Coughing and Wheezing in Children in Grand Rapids, MI

Coughing and wheezing are very common symptoms in children throughout West Michigan, especially during our long Grand Rapids winters and during spring allergy season. While these sounds can be alarming, they usually do not mean your child has a serious illness.

Coughing is a normal, healthy reflex that helps clear mucus, germs, and irritants from the airways in the throat and chest.

In most cases, you can safely manage mild coughing and wheezing at home. However, it is important for Grand Rapids parents and caregivers to recognize when these symptoms could be a sign of something more serious and when to seek urgent care.

When Coughing and Wheezing Need Emergency Care

A child can stop breathing during a severe respiratory attack. Always err on the side of caution.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department in Grand Rapids (such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health – University of Michigan Health) immediately if:

  • Your child is having obvious difficulty breathing
  • Their breathing becomes very fast, shallow, or irregular
  • Their breathing is noisy (grunting, wheezing, or stridor) even when they are not crying
  • The skin, lips, or tongue turn blue or very pale
  • They seem unusually sleepy, floppy, or hard to wake
  • They cannot speak or cry properly because of trouble breathing
  • They suddenly start coughing or gagging and were not sick before (possible choking)

Choking Is a Medical Emergency

If your child suddenly starts to cough, choke, or gasp and was not unwell beforehand, they may have something stuck in their airway.

  • If your child cannot breathe, cry, or cough: Call 911 immediately and start age-appropriate first aid for choking if you are trained.
  • Even if the coughing settles, your child should still be checked by a doctor or emergency department.

Common Causes of Coughing and Wheezing in Grand Rapids Children

There are many reasons why children in Grand Rapids and West Michigan might cough or wheeze. Our cold winters, indoor heating, and seasonal allergens (like pollen and mold around the Grand River and wooded areas) can all play a role.

Viral Infections (Colds and Flu)

  • Very common cause of cough in children
  • Often accompanied by:
    • Runny or stuffy nose
    • Sore throat
    • Mild fever
    • Tiredness
  • Cough and wheezing may last 1–2 weeks or longer after a cold

Croup

  • Causes a barking, hoarse cough, often worse at night
  • May have a harsh, noisy sound when breathing in
  • Often occurs in fall and winter in Michigan
  • Usually caused by a virus

Bronchiolitis

  • A chest infection usually seen in babies and toddlers
  • Causes:
    • Coughing
    • Wheezing
    • Fast or labored breathing
    • Trouble feeding
  • More common in winter months in Grand Rapids

Asthma

  • Coughing is often:
    • Worse at night
    • Triggered by exercise, cold air, or exposure to smoke or allergens
  • Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out) may be present
  • Family history of asthma, allergies, or eczema is common

Important: In very young children, especially under 12 months, it can be hard to know if wheezing is due to asthma or another condition. Many Grand Rapids pediatricians and family doctors avoid diagnosing asthma before 12 months, but may trial asthma medications to see if symptoms improve.

Allergies and Hay Fever

Allergies are common in West Michigan, especially in spring and fall when pollen counts are high.

  • Triggered by:
    • Dust mites (common in heated homes in winter)
    • Animal dander (pets)
    • Mold (can be found in damp basements or near the lakes and river)
    • Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds
  • Symptoms may include:
    • Coughing
    • Wheezing
    • Sneezing
    • Itchy or runny nose
    • Watery, itchy eyes

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

  • A contagious bacterial infection
  • Causes severe coughing fits and sometimes a “whoop” sound when breathing in
  • Can cause vomiting after coughing
  • Preventable with routine childhood immunizations
  • If you suspect whooping cough, contact your Grand Rapids doctor or urgent care promptly.

Pneumonia

  • Infection in the lungs
  • Symptoms can include:
    • Persistent cough
    • High fever
    • Fast or difficult breathing
    • Chest or abdominal pain
    • Tiredness, poor feeding or drinking
  • Needs prompt medical evaluation

Choking and Foreign Objects

  • Sudden onset of coughing or wheezing in a child who was previously well may mean they inhaled a small object or piece of food.
  • This requires urgent medical attention.

Nose Problems and Breathing Difficulty

Sometimes breathing issues are caused by something in the nose rather than the lungs.

Foreign Object in the Nose

Young children sometimes put small objects (beads, food, paper) in their nose.

Possible signs include:

  • One-sided runny or blocked nose
  • Foul-smelling discharge from one nostril
  • Nosebleeds
  • Complaints of a strange smell no one else notices
  • Whistling noise when breathing through the nose

If you think your child has something stuck in their nose, do not try to remove it yourself. Take them to your doctor, a local urgent care clinic, or a pediatric emergency department in Grand Rapids.

Is It Asthma?

