There is no sure way to prevent a cough. To help reduce your child's risk:

• Make sure your child washes his or her hands often during the cold and flu season. This helps prevent the spread of a virus that may cause a cold or influenza.
• If your child goes to a day care center, ask the staff to wash their hands often to prevent the spread of infection.
• Make sure that your child gets all of his or her vaccinations, especially for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) and for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). For more information, see the topic Immunizations.
• Help your child avoid secondhand smoke. Don't allow smoking in your home or around your child.
• Try to avoid people who have colds or flu. If one of your children is sick, separate him or her from other children in the home, if possible. Put the child in a room alone to sleep.

For information on preventing allergies or asthma, see the topic Allergic Rhinitis or Asthma in Children.