Coughing is not always a manifestation of a cold or viral disease. Sometimes the reflex phenomenon is neurotic in nature. If the baby has such attacks against a background of stressful situations, but is not present in a calm state, this is a neurological, neurogenic, or psychogenic form of cough. How to cure a child's nervous breakdown?
The connection between the body and the brain
As you know, all diseases come from nerves. This statement is true. This problem is being studied by the science of psychosomatics. The emergence and subsequent course of many somatic pathologies is closely related to the central nervous system, psychological factors. Conducted research finds a deep connection of bodily diseases with mental and spiritual problems. To date, the psychosomatic causes of migraines, asthma, autonomic disorders manifested by panic attacks have been studied.
Features of nervous cough in children
This disease has a neurogenic nature. Attacks are always accompanied by a loud / dry cough, which intensifies during a period of stress. In a calm environment, symptoms subside or disappear altogether. The elimination of the problem begins with the elucidation of its root causes and the conditions that cause nervous excitement.
According to doctors, in 9 out of 10 cases, a nervous cough in children is an option to create protection against irritating factors. Coughing, the child tries to eliminate them. A violation manifests itself in two versions: unconscious and arbitrary.
In the first case, the disorder appears unexpectedly, but always has a lingering character. May be a consequence of recent lung and bronchial diseases. It also occurs against the background of experiences that the child is trying to get rid of. Arbitrary coughing always has a deliberate purpose. The kid is trying to draw attention to himself with his help.
It is easy to distinguish a nervous cough in children from an allergic or catarrhal according to a number of signs. Most often it is dry, manifesting mainly in the daytime. Does not cause sputum production. It disappears when a child reads poetry or speaks quickly. Nervous cough during intense physical exertion does not increase, does not respond to the use of bronchodilators or expectorant drugs.
Main reasons
This disorder is a manifestation of a mental disorder, dysfunction of the cerebral cortex or central nervous system. It is characteristic of children who are constantly in a state of stress, feeling anxiety and anxiety. During the next attack, the vocal muscles are reduced. The result is a psychogenic bronchospasm or vocal tic.
A nervous cough in a child can be triggered by the following reasons:
- problematic relationships with parents, lack of understanding on the part of adults;
- regular overwork in the garden / school;
- loneliness, depressive thoughts;
- Conflicts with prospective friends
- “Mirroring” of diseases of loved ones and their problems.
Negative emotions are the main provocateur of irritation of those parts of the cerebral cortex that are responsible for coughing. However, the appearance of symptoms is possible not only with experiences, but also with deafening joy. Excitation in both cases occurs with equal force.
The protracted nature of the cough is dangerous. In medical practice, many cases are described when, after eliminating negative emotions and normalizing the child’s mental state, the disorder persisted. The reason for this is the consolidation of symptoms reflexively, i.e., on a subconscious level. It is not recommended to allow such cases. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the problem in a timely manner and begin to eliminate it.
Clinical picture
At risk are children from 4 to 8 years. In rare cases, the disorder manifests itself at an older age, but by about 18 years old this problem disappears. You can recognize the symptoms of a nervous cough in a child if you observe it. However, it is not worth trying to draw conclusions on your own, it is better to seek medical help.
Attention should be paid to the following symptoms:
- seizures occur exclusively in the daytime and for no apparent reason;
- their intensity decreases when the child is passionate or interested in something;
- the cough is dry and persistent;
- the symptomatology remains unchanged even after a long time;
- cough medications are ineffective;
- during attacks, the child feels a lack of oxygen.
Sometimes the symptoms of a nervous cough in children are demonstrative and manifest loudly. In parallel, the child complains of pain in the heart. He has a panic mood, fear. Going into hysteria, some babies literally bring themselves to such a state when sputum and even vomiting are released during the next attack.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of the violation involves the study of complaints, an assessment of the overall health of the child. The doctor draws attention to the psychological situation in the family and school. Be sure to conduct additional research to exclude asthma, allergies and other diseases that may manifest as a cough. Several specialists usually work with the child (pulmonologist, allergist, neurologist, psychotherapist, otolaryngologist).
Treatment of nervous cough in children is prescribed only after confirmation of the diagnosis. It may include several approaches, ranging from medication to homeopathic.
Drug approach
Doctors try to avoid medical treatment of symptoms and treatment of nervous cough in a child. Taking medications is justified only in cases where the disorder interferes with social adaptation and prevents the building of interpersonal relationships. For this purpose, antidepressants and sedatives are prescribed. They are prescribed in small doses, and the course of therapy is under the supervision of a doctor.