Many Grand Rapids parents worry that any wheezing means asthma, but:

  • Coughing and wheezing are very common in young children with viral infections.
  • Babies and toddlers have narrower airways, so they tend to wheeze more with colds.
  • Most doctors do not diagnose asthma in babies under 12 months, but may:
    • Watch how symptoms change over time
    • Trial asthma medications to see if there is improvement

If your child’s coughing and wheezing:

  • Keep coming back
  • Are worse at night or with exercise
  • Are triggered by cold air, pets, or smoke

…talk to your Grand Rapids pediatrician or family doctor about the possibility of asthma and an asthma action plan.

Home Care for Mild Coughing and Wheezing

In many cases, mild coughing and wheezing can be safely managed at home.

General Home Care Tips

  • Keep your child calm

    • Being scared or upset can make breathing feel harder.
    • Hold, cuddle, and reassure them.

  • Offer frequent fluids

    • Small, frequent sips of water, breast milk, or formula can help keep mucus thin.
    • Warm clear fluids (for older children) can be soothing.

  • Use cool-mist humidification

    • A cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room can help with dry winter air in Grand Rapids homes.
    • Clean the humidifier regularly to prevent mold growth.

  • Elevate the head slightly

    • For older children, sleeping with the head slightly raised can ease coughing at night.
    • Do not use pillows under the head for babies due to SIDS risk; instead, talk with your doctor about safe options.

  • Avoid irritants

    • Keep your child away from strong perfumes, cleaning chemicals, and wood smoke.

Avoid Smoking Around Children

Smoking in the home or car significantly increases the risk of coughing, wheezing, asthma, and serious lung infections in children.

  • Do not smoke in your home or car, even with a window open.
  • If you smoke, consider quitting. The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health offer smoking cessation resources and referrals.

Medicines: What Helps and What Doesn’t

  • Antibiotics

    • Do not help viral infections like colds, flu, bronchiolitis, or most cases of croup.
    • Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics if they suspect a bacterial infection (such as some cases of pneumonia).

  • Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines

    • Not recommended for infants and young children without specific advice from your child’s doctor.
    • Can cause side effects and may mask symptoms of more serious illness.
    • Always ask your pediatrician or family doctor in Grand Rapids before using these products.

  • Asthma medications (inhalers, nebulizers)

    • Should be used exactly as prescribed.
    • If your child has an asthma action plan, follow it carefully during coughing and wheezing episodes.

When to See a Doctor for Coughing and Wheezing

Call Your Doctor or Visit Urgent Care (Same Day) If:

  • Mild coughing lasts more than 3 weeks
  • Your child has:
    • Fever that is not improving
    • Reduced appetite or drinking less than usual
    • Vomiting with coughing
    • Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, fewer wet diapers, dark urine)
  • Coughing or wheezing:
    • Keeps coming back
    • Is worse at night or with exercise
    • Seems triggered by pets, dust, or outdoor allergens
  • You are worried or unsure what to do

In Grand Rapids, you can contact:

  • Your child’s pediatrician or family doctor
  • Local urgent care clinics (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, and other community urgent care centers)
  • Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for general child health and respiratory health resources

When to Seek Immediate Medical Help

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department in Grand Rapids if your child:

  • Has difficulty breathing or is breathing very fast
  • Has noisy breathing at rest (not just when crying)
  • Has blue or very pale skin, lips, or tongue
  • Seems unusually tired, floppy, or hard to wake
  • Refuses to drink at all or has very few wet diapers
  • Has a high fever and looks very unwell
  • Suddenly starts coughing or choking and was not sick before (possible choking)

Local Resources for Grand Rapids Families

If you are concerned about your child’s coughing and wheezing, you can seek help from:

  • Emergency Departments

    • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health facilities in the broader West Michigan region

  • Urgent Care Clinics

    • Spectrum Health Urgent Care locations
    • Trinity Health and Metro Health urgent care centers
    • Independent urgent care clinics throughout Grand Rapids

  • Public Health and Support Services

    • Kent County Health Department – information on childhood immunizations, whooping cough prevention, flu shots, and smoking cessation support
    • Grand Rapids Public Health – community health programs, asthma education, and environmental health resources

Always call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.

Key Points for Grand Rapids Parents

  • Coughing and wheezing are common in children, especially during Michigan’s cold and flu season and spring allergy season.
  • Coughing is a normal reflex that helps clear the airways.
  • Most mild coughs and wheezing episodes can be managed at home with comfort measures and careful observation.
  • Smoking in the home or car increases the risk of serious breathing problems in children and should be avoided.
  • Seek urgent or emergency care if your child has trouble breathing, turns blue or very pale, becomes extremely tired, or suddenly starts coughing and may be choking.
  • If symptoms don’t improve, last more than three weeks, or keep coming back, see your Grand Rapids doctor for further evaluation.