4yr old with all-night coughing

[nickytwotimes]

any suggestions?

he has a cold, but is well.

driving us all batty hacking away all night.

you can get foof all for under 6s now.

[LoveBeingADaddysGirl]

Tell me about it dd who is not yet 3 has it also!

[Theyremybiscuits]

Same here. She's 4, is off her food, drinking ok thank goodness and seems ok.

But cough cough cough...

Are there alot of nasties going round?

[nickytwotimes]

yes, standarrd december nasties.

i HATE coughs

[watercress]

Does it happen a lot with him? If so, could be asthma (sorry).

If not, dry or chesty cough? If dry, try glycerin, lemon and honey type cough linctus, and make sure he's getting plenty of water and his bedroom isn't too dry at night (a bowl of water on top of a radiator can really help). If chesty, what colour is the sputum? If green or yellow, he's got an infection and needs antibiotics. If colourless or whitish, try a menthol rub on his chest, back and neck, and again plenty of fluids and avoid too dry air in the room at night.

Also, try a thicker pillow at night - raising the head can help mucus (nose and chest) drain and prevent a cough.

HTH.

[nickytwotimes]

ta.

def tickly. tried linctus, etc to no avail. no indications of an infection.

he is (touch wood) rarely ill - just gets the odd cold which mkes him cough like hell in the winter. maybe 2 weeks out the whole year, so no worries there thankfully!

[watercress]

It could be post-nasal drip. Nose runs during the day when they're upright, but once they lie down it drips onto the back of the throat making them cough.

Sound likely?

If so, try a vapour rub on front, back and neck, and a tiny dab under the nose. Encourage him to sleep on his front or side if you can, otherwise raise the head of the bed by slipping a cushion under the mattress. Saline nose drops can help as well.

I'm a pharmacist and mum of two, by the way, so I do vaguely know what I'm talking about!