Little Cough Doctor

28/08/2026

Fever + cough in your child? How can you tell if it could be pneumonia?

In this video, Dr. Mounnish Balaji, Pediatric Pulmonologist, explains the warning signs parents should watch for.

High fever alone does not mean pneumonia. Viral respiratory infections can also cause fever and cough. One of the most important things to observe is how your child is breathing.

Watch for:

• Breathing much faster than usual
• Ribs pulling inward
• Chest sinking while breathing
• Nostrils widening or flaring
• Grunting while breathing
• Poor feeding
• Unusual sleepiness or low activity

Fever and cough along with these breathing signs may require medical evaluation for pneumonia.

Seek urgent medical help if your child develops blue lips, severe difficulty breathing, breathing pauses, or is unusually difficult to wake or poorly responsive.

Don’t diagnose pneumonia at home, and don’t start antibiotics without medical advice.

Consult a Pediatric Pulmonologist for proper evaluation.

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26/08/2026

Does your child have a cough and you immediately think, Should I start an antibiotic?

In this video, Dr. Mounnish Balaji, Pediatric Pulmonologist, explains why antibiotics are not the answer to every childhood cough.

Many coughs in children are caused by viral infections, and antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Starting an old prescription or leftover antibiotics without medical advice may do more harm than good.

A recurring cough can also have other causes. Watch for patterns such as:

• Cough at night
• Blocked nose
• Early morning cough
• Cough after running or playing
• Cough that repeatedly returns

These patterns may sometimes point toward allergies or sensitive airways, rather than a bacterial infection.

Antibiotics are useful when a doctor finds evidence or has a strong clinical suspicion of a bacterial infection. Unnecessary antibiotic use can cause side effects and contribute to antibiotic resistance, making certain antibiotics less effective when they are genuinely needed.

If cough is accompanied by fast or difficult breathing, high fever, chest pulling inward, poor feeding, or bluish lips, seek prompt medical evaluation.

Don’t start antibiotics on your own. Get the cause of the cough evaluated properly.

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24/08/2026

22/08/2026

Does your child sleep with their mouth open? Don’t assume it is just a habit.

In this video, Dr. Mounnish Balaji, Pediatric Pulmonologist, explains why regular mouth breathing during sleep can sometimes be a sign that your child is not breathing freely through the nose.

Parents should watch for associated signs such as:

• Snoring at night
• Constantly blocked nose
• Restless or disturbed sleep
• Dry mouth after waking up
• Gasping during sleep
• Pauses in breathing
• Frequent awakenings

Possible causes of persistent mouth breathing can include nasal allergies, enlarged adenoids, enlarged tonsils, or sleep-related airway obstruction.

When a child’s breathing repeatedly affects sleep quality, it may also impact morning energy, mood, attention, and school performance.

If your child regularly sleeps with their mouth open, especially along with snoring or disturbed breathing, don’t ignore the pattern. Proper evaluation can help identify the underlying cause.
Consult a Pediatric Pulmonologist.

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21/08/2026

Does your child’s night cough or wheezing return every monsoon? It may not always be just a seasonal cold.

In this video, Dr. Mounnish Balaji, Pediatric Pulmonologist, explains how the monsoon season can trigger asthma symptoms in children with sensitive airways.

Watch for patterns such as:

• Cough that gets worse at night
• Wheezing, especially in the morning
• Breathlessness after running or playing
• Increasing need for a reliever inhaler

During monsoon, viral respiratory infections, dampness, mould, dust mites, and poorly ventilated indoor spaces can trigger asthma symptoms.

Monsoon itself does not cause asthma, but these environmental changes can contribute to flare-ups in children who already have asthma or sensitive airways.

Parents can help by keeping rooms dry and well ventilated, addressing dampness and mould, avoiding cigarette smoke and strong fragrances, and continuing prescribed controller inhalers unless the treating doctor advises otherwise.

If your child develops fast or difficult breathing, chest retractions, or bluish lips, seek urgent medical care.

Repeated cough or wheezing during monsoon? Consult a Pediatric Pulmonologist.

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17/08/2026

Cough syrup works… but a few days later, your child’s cough comes back?

In this video, Dr. Mounnish Balaji, Pediatric Pulmonologist, explains why repeatedly changing cough syrups may not solve the real problem.

Sometimes, a syrup may temporarily reduce the cough while the underlying trigger remains. That’s why parents should pay attention to the pattern:

• Cough at night
• Cough immediately after waking up
• Cough after running or crying
• Blocked nose
• Wheezing or a whistling sound
• Cough returning soon after The medicine is stopped

Repeated cough can happen with recurrent viral infections, but other causes such as allergies, post-nasal drip, or sensitive airways may also need to be considered.

The goal is not just to suppress the cough. It is important to identify why it keeps coming back.

If your child’s cough keeps recurring or lasts for more than 3 weeks, get it properly evaluated by a Pediatric Pulmonologist.

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14/08/2026

Does your child’s cough improve with syrup… only to come back again a few days later?

The problem may not be that the cough syrup isn’t strong enough. Sometimes, medicines can temporarily reduce the symptom while the underlying trigger is still present.

Pay attention to the pattern:
• Cough at night
• Early morning cough
• Cough after running or playing
• Cough after crying
• Frequent sneezing or blocked nose
• Wheezing or a whistling sound
• Cough that keeps returning

Repeated cough in children can have different causes, including recurrent viral infections, allergies, post-nasal drip, or sensitive airways.

The goal should not be to simply stop the cough every time it appears. Finding the reason it keeps returning is equally important.

If your child’s cough keeps coming back or lasts for more than 3 weeks, consider getting it properly evaluated by a Pediatric Pulmonologist.

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12/08/2026

Does your child sleep with their mouth open every night? It may not always be just a habit.

Regular mouth breathing, especially when accompanied by snoring, a constantly blocked nose, restless sleep, gasping, breathing pauses, or a dry mouth in the morning, can suggest that your child is having difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose.

Possible causes can include:
• Nasal allergies
• Enlarged adenoids or tonsils
• Nasal obstruction
• Sleep-related breathing problems

Poor-quality sleep can also affect a child’s energy, mood, concentration, and daily activities.

If mouth breathing and snoring are happening regularly, don’t ignore the pattern. A proper evaluation can help identify the underlying cause.

Consult a Pediatric Pulmonologist for appropriate assessment.

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