My son (16 months) and I have had a cold for almost a week, it is definitely getting better. I know I feel much better, just a nagging cough that is hanging on. My son seems to be the same way. He is playing, laughing, climbing on stuff today. Seems to be feeling fine, except for the nagging cough. It's not a constant cough, or even every few minutes. We might go half an hour or an hour between coughing fits. Anyway, last night was middle school orientation for my older daughter and we had arranged for my mother to watch the baby so we could concentrate on the information we were receiving. Well, she called as soon as we sat down there saying he is "so sick" and that she wasn't comfortable being alone with him and that he has bronchitis. So my husband had to leave the orientation and go home, which he is not happy about. She is not a doctor. Anytime she hears anyone have any kind of a wet cough, it is automatically bronchitis in her eyes. She insists he needs to go to the doctor. There has been no fever. If he had a fever, I wouldn't hesitate to take him to the doctor. If we had insurance, I would go ahead and take him to the doctor just to show her he is ok. But with no insurance, a doctor visit is well over $100 and we really don't have that right now. What do you think? Would you take your child to the doctor for a cough?
I decided not to take him to the doctor. But I did call the doctor's office and spoke with one of the nurses there. I explained to her about the coughing and everything and she told me what kind of cough medicine I could give him and how much. Hopefully the cough will be gone soon. Thanks for all your help, ladies.
That is entirely up to you. But as for me - if it's just been a week and he has no fever and is playing & eating good - no I would not take mine in. I know allergies are absolutely horrible this year and I and my son have both been having coughing fits just due to the drainage. It it has been a couple of weeks and things were worse or not gotten better then I would take him in.
No, given all this information, I wouldn't take him in. Coughs take time to work themselves out and it sounds like he's doing much better. Coughing every half hour doesn't worry me, especially like you said he doesn't have a fever.
If your mom keeps insisting on it, tell her you'll take him if she's going to foot the bill. That might be enough for her to shut her mouth. Also, have you looked into a free public insurance for your son? My state has a program that covers kids up to age two. Since my son is on that we also qualify for WIC. I know every state is different though. Good luck :)
Considering that it's been less than a week since the cold started, and he doesn't have a fever and seems to be feeling fine, I would probably give it a bit more time before going to the doctor. A cough can linger for 2-3 weeks after a cold, but if that's the only symptom, it's usually just the last remnants of the virus and you have to wait it out - there's not much that a doctor can do for it. If he starts to feel worse again, then do take him in.
If its the same thing hub and I just had that cough last FOREVER. And it's like you said, you can be fine for hours and then have a cough attack that last 5 or 10 minutes. I did finally go to the doc during my 3rd week of it and he said it was just the cold and didnt give me anything for it cept for the normal doc orders for cold and cough. Your instincts are probably right on.
Nah, no fever and just an occasional cough - I would not take mine in.
i think your instincts are correct. i'd be treating him at home too.
khairete
S.
It may sound horrible and horrendous, but without a fever or other serious signs, it's actually good to cough. You don't want anything having a chance to settle in the chest. That can lead to pneumonia.
A cold swept through our office like wildfire and people sounded like barking seals well after the other symptoms had subsided. The cough really lingered.
I hope you're both feeling fabulous soon!
I would try benadryl first to dry up the cough. Check with the nurse at your pediatrician's office first (if you call them they can OK this over the phone). This is usually what the recommend for my kids with a nagging cough - it's probably post-nasal drip. Once you dry up whatever is still lingering in the sinuses, the cough will stop. If that didn't work, then I would bring him in after whatever period your doctor's office recommends. At my pediatrician, it's a couple of weeks of just coughing (no other symptoms) before they say bring the child in. With the common cold, the cough usually lingers for 10 days.
ETA: just read that it's been less than a week - definitely just let it work its way out. After a couple of weeks, that's when we try something like Benadryl to get rid of the last remnants that are hanging around. But right now, it's the body's way of expelling the virus.
For me it really depends--but every time I've brought my boys in for a cough its usually one that has lasted longer than a month. A week with no other symptoms absolutely not! Everytime I bring them in for an ear check I'm always reminded the cough can last up to 3-4 weeks after a cold. With my kids the cough does NOT go away until the nasal drainage stops. My 2 yr old that equates to about 2 weeks. My oldest I always need meds to dry him up and that can easily take upwards of 3-4 weeks. However since I've gotten him on a nasal allergy spray we actually haven't had any coughs or congestion for over 4 months! So would I take your son in probably not...
