How can I soothe my child's cough, and which medicines or syrups can be given?
Applies to age: 0–60 months
In short
Coughing helps clear the airways; a child over 1 year old can drink a warm drink with lemon and honey. Children under 6 should not be given over-the-counter cough medicines unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- A cough with a cold is common because mucus trickles down the back of the throat.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Children often cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Coughing helps clear phlegm from the chest or mucus from the throat.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Although it's upsetting to hear your child cough, coughing helps clear away phlegm from the chest or mucus from the back of the throat.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A child over 1 year old can drink a warm drink with lemon and honey.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your child is over the age of 1, they can try drinking a warm drink of lemon and honey.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Children under 6 years old should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, including those for a stuffy nose, unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Children under 6 should not have over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants, unless advised to by a GP or pharmacist.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A child with a cold should drink plenty of fluids.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- An antibiotic does not soothe or stop a cough right away.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Antibiotics will not soothe or stop the cough straight away.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- A very high temperature (or a child who feels hot, cold, or shivery) may mean a chest infection.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your child's temperature is very high (or they feel hot, cold or shivery) they may have a chest infection.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A cough that lasts a long time, especially one that gets worse at night or after running, may be a sign of asthma.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If a cough continues for a long time, especially if it's worse at night or is brought on by your child running about, it could be a sign of asthma.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- For a long-lasting cough suspected to be asthma, it is worth seeing a doctor, who can check whether the child has asthma.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Take them to a GP, who will be able to check if your child has asthma.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- A cough lasting longer than 3 weeks is worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your child has had a cough that's lasted longer than 3 weeks, see a GP.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Difficulty breathing in a child with a cough requires immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Go to A&E or call 999 immediately if your child is finding it hard to breathe, as they'll need urgent treatment in hospital.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Call an emergency medical team (ZRM) when someone has lost consciousness, has seizures, heart rhythm disturbances, extensive burns, persistent vomiting (especially with blood), severe shortness of breath, or acute abdominal pain.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Wezwij zespół ratownictwa medycznego, jeśli ktoś w Twoim otoczeniu np. stracił przytomność, ma drgawki, zaburzenia rytmu serca, rozległe oparzenia, uporczywe wymioty – zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi, odczuwa nasiloną duszność lub ostry ból brzucha.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) if life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- A suspected chest infection with a very high temperature requires urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
You should take them to a GP, or you can call 111.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- A sick patient who goes to a POZ clinic should get an appointment the same day.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli przyjdziesz chory do przychodni, powinieneś uzyskać wizytę w dniu zgłoszenia.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.