Upper Respiratory Infection, Week on Meds, Cough Getting Worse!!

My 5 year old has gone through 2 of those types of colds since school started. Both lasted 6-8 weeks! In addition to antibiotics he was also given an inhaler. The doctor explained it's not necessarily asthma but that it's normal every few years or so for a child to get a cold where the phlegm gets too far down for them to cough it all up. Also, we have been using an antihistamine to dry up his nose (the decongestant used in kids cold medicines these days is not very strong or effective)
So, anyway, there may be more that can be done. It's worth the appointment.

It may have progressed to pneumonia (and the phlegm isn't from his stomach, but his lungs. Progressing from upper to lower respiratory can happen reeeeally quickly, like in the course of a few hours, so his lungs may have been perfectly clear and now they're all full up)... or he may just need a different antibiotic. Many kinds of bacteria are either resistant or not affected much by certain antibiotics. So one med will barely touch an infection, while another will have it whomped in 2 days. It just totally depends on the bacteria AND the strain of bacteria.

Head on back.

And in the meantime, you might give the 24/7 nurseline a ring. ABSOLUTELY call them if you hear any kind of wheezing, crackling, or popping. Put your ear to his chest and back. If you DO hear those things, they'll send you to the ER tonight (that's what pneumonia sounds like). DO call them, though. They'll run through a phone triage with you (breaths per minute, pulse, etc.) and then let you know whether to go in tonight to the ER, make an emergency appt with your Ped for in the morning, or just a regular appt. Most hospitals have 24/7 nurse advice lines.

After the vomiting yes take him back. But also realize that when he's coughing it up its going from his lungs and respiratory system to his belly which will just be digested and eventually sent out of his body. That is a good thing. But to be sure take him back to the doctor b/c just to check and for your own piece of mind.

Sounds like what has been going around here. I do know that it has taken some people 2 rounds of antibiotics along with a short dose of steroids. (I don't know if they would do steroids with your son.) I managed with the steroids (4 days worth) and a z-pack of antibiotics. The cough though did get alot worse before it got better - especially at night. What I did that helped was take Benedryl. It helped dry up the drainage that was causing the coughing. You might talk to the nurse at your doctors office and she what she thinks.

asthma!!! thats how my daughter gets when shes sick and shes asthmatic. also you dont always wheeze as a child with asthma (my daughter has only wheezed once1)

T., I'd take him back in and ask if he needs some steroids. Throwing up phlegm is something I'd take seriously. The doctor might want to break the cycle with some short term steroids. He also might need a breathing treatment to help his bronchial tubes. I would ask the doc about this.

Hope he gets better quickly - poor guy!
Dawn

I definitely would call the Dr right away after that vomiting incident. 16months probably is too young for the following treatment but you might want to ask your Dr about it. I was coughing severely for about 4 months before I tried this mustard plaster (I was desperate and no antibiotics worked). Much to my surprise the plaster worked in just a couple days. Do ask your Dr first though. The mustard definitely drew out the mucus from my lungs.

Mix 1tsp of dry mustard with 2tbsp of flour. Add enough water to make a paste. Put the paste on a dish towel that has been folded over. Fold the other edge over the town so that two layers are between the plaster and skin. Place the towel over your breast bone and put a heating pad on low heat on top. Lie in bed with the plaster and heating pad for at least 30 min but preferably up to an hour.

To clean the towel, peel the plaster off after it has dried enough to be lifted off the fabric (but not totally dry).

I just saw your post and I know it was week ago and at this point I hope that your son is feeling better. My son - just before Christmas came down with a cold. It started on Sunday (12/11) and he was
getting worse by Wednesday (12/14) - I took him to the Doc and she sees an ear infection - every thing else is fine -lungs are clear -nose and throat look good. So we start the antibiotics right away and all is good. Friday (12/16) - he starts to get a cough so I figured the ear is draining and causing this 'post nasal' like drip irritation and just shrug it off. Now all this time - he has had a slight fever and irritability but again I shrug it off to the ear infection. Sunday (12/18) - we had a birthday party for him. All was good all day but at the end of the day he looked really bad. That night he had coughing similar to your son where he ending up vomiting from all the phlegm. I called the doc and she said to bring him in 1st thing in the morning. As soon as I got to the office the next morning - she immediately sent me to the ER - Pneumonia - I was shocked!!!! We were in the hospital from 12/19 – 12/22 with IV antibiotics and steroids to help him get over this. The hospital was filled with many children but while I was there I met 3 other parents all there for the same reason. I have never seen that many children before with pneumonia. I have spent a lot of time in the hospital with my son over the past 4 years due to other medical issues but haven never seen many kids with pneumonia…be careful!

I don't have any advice for you but I will tell you that this is the same story that has happened to MANY people around us in the last couple of months and to my 6-year-old daughter as well. She ended up coughing for 2 months until it finally went away on its own. She, too, finished an entire round of antibiotics (which I rarely give) and they did nothing. It may just need to run its course.

I would take back and if possible and I know this will sound gross....take a sample of the phlegm with you... They can change to stronger antibiotics, put on inhaler (steriods) for a few days or maybe since so young give a nebulizer treatment, which I suffer from asthma and mine is FLARING right now with all the cold weather here in NEPA and I've had to go onto an extra inhaler for a short time to try and get lungs cleared up. Try taking into bathroom and sti with son on floor or you hold him in chair whatever, while you have HOT shower running and the steam will also help loosen things. My grandma would tell you to put vicks on his feet and then socks before bed, and I do that myself or with my girls, but they are all older than 16 mths. They can also give you a cough syrup type medicine that will loosen the phlegm and help it release easier and not be so thick. Hope all goes well. God Bless.