How Long Does a Cough from a Cold Last for a Child?

If you took him to the clinic 4 days ago, I wouldn't look at the cough as being from a cold 12 days ago. If he was still feeling sick 4 days ago it's perfectly normal for him to have a cough.

I usually have a cough for at least a week after a cold. It's usually an irritating dry cough and not usually with chest congestion.

If he has a lot of congestion or isn't feeling better, it's worth a call to his doctor in the morning. Otherwise it seems safe to say he is on the road to recovery.

I probably wouldn't fill the prescription without talking to his doctor first.

I usually give it 3 weeks as long as it not in their chest. If you're not sure. Take him back.

Yes. My usual pattern is for a cough to last for about 3 weeks after the end of the rest of the cold symptoms. My kids follow the same pattern.

Signs of an infection could be that the cough is very deep and wet, produces a lot of green and yellow phlegm, chest hurts, can't catch your breath, and still running a fever. If the fever has cleared and the cough isn't severe, it's probably just the leftover cold symptoms working their way out. A cough suppressant like Robitussin can help ease symptoms at night for better sleep.

If I were you, I'd call the doctor's office tomorrow to talk through symptoms with them and then decide on the antibiotic or not. Hopefully they'll be able to give you some info you can apply to this case. Hope he's feeling better soon!

I had a cough last for 2 months.
I went to the doctor and it wasn't whooping cough or pneumonia - it was just a cough that wouldn't quit.
I was doing everything right according to the doctor.
Slept with a humidifier in the bedroom, took lots of hot steamy showers so I could cough up all the mucus I could, kept well hydrated (lots of tea and soup), used a neti pot to rinse my nose out with saline, and I kept a heating pad on low on my chest all night - it kept me from getting worse - it just took a long time to get better.
I didn't take any antibiotics for it - I never had a fever - and allergy meds just didn't help.

My last full flown cold was in December. No infections, no fever. I just got over my cough in May. I made two visits to the doctor about it and told it was just a residual cough. Not uncommon for a cough to last for a long time.

It depends on the kid and why he's coughing. My son coughed for 4 months straight over the winter. Maybe see a doc if you're still concerned. Good luck.

Our six year old daughter had a similar pattern and despite being vaccinated as a baby , she had a mild case of pertussis. Her lungs were clear, and she was first diagnosed with walking pneumonia before we realised what it was. It lasted 100 days! Might be worth inquiring. I hope he feels better soon!

Yellow or green goo and a fever indicate an infection. Coughing does not. Drainage does not.