It is important to remember the side effects that medications can cause. With prolonged use, sleep disorder, headache. It is also possible violation of concentration, obsessive state of undue anxiety, muscle hypertonicity.
Relaxing massage
Massage has a positive effect on nerve endings, relaxes muscles and improves blood circulation. Having beneficial effects on the psyche of a child, sessions also help strengthen the immune system.
Some parents choose to seek professional help. However, you do not need to have special skills for such manipulations. Only a positive attitude, a cordial attitude towards the child is required. Together with other methods of therapy, massage allows you to quickly fix the problem.
Psychotherapy sessions
It is believed that the treatment of a nervous cough in a child is the task of a therapist. He must determine the causes of irritation, teach him how to relax and deal with emotions. In addition, working with family members to create a favorable atmosphere in the home rests with the specialist. In some cases, individual behavioral psychotherapy sessions are conducted. For small patients, distracting exercises, including special breathing techniques, are applicable. In especially serious cases, resort to hypnosis.
The use of homeopathy
The homeopathic treatment of a nervous cough in a child and symptoms of a disorder is popular. The natural components that make up the drugs inspire confidence in parents. They are selected after diagnosis by a homeopath and taking into account the physique of a small patient. The duration of admission is also established by a specialist. If you follow the instructions, improvement comes quickly enough. The most popular are the following remedies: Chamomilla, Ignatia.
Help traditional medicine
In folk medicine, there are a large number of effective recipes to combat the disorder. However, you must first consult with your doctor. How to treat a nervous cough in a child?
- Soothing tinctures and decoctions. Ready-made treatment fees can be purchased at any pharmacy network or prepared independently at home. As a rule, they include motherwort, heather, thyme and valerian. Dry herbs are poured with boiling water in the ratio recommended by the doctor, insist and give the child before bedtime. It is important to monitor the reaction to a particular remedy. If an allergy occurs, it will need to be replaced.
- Evening baths. A warm bath with lavender essential oil, chamomile flowers or sea salt strengthens the central nervous system. In addition, daily procedures help improve blood circulation. Their duration can vary from 15 to 30 minutes. Better to spend in the evening to facilitate the process of falling asleep.
- Alcohol tinctures. They are recommended for therapeutic use in children over 12 years old, strictly observing the dosage prescribed by the doctor. For example, to increase the general tone of the body, tincture of Eleutherococcus is suitable. In order to improve blood circulation and reduce nervous excitability, a remedy based on hawthorn extract is suitable. Sleep grass relieves hysterical attacks well.
The competent use of traditional medicine recipes under the supervision of a doctor allows you to stop the attacks of nervous cough in a child.
What should parents do?
It is impossible to overcome a nervous cough without the help of parents. In addition to creating a favorable background in homes, their actions should be aimed at strengthening the child's body, maintaining overall tone. To do this, you must:
- Spend more time in the fresh air, try to put to bed at about the same time. The duration of sleep should be 8-9 hours. Preschool children are shown one day's sleep. Classes at the computer and watching TV are better to limit.
- Caffeine-rich foods (cocoa, tea, chocolate) should be excluded from children's diets. Replace them with food that is high in magnesium (green vegetables, nuts).
- It is important to reduce the requirements for a child both at home and at school.
- With the next attack of coughing, you can not punish, pull, draw attention. It is better to try in various ways to distract the baby.
- Moderate exercise is also beneficial. Experts advise recording a child in the sports section.
The main task on the part of parents is not to stop coughing attacks in various ways, but to create conditions for a patient to live comfortably in compliance with the listed recommendations.
Prevention Methods
To prevent coughing of nervous origin in children and its relapses, parents should try to create a positive atmosphere at home. It is important to encourage the efforts of the child, to support his adaptation among peers. The baby needs to be tuned to a positive attitude towards minor problems that can occur in everyone.
Famous pediatrician Komarovsky believes that the level of stress can reduce the course of taking vitamins. He attaches particular importance to the positive emotions that a child can get during playing sports, traveling in nature.
Conclusion
Coughing sometimes does occur against a background of nervous strain. Children are especially prone to this problem. Stresses, conflicts with peers, misunderstanding on the part of parents are just some of the reasons for its occurrence. To cope with a psychosomatic disorder, medication alone is not enough. Most often, work with a psychotherapist, the use of recipes of traditional medicine and homeopathy are required. A special role in eliminating a nervous cough belongs to parents. They are responsible for creating a positive atmosphere in the family.