Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for a cough. Many things can cause a cough, like a cold or other infection, allergies, asthma, or a lung problem. Most children do not need any tests.
The doctor thinks your child's cough is not caused by something serious. For example, it might be from a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not help. Your child can recover at home.
Your child might have had rapid testing for common viruses like respiratory syncytial virus ("RSV"), COVID-19, and influenza (the "flu").
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●To ease your child's cough and help them feel better:
•Offer your child plenty of fluids. Warm liquids like tea or soup can help, if the child is old enough.
•If your child is older than 1 year, a small spoonful of honey might relieve their cough and help soothe their throat. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 year.
•If your child is older than 4 to 5 years, sucking on lozenges or hard candy might help.
•Use a cool mist humidifier where your child sleeps.
•Sit with your child in the bathroom with a warm, steamy shower running.
•Older children can gargle with salt water a few times a day. To make salt water, mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of salt with 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water.
●Do not give your child over-the-counter cough medicines or throat sprays. They do not usually work well, and they can have serious side effects in children.
●Do not smoke around your child or let others smoke around them. Avoid other things that can cause breathing problems like fumes, pollution, dust, and other common allergens.
●Wash your and your child's hands often. This helps keep others healthy.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child passes out, seems very sleepy, or is less alert than normal.
•Your child stops breathing.
•Your child has so much trouble breathing they can only say 1 or 2 words at a time, or your baby has trouble crying.
•Your child needs to sit upright to breathe, or cannot lie down.
•Your child's skin, nails, lips, or area around their eyes are blue or gray.
●Return to the ED if:
•Your child is not as alert as usual.
•Your child is very tired from working to catch their breath.
•Your child is making a grunting noise when they breathe.
•Your child's skin pulls in between their ribs, below their ribcage, or above their collarbones.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if your child:
●Has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher that lasts more than 2 days
●Coughs so hard they vomit
●Cannot keep food or drink down
●Coughs up blood
●Has the cough for more than 2 weeks, and is not getting better
●Has new or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Cough in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and colds (The Basics)
Patient education: Coughing up blood (The Basics)
Patient education: The common cold in children (Beyond the Basics)
