5 year old asthmatic, horrible lingering nighttime cough after a bug, any tips?

[poachedeggs]

I was so pleased that DS shook off last week's bug so quickly, and felt that this would be the first winter in 3 years without him getting completely exhausted from disrupted sleep.

The cough seemed to clear really quickly and was almost gone but has worsened over the last couple of days again and I've just had to wake him to give him ventolin because he's coughing so frequently.

He's getting 400mcg budesonide twice a day, with 1mg terbutaline first, through turbohalers, and he has a ventolin and mask spacer for use if he's struggling. He also has a steroid nasal spray to try and help his bunged up ENT system.

We weren't sure it was asthma until he started having attacks so I'm a bit clueless, but I'd be hugely grateful for any tips on helping him rest

[poachedeggs]

... as he's so tearful and emotional and his behaviour deteriorates dramatically when he's tired :(

[xigris]

Evening! Have you tried a humidifier in his bedroom? Also it might help to turn the radiators off or down as hot, dry air can really aggravate asthma / coughs. Doing both of these really helped DS2 (age 3).

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Oh bless him :(

My DS is asthmatic but much milder so I'm not sure what to recommend.

I know when I was a child and very asthmatic my parents used to put bowls of steaming water in my room to moisten the air. They are Drs but I don't know whether that is current good practice so I would wait and see what more knowledgeable people come and say.

I didn't want to read and run though, asthma is horrid :(

[Sunnywithshowers]

Your poor DS :( I hope he feels better soon.

I have a humidifier in my bedroom for when my asthma gets particularly bad - it might be worth a try? [Disclaimer: I don't have kids so check with the doc / some parents first]

[xigris]

Ali, yes, humidification is still current practice in respiratory problems so your parent's method is still good to go!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

xigris - ok that is good to know incase DS1 (or 2) ever have a bad night, thanks :)

[ozymandiusking]

If your son is still coughing badly, he may need a course of oral steroids.
I suffer from asthma, and when I have a cold, it always ends up affecting my chest, and I cough cough all the time,it is extremely tiring.
take him to the Drs. and talk to them again.

[poachedeggs]

Ok, I can do that. There's a problem with mould in the house due to condensation so to try and counter that I've got a dehumidifier. Although I only use it in very cold weather when the windows are running wet. I'll use that less and I try to keep the room cooler, although provided I check them after DH the heater is turned down very low!

He's stopped coughing so the inhaler has obviously helped.

Thank you, I will put a bowl of water in there.

[poachedeggs]

His cough is not bad in the daytime, maybe one or twice an hour at the most, usually just with a change of air. It's just so frequent at night :(. If it's not improving I'll see the GP or nurse again through the week though.

Thank you

[Sirzy]

Ds is 3 and has asthma, we have now been told to give ventolin as standard before bed with his other medication. He has 4 puffs a night and it generally helps. Perhaps just while he recovers try to give him the ventolin at bedtime to see I'd that helps?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Is it a rented house? Is there anything you can do to improve the ventilation or anything?

Are you giving him ventolin before bed? I give my eldest 4 puffs before bedtime when he has got a cold, and afterwards until the cough has really gone away. It seems to help him settle to sleep, and the better rest helps him get better faster.

[poachedeggs]

No, we own the house, but it's a combination of rubbish old windows and I can't always get the them every day (eg if we're all out at work and it's minus 5 it's damn cold and takes ages to heat up when we get in).

Having said that it would be worth freezing for a bit if his cough eased so we'll just have to suck it up.

[poachedeggs]

*get them open every day

[xigris]

Does he see an asthma nurse? (He should do). Might be worth getting an appointment with him / her

[Goldmandra]

Try covering the mattress, washing his bedding and PJs on a hot wash and getting him a new pillow. He may just be a bit more sensitive to the mould spores and dust mites because of the bug.

[smogwod]

definitely see what you can do to improve the damp in the house. My 4yo always used to suffer like this with long lingering coughs after every tiny cold. she's improved dramatically since we moved out of our old damp Victorian house, her old bedroom was the worst in the house tho

[DystopianReality]

Mould won't make his asthma worse unless he is allergic to Aspergillus (the specific allergen in the mould). Most people's asthma is caused by the house dust mite.

I would take him back to doctor or asthma nurse; He most probably needs a short (3 day) course of oral steroids, Prednisilone. His cough does not need to be bad in the daytime to justify this and you will see his night time cough melt away. Happy airways, happy boy.

Just to be clear.. if these coughs go on and on untreated, the airways start to build up scar tissue (it's called 'remodelled airways). Over years, this starts to present like smoker's copd/Emphysema which is an irreversible airways obstruction as opposed to asthma which is a reversible airways obstruction. So don't be too steroid phobic.. they really will sort out the cough and there is no evidence that short, infrequent courses of oral steroids have an effect on growth or any other side effects. Hope this helps.