Coughs and colds are a common problem over thewinter months. And while as adults we can usually get by with a few over-the-counter remedies, it can be more concerning with a child.

And the question of whether your little one needs extra help can be less straightforward, with many parents unsure if they need to seek medical assistance. Now a GP has set out the signs that could indicate it's time to see a doctor about your child’s cough.

Dr Dominic Greenyer, a GP and Director of The Health Suite, said: “Coughs and colds are really common, especially at this time of year. For the most part they are a regular part of childhood and nothing to worry about. Most children will get around eight viral infections a year.

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"But it’s normal for parents to worry and if coughs are becoming frequent it can be hard to know when to seek help.” The NHS recommends that if your child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there is no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about.

It is actually serving a purpose by helping to clear phlegm or mucus from the back of the throat or chest. However, you should seek immediate medical help if your child is struggling to breathe.

And if a cough continues for more than three weeks, especially if it’s worse at night or they have a wheeze or breathlessness between illnesses, then it’s time to see a doctor as it could be a sign there’s an underlying cause.

Dr Greenyer added: “Most of the time coughs will resolve with rest and fluids after a couple of weeks. What we want to see is a child recovering fully and having clear periods where they are free of symptoms between illnesses.

"However, if your child has an ongoing cough or wheeze, is struggling to gain weight or needs frequent antibiotics for chest infections, it might be time to see a specialist to look for an underlying cause. Symptoms that are severe, persistent or unusual for your child should never be ignored.”

Underlying causes could include asthma, a common condition that affects breathing, or immune deficiencies. In rarer cases there could be structural lung problems or, rarer still, an underlying chronic lung disease such as cystic fibrosis.

Dr Greenyer said: “If your child has any problems breathing then seek medical assistance straight away. If they have a continuous cough with a high temperature, ask your GP for an urgent appointment so they can be assessed as soon as possible as it could indicate an underlying infection.”