Need Advice Regarding My 4 Year Old Chronic Cougher

have you had him tested for allergies or asthma?
My son is also in the same boat, and singular has
made a big difference.

L.,
I would talk to your doctor about recommending an allergist. I have a 7 yr old son, 5 yr old daughter and a 9 month old daughter and they all have alleriges. My son has mostly food allergies, but the girls seem to have the environmental allergies. As soon as there is a little warm up in the weather the girls are coughing away. My older daughter is on Singulair which seems to help. Also we have had luck with Triaminic Cold & Allergy (the orange one). for the baby Benedryl seems to help.
I would definatley see an allergist. If you have your son tested for allergies you might have a better idea what is causing the cough. I know that when I was a child I had the same problems. My mom had me tested and it turned out that I was allergic to house plants and just about everything else that grew. My mom got rid of the plants and there was a big difference. At your son's age allergy testing is usually done by drawing blood or a scratch test on the back. My older daughter had the scratch test done when she was three and she had noproblems or discomfort from it. Once you know what he is allergic to you will be able to try to avoid it and you may not need any medicine to treat him.
Good Luck
C.

hi my name is L. and i have a seven month old who started the same thing three months ago. i know how hard it is to not be able to give him anything. i grew up having the same thing it's broncile ashma. i would get him checked for that if have not already. they diogonsed my son with at four monthshe now uses a nebulizer every time he gets sick and it does really help. sorry if this does not help you but i do no how you feel. its so hard to sit back and let them be sick.

Natural lemon tea with honey helps alot. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon, boil 1 cup of water. As water is boiling, squeeze the juice from lemon into cup and add 1 tablespoon honey. Mix thoroughly and add boiling water. Give it a taste, add more honey if it is too tart. Give as hot as baby can handle. Vicks Vaporub on the chest and throat helps too. Not too much...a dab, the size of a nickel spread throughout his chest and then properly covered up by a sweatshirt works wonders. Personal inhaler/humidifier. Let him breathe in the warmth and have him take it easy for a bit. What does your pediatrician say? I have two asthmatics in the house and they sometimes cough too. You might want to discuss this with your pediatrician. GOOD LUCK!

Hi L.! My 7 yr old used to be a cougher as well, until someone gave me a little trick to do! Put your son to bed w/ a warm air vaporizer... And then (don't laugh) spread a thin coating of vicks on the bottom of his feet and cover with socks! This works so well, I even use it when I have a cough! Prop him up in bed, and he should have a good nights sleep.. I don't know why the vicks on the bottom of the feet work so well, but it does (I also spread vicks on his chest, neck and back as well) I am not saying the cough will disappear but if he is anything like my son, night time coughing is the worst!
GOOD LUCK!

L., What does your doctor say, that is the first person who should be concerned. My experience with my daughters was they had an allergy and also were diagnosed with asthma. My oldest (soon to be 20) was diagnosed at 2. She also had a chronic cough, got croup a lot and that was her diagnosis. My girls are 15 and 20 and they've had it all their lives (my husband has it) but they are fine. They are not on inhalers all the time, I wouldn't allow them to become dependent, just use it when they need it and be respectful of it and learn their triggers and symptoms. Certain allergens can produce the cough. My pediatricians were great to work with, if yours are not good with breathing related issues, such as asthma, find a good doctor to work with. Good Luck, N.

Have you thought that it may be allerigies? Seasonal or food?

Hi L. :)

I have a son who is three that is in the same situation. Talk to your pediatrician first and he/she may reccomend you see an allergist and also an ENT (Ear Nose Throat doc). My son is going through testing now - it takes a few months to get through. He gets croup once a month in the winter and once or twice a summer. He has been allergy tested and is allergic to dust mites and dogs. He also had a sleep study done as well as a bunch of other tests. We are still waiting on answers so I am not sure of the outcome. I know that removal of his tonsils and adnoids is being considered. They currently have him on Singulair, Axcid (in case this is caused by acid reflux which is common in children) and a nebulizer. Since being on the medications he has still gotten croup twice BUT not nearly as severe as he used to (We used to have to go to the ER with him every time but now can give him a steriod in the nebulizer that helps). The docs told me that it could be his tonsils and adnoids or just that his opening in his throat is smaller than normal. He was born premature so this may also be part of the problem according to the ENT.

Please email me if you would like to talk further - or if you have any questions.

My four year old is the same way, she always seems to catch colds easier than other children and she gets the croup frequently. We found out that her coughing was contributed to the fact that she had fluid in her ears. We were against putting tubes in her ears initially so we went to see a homeopathic in Morristown who helped get rid of her cough however the fluid never drained properly. When we took her to the specialist he told us after he hearing test that her hearing has since diminished 10% on the right and 20% on the left and that's when we decided it was time for the tubes. Currently, one tube fell out and the other is clogged with ear wax so the fluid has returned therefore her cough has come back as well. We have not been seeing the homeopath because she was well however we are now returning to her for some guidance. I also do a lot of herbal supplements in times when I know she is coming down with something or when she will be or has been exposed to a lot germs. My dr. is not opposed to my methods, he knows I prefer not to give her a lot of medicine. You can go to your local health food store and generally the person will know how to steer you in the right way with supplements (ie echinacae/goldenseal, vitamin c). Every child is different and I know I don't like to leave any stones unturned when dealing with our daughter. So that's why I tend to try alternative methods. Good luck!

My son has cough variant asthma. It is quite a bit different then the regular type people think of. I agree that is may be allergies too. I see that you said that you use honey.It is very important to use local honey because it has the pollen from local trees and flowers. You also should not heat it up in the microwave, I read that it could change the way it works. Meaning lesson the benifits of taking it.

I would take him'her to a different DR and see what they say. You could have 100% faith in your DR., but they are people too and may over look something, because the more common thing gets into their heads first. It can't hurt. Maybe he has a low resistance to fighting off infections that could be controaled or corrected. A second oppinion is thewayI think you should go. Don't tell him too much of what the other DR. says until he asks. Then tell him what you feel he wants to know. Let him think it through on his/her own. A fresh mind is a good thing.

Hi L.,

My daughter is the same way. She is constantly coughing. We took her to a pediatric pulmonologist and she was diagnosed with asthma. She has been on Flovent ever since, which clears her airways and has really helped with the coughing. Your son may have allergies which could trigger the asthma. You should definitely see a specialist. They can do an x-ray to check the airways for blockage to see if that's what's causing the cough. I'm glad I did because I never even thought of asthma.

Take care...J.

L., sounds like a ALLERGY,
Not a cold, I would take him to an allergist,

the higher the thread count the better for dust mites , and replace his pillow ever 6 months,

Check his foods, nuts ,soy,wheat, eggs, dairy,FRUITs

All things that in moderation may not cause and immediate reaction, or have a delayed reaction.

I have a friend whom was asthmatic as a child, however her asthma was trigggered by food allergies , that her mother was not aware of.

TESTING is the BEST way to find out, and prepare.

ALSO Avoiding places where they might get sick,
Daycare, school, playgrounds,

if you attend these places regularly,

USE lysol spray on surfaces,
and gels and wipes that are Anti bacterial

before and after each event.

( when dropping him off at daycare you can wipe his hands with a wipe, and then use a wipe on his desk area, donate a can of lysol spray, and wipes for them to use)

Things like this are helpful.

Good luck

M

i don't know what your doctor has said, however, i have a 9 year old that had the same problems starting at 31/2. after many different diagnoses and treatments, 3years later,she was diagnosed with asthma. when she has those coughs that just won't go away, the only thing that works for her is a nebulizer.