatrician.
If no fever, discolored sputum, shortness of breath, suspicion of foreign aspiration, or wheezing, probably 3-7 days. Do not suppress cough with narcotic containing medications Have child drank large amounts of water, avoid air way irritants.
