Bad Cough - Midlothian,IL

Everytime my son went in for his shots he always got really sick afterwords. He got a bad cough, fever, he would throw up and not eat or drink anything... it was terrible. What i did though, was make him drink as much fluids as i could, tylenol as needed, a vaporizor in his bedroom and like Chris said, propping his pillow at night helped him breathe a lot better. What you can do if none of this is working, is ask the doctor to prescribe an Aubeterol Inhaler. It will open up the air way and make breathing a lot eaiser. The doctors always told me that my sons lungs sounded clear too, but they still gave him an inhaler, now everytime he goes for shots, i give him tylenol and his inhaler right before hand, and continue it for about a week after word just to be safe, and he's fine.

I've gotten my kids shots with everything short of a fever. They weathered it ok. The cough part of a cold can last up to four weeks. It's the longest and last symptom to go. For the cough you might try a saline nose spray, that sometimes helps. You might, if it's disturbing sleep, ask the doctor about giving some Delsym.

They just came out with a study that said that cough and cold medicine for infants does more harm than good. So unless your doctor prescribes something don't give the baby anything over the counter except infant tylenol(or motrin for a fever).The cold mist humidifier is what they recommend. Good luck !

I had the same thing a month ago - my dughter did get the shots (she had no fever)... I basically keep the humidifier on in her room all the time (I find myself constantly filling the thing - twice a day basically). She was waking up a lot at night since it wasn't really draining down (since they can't sleep on a pillow propped up) so this was difficult. it ran its course - just LOTs of long nights for us. During the day keep her propped up in her swing/boppy - whatever works. Maybe even have her nap on a boppy so that it drains. It took a good 3 weeks, & I was worried too - but the Dr was right - just needed to run its course. Get sleep when you can!

T.:

My daughter had a cough right before her two month shots. We went to the doctor about 1 1/2 weeks prior to her 2 month shots, saw the doctor - who said basically the same as your doctor - nothing to do really - just let it run it's course - maybe use a little steam, a humidifier and monitor the situation. We were due to go back for a check-up on the cough a week later and shots 3 days after that, but we combined both appointments - shots and follow-up on the cough with no repercussions.

Hi T.,

You should be concerned. I personally would not allow my children to have their shots if they have any form of sickness. Shots can always be postponed. You have to be comfortable with the decisions you make for your children. Follow your gut...

K. - SAHM of two toddler girls.

Coincidentally, my daughter is currently having the same problem. She is five years old and has inherited my bronchitis and my husband's asthma. She doesn't have them completely, but she's in the early stages. I have been giving her Robitussin Cough Long-Acting (...a tiny drop,if your skeptical)and lot's of water, because her cough has been waking her up through the night. This all started with a cold and the cough just seems to linger. Try it and I hope it works!

I would postpone the shots. It does not hurt anything to wait. I always want my kids to be as healthy as possible before they have to fight off diseases they inject into them!
J.

My son got his nine months shots a week after a bad cold that had to run its course. The cough was still lingering though. The doctor had me steam him in the bathroom when the shower was running, run the humidifier. I used the baby saline drops in his nose with the aspirator to help him breathe better, and I was told to prop his mattress with a pillow under it to keep him elevated. The cough got better with time, and getting the shots didn't aggrevate anything. Your daughter should be fine to get her shots with a cough. Ultimately, do what you feel is best though. I had seen that my son never reacted to his shots negatively, with a fever or crankiness so I felt he could get them and it would be fine. If you feel that wouldn't be the case and your daughter was a bit out of sorts after her two month shots, you may want to wait.