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Children's health

Advice re: dry cough

9 replies

SingleMum01 · 21/10/2009 14:01

My DS has had a dry cough, started Sun night. As a result isn't sleeping as its keeping him awake. Is okay in himself, although a bit under the weather and not eating. Any advice on what I can do to help, feel helpless.

Given him Tixylix dry cough medicine, keeping room/house cool, got humidifier on him. Anything else I can do?

I'm worried in case it goes into croup which he gets sometimes and then has to have steroids.

Expecting another rough night.

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Twinsmommy · 21/10/2009 15:36

Hi there SingleMum01:

Yes, you can raise his mattress at the head-end by placing a pillow under it so that he is sleeping just that little bit more upright rather than completely flat. Works wonders for a cough!

And if it's a dry cough (and he is mouth-breathing) then keeping the room cool and him breathing cool air will trigger the cough even more, so if possible, I would warm the room rather than cool it.

Does he have an asthma inhaler? If so, you could give him a couple of puffs of that also - just to try and expand his airway a bit more while he has the cough.

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SingleMum01 · 21/10/2009 17:27

Thanks Twinsmommy, forgot about the pillow tip. Used to do that when he was a baby. I'll warm his room up a bit. He's not asthmatic so doesn't have an inhaler.

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SingleMum01 · 21/10/2009 19:20

bump - any other advice?

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Twinsmommy · 22/10/2009 13:10

Was last night any better for your DS? Hope you all managed to get some sleep.

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SingleMum01 · 22/10/2009 13:16

Thanks Twinsmommy. Hoorah, he stayed in his own bed and we got sleep! Gone to school today, now a chesty cough, but dosed up. Fingers crossed that it wasn't a one off and we get sleep again!

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Twinsmommy · 22/10/2009 15:00

Great news! I know - it's anything that works when it gets round to bedtime! Am so pleased you all managed to get some rest. Now, for chesty coughs........ Only kidding!

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SingleMum01 · 22/10/2009 19:43

That time again - wonder how tonight will go. Can cope with chesty coughs, they usually end up with sick (spare duvets at the ready) Its dry coughs I worry about as it can end up with croup and I can cope with just about anything, but worry like hell when DS can't breath easy.

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Twinsmommy · 23/10/2009 12:01

I know exactly what you mean. One of my DSs has an asthma inhaler, and every cold he gets goes straight to his chest. Terrifying. Hope your DS gets better soon.

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SingleMum01 · 24/10/2009 19:36

Fingers crossed, had 2 nights sleep now. Still coughing a bit, but seems to be on the mend. I have a sore throat today