cough, cough, cough, cough,........ cough cough COUGH!

[colditz]

Is all I have heard from ds (2.9) for nearly 2 weeks.

I took him to the doctor, who had a listen, said "no infection" and prescribed him a ventolin inhaler! Which has made no discernable differance.

The coughing is waking him up at night, he is waking up asking for medicine, then staying awake for 2 or 3 hours, shouting, jumping, playing, demanding breakfast (at 3 am? No chance pal!) and of course, coughing.

I have tried Tixylix, Tixylix night time, and Venos. Nothing is helping, we are all so tired! I tried steaming the cough, but the minute we left the bathroom it came back.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have sent him to playschool because he is not flipping ill, just this awful non stop cough!

[Rhubarb]

Bowl of steaming hot water under his bed with 2 drops of Eucalyptus in it. Tilt his bed so that he is not lying flat and give him warm orange juice with honey in it to soothe his throat last thing at night.

[Enid]

I have a terrible hacking cough too colditz

and dd2 has had it

no antibiotics needed apparently, just time and lots of hot drinks. Cough mixture doesnt touch it.

Sorry its a waiting game I am afraid. According to my gp kids can have it for 3 weeks.

[mummytosteven]

There is an awful bug going round that leaves you with a cough for 4 - 6 weeks afterwards, so might just be that. sympathies. All I can really suggest is give him lots of fluids, say something with honey and lemon to try and soothe things a bit.

[Flossam]

DS has a slight one. He sounds like Dart Vadar!! Thankfully dosen't look like him though.

[oliveoil]

I started a thread last week on this very subject. DD2 has been ill for weeks. Now dd1 is at it. Me as well.

All we need now is for dh to get A Man Cough and we will be doomed.

Cot is propped up, Olbas Oil everywhere etc etc. doc gave us a prescription for cough medicine but it tastes foul and has to be administered victorian style (ie pin them down and squirt it in).

[colditz]

Yes, he has had a nasty cold, but that was about 2 weeks ago. I have never known a cough to go on this long, I didn''t realise it was possible without an infection being present.

Should I keep giving him the inhaler? Dp is asthmatic, and we are quite an allergic family so it is a possibility, but he has never shown any symptoms before.

[Enid]

they give the inhaler to stop the cough reflex I think rather than any asthma thing

[throckenholt]

try hanging a damp cloth up in his room over night - that will help to keep the humidity levels up.

If the inhaler is not helping then it is not worth using. DH always has a lingering cough after a cold - has for years - and was given an inhaler last year - sometimes it helps - someimtes not.

[colditz]

Thanks for all your tips - I have never had to deal with a nasty cough before!