Dry Hacking Cough and Runny Nose!

It sounds like it needs to be moistened. Try running a humidifier in his room, it should help, a lot. If you don't have one, take him into the bathroom with a very hot shower running and sit in there for about 20 minutes and let him breathe in the steam. It might take a couple times, but it will work! My older two boys have suffered from croup multiple times and the bathroom was the only thing that saved us!

Good luck.

I am an MA, and no, there should be no need for the doctor. As a mom, I would STOP giving him cough medicine and start treating the NOSE. The nose is what is directly causing the cough it sounds like. Try a warm mist humidifier, try a warm shower, or take the kid outside!! The cold is EXCELLENT for colds and allergies, it kills the yuckies, you can also try a small amount of OTC cold medicine that will dry up the nose, or even an allergy med. If his coughing and runny nose continue for over 7 days, get worse or have color like greeinsh or yellowish to them, you need to take him in. Good luck (BTW, when he blows his nose, make it a light blow, hard blows can put the yuckie stuff back into the body.)

Something new that my sons' pediatrician recommends for coughs is corn syrup. Medical professionals are realizing that most cough/cold remedies actually do no good for kids. Corn syrup is actually an old remedy and you give about 1/2 to 1 tsp to help control his cough (better than any of the commercial cough syrups) and also it really helps soothe a sore throat. Plus it is soooo sweet that you'll have no problem getting him to take the "medicine", and it is inexpensive. For my baby I dilute it in warm water (to give through a bottle) as warm water is also excellent for upper respiratory problems, as well as cough/sore throat. Make the water as warm as your son will allow it to be. You are right on to give him warm water with honey!

As far as a humidifier goes, it is an excellent idea to use one but I would use cool mist rather than warm as it will resist breeding the germs a little better. Another less expensive option is simply getting the bathroom all steamy and having your son stay in there. Either in a nice, warm bath or even just hanging out in there (just stay with him, of course!). Turn the shower on hot and shut the bathroom door. Even bundle the kids up and take them outside once it stops raining. The cold, wet air can do wonders.

The average virus takes something like 7-10 days to run its course. If your son isn't better, or seems to be getting worse, in that time period then he may need prescription medication.

I will send healthy thoughts your way :o)

does the cough sound like a barking noise? or is it just dry? if its barking, it could be croup which really has no treament, just keep the fever down, tylenol and motrin work great and keep him hydrated with pedialyte.

Try Children's Sudaphed. You will have to go to the pharmacy, because they keep it behind the counter because it has Pseudaphed in it. It will help clear up the runny nose. Make sure that they wash their hands frequently and don't rub their eyes, otherwise you may end up with pink eye too. Humidifier is a good thing to run too. We are going through this right now and were at the doctor yesterday, so these are some of the things we were told, but also got antibiotics. Good luck.
A.

He could be having some allergy reactions to just about anything. You could talk with your doctor about having him tested for allergys with a specialist, or go to a family pharmacy ( in other words, not the walmart or any super store pharmacy), and ask the pharmacist what over the counter allergy medicine you could try to see if you can clear it up on your own.
Good luck.

Hi K., my daughter had the same symtoms.cough,runny nose but no fever.and it went on for like 2 weeks we kept thinking it was a cold.or allergies and we kept treating it like those conditions. finally i took her in and found that she was dehydrated,they had to give her an Iv and it turned out to be phenomia then that turned into bronchitis .she had the barking sound which i thought was croup. the runny nose was caused by the drip. the poor thing was hooked up for 2hrs then she was on an antibiotic for 10 days. now she has to do treatments when ever it gets cold or the first signs of a barking sound or a lot of coughing. so i would do whatever you have to do to get that child in.that is something i would not be trying to just band- aid. ther could be numerios things going on the lethargic part is really scary.sweety get that child in no matter the cost. i to have no insurance.I wish you all the luck.

I myself do not have insurance yet but for my daughter we got denali kid care.It stays with your child until they are 19 and you can go to the doctor right now and let them know you are in the middle of gettting insured. They will ask if you have any unpaid bills within the last 3 months and that is when you can tell them about your visit with the doctor and they will pay for it.They are great insurance and they will give you a list of local pediatricions that take the insurance. Don't wait to take your child to the doctor. It kind of sounds like whooping cough...which is a bad illness. My daughter just got over a virius infection so I know how you feel. Hope your son feels better....but like I said I would not wait and try this inusrance. You can find them on the internet and print out all the paper work you need to fill out and mail off.

If you take your kids to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way they have a program that will pay for all your medical needs except the doctor fee! Personaly I would take them about a year ago my two year old had the same problem, like you we tried everything but nothing seemed to work. We finally took her in when she became lethargic and ended staying in the hospital for a week and was diagnost with asthma!

I totally agree with Jaci D. Also, one of my children had those symptoms and it turned out to be asthmatic related. Just keep an eye on them. Good luck!

Sometimes they get the cough from the post nasal drip. Maybe try some allergy medicine, that has worked for me.

In reference to insurance have you looked into Healthy Families? It covers your children but not you.

try a vaporizor maybe sometimes this helps.. my son has asthma and for the longest time I thought that he was sick, however took him in and he has asthma.. have you tried signing up for healthly families it is like 12.00 a month and covers the kids only and 5.00 co pays.. 5.00 scripts too... you should try the website and check it out might be an option for you.. also try steam in the bathroom seems to clear my son up too,, I take a steaming hot shower while he plays with his cars on the carpet.. helps.. hope they feel better

good and bad news its goin around I have insurance didn't take my daughter to docter but she is fine now it goes in stages don't be suprised at a sore throat also it took my daughter about 2 weeks(thats the bad part) Vicks (make it a massage when you put it on it will relax him and sing if you guys do lullabys) and lots of vitamin C orange juice what ever he will get better

My 2 yr old had same symptoms, dry cough & runny nose. The "cold" went into croup and went downhill from there. Medicine, humidifier, cold air,rubs none of these worked 2 trips to the hospital. After 3 months and much frustration with the on and off sickness and the last visit to the hospital on Christmas Eve, while at the hospital he had x-rays taken. He had pre-pnemonia. They treated him with a breathing treatment We changed dr's and the dr now tells us he has asthma(induced by excercise). He has been on a nebulizer w/albuterol(dr recomended only use as needed) on and off and we have had far less flare ups with the runny nose and coughs. He also may have allergies, try over the counter Benedryl?