About this Symptom Checker

When to seek medical advice

Seek emergency care if you suspect something is lodged in your child's throat or if your child's cough is accompanied by:

  • Swallowing difficulty or drooling
  • Stiff neck
  • Blue or dusky lips
  • Breathing trouble
  • High fever
  • High-pitched noises when inhaling

Seek advice from your doctor if your child's cough is accompanied by a fever that:

  • Lasts longer than is typical (approximately three days)
  • Is less responsive to medication than is typical

Cough in children

Find possible causes of cough based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your child's symptom.

Cough is
Problem is
Triggered or worsened by
Accompanied by