IT’S PRETTY normal for kids to have the odd cough.
They tend to be caused by colds and children usually develop about eight of these a year.
A five-year-old boy went to the doctors after complaining of a cough that lasted three months
Doctors were stunned to find a metal spring lodged in the boy’s lung
This is because they haven’t yet developed immunity to the different viruses floating about.
Most coughs and colds will get better within a matter of days, NHS guidance says.
Doctors in Paraguay were left bemused by a five-year-old boy’s cough though, which hung on for three months.
They were stunned when they finally discovered the reason – or rather, the object – behind it.
The youngster had been suffering from a bad cough since December 2022, before being taken to the doctor.
While carrying out extensive checks to look for a potential cause, medics were shocked to find a metal object in his left lung.
X-rays revealed the unnamed boy had a metal spring in his lung, which had been stuck there for three months.
He was first treated at the Hospital Regional De Villarrica, Guairá Department, in Paraguay.
The child was later transferred to the National Institute of Respiratory and Environmental Diseases for urgent treatment.
The boy is said to be in a stable condition after medics successfully removed the metal spring the following morning, on March 8.
Dr Carlos Morinigo said the procedure was complicated due to the time the foreign object had been lodged in the boy’s lung as well as the damage it had caused during that period.
However, despite causing a “probable decrease” in the lung’s capacity, Dr Morinigo said it will likely to improve as the lad grows over time.
The INERAM doctor posted images of the boy’s procedure on social media with the message: “Three months of coughing.
“Never been taken to the doctor before. Poor little thing.”
He also reminded parents to take extra care around young children, adding that they should always take them to see a doctor if they are suffering from a persistent problem.
Earlier this month, a 17-year-old girl had a pellet removed from her skull after being shot on her way to a gym class in Tías, Lanzarote, Spain.
At the clinic, the attending physician noticed two puncture wounds in the patient’s head and a suspected foreign object embedded in one of them.
After X-ray and CT scans confirmed the presence of the foreign object and the extent of the injury, doctors successfully removed the item without incident.
The foreign object was described as a “projectile from a compressed air weapon” and was handed over to officers of the Tías Local Police.
How to treat children’s coughs
Children often cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat.
Although it’s upsetting to hear your tot cough, it helps clear away the mucus or phlegm from the chest.
And if your child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there’s no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about.
If they’re under the age of one, try feeding them a warm drink of lemon and honey, NHS guidance recommends.
Children under six should not have over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants, unless advised to by a GP or pharmacist, it adds.
You should take them to a GP if the cough lasts longer than three weeks.
Do the same – or call 111 – if your child’s temperature is very high, or they feel hot and shivery, as they may have a chest infection.
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. A GP can identify that too.