how do you know if a cough is on the chest?

[vampiresdontsparkle]

Dd has a cough, she's had it for a couple of days now. I'm not worried about it but Dp and Mil always worry about everything. (Dp was a very poorly child) so as the title says how do you know if its on their chest?

Her breathing sounds fine and she is only a little bit warm (def not running a temp)

TIA

I think when people (usually granny-types!) talk about a cough on the chest they mean a cough which is bringing up mucous and gunk, as opposed to a dry tickly cough.

It's quite usual as an after effect of a cold, dd has one at the moment. A couple of years ago, I took her to the doc as the "chesty" cough just wasn't going and the doc said an after-cold-cough can last up to 6 weeks! Sometimes you'll get antibiotics if the doc decides the cough is caused by a secondary infection, but not always.

I wouldn't worry tbh if she's only had it a few days and is otherwise OK.

Hope she feels better soon!

Thats what i was thinking. thank you.

DD suffers with breathing problems when she has a cold. The very nice GP we saw last time explained that you need to seek medical help if you can see the skin above their collar bones and under their rib cage being sucked in as they breathe. This is an indicator that they are having to work too hard to get the air in.

I hope this makes sense - it is obvious when you see it.

As Gwink says - if the skin is being drawn in between the ribs, that is "breathing difficulties" and you need medical help.

Also, listen for shallow or very rapid breathing, and look at lip and face colour = how much oxygen is being absorbed.

I also put my hand on the chest or back and feel for rattles.

I understood the antibiotic was needed when the mucus in the chest then got a bacterial infection?