An acute cough is a benign and self-limiting disease generally caused by Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. although this condition is self-healing, patients often visit clinics and the clinicians regularly see such cases in their clinics. Antitussive agents are the commonly used medication for symptomatic relief and to limit its advancement to the persistent cough.

Acute cough remains to be the most common illness among children and bothersome to their parents. However, the use of cough medications for children is limited and also need further researches on its safety profile. administration of approved adult cough medications in the children may have unacceptable side effects and safety concerns.

Apart from discouraging the parents to go for OTC medication, it is important to reassure them about the watch and review procedure as the condition is self-limiting. Peripherally acting antitussives such as levodropropizine can be administered in children after assessing for the favourable risk-benefit ratio. Still, much data and studies are needed for cough management in paediatric patients.

Source: Marseglia, G.L., Manti, S., Chiappini, E., Brambilla, I., Caffarelli C., Calvani, M. et al. (2021). Acute cough in children and adolescents: A systematic review and a practical algorithm by the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 49(2):155-169.