Can a childs cough be both chesty and dry?

[magicpuppy]

Strange, and possibly very stupid, question. DD is 7. She has had a cold for a few days and developed a cough on Thursday night. Although it was annoying and tiring for her it seemed to be quite a dry cough and I thought I'd wait and see how she was before considering a doctor.

Now it's Saturday night and she is still miserable. Since earlyis morning she seems to have quite a chesty cough which worries me a bit as older dc is asthmatic but then at times she seems to revert to the hurty, dry cough.

What is going on and is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable?

I am used to very chesty productive coughs that can mean chest infection/asthma and often requires antibiotics in dc1 but is there anything that helps the dry cough?

Thanks

Steam bath, warm water, chest rub with oil or vicks, 1-2 tsp honey, might help.

yep keep her warm, classic warm milk with honey soothes the throat.
a short walk outside is also beneficial.