Ds is coughing virtually all the time but not I’ll... would out of hours doctor see him?

[Inbedbynine]

He’s 13 and asthmatic. Takes seretide and asthma is under control. He had a cough and fever end of January but got better in half term. However this week he’s coughing again but has been at school. Today he is fine in himself, not ‘ill’ but is coughing probably every 30 seconds to a minute. Iv given him honey and lemon and it hasn’t done anything. He’s had his ventolin but hasn’t stopped the coughing. He has HFA so not great with being aware, iv just asked if his chest hurts and he said yes a bit. Would out of hours let us see a doctor or will they say wait until Monday as he’s not ‘ill’. He’s not out an about in the cold, just playing on the computer but ok in himself?

If I ring 111 will they decide if a doctors apt is necessary?

I would get him checked and yes ring 111.

Or whatever the proper number is... nhs direct or out of hours

My similar age dd has asthma. In this situation i would definitely get her checked. One of the worst attacks she's had was when she didn't seem wheezy but coughed and coughed and couldn't clear her chest.
She was very ill that time.

Thanks. Just got off phone to 111. Took all infor, we’re going to pass me to a ‘clinician or paramedic’ for advise but no one available and will call me back......

Has he ever had an echocardiogram done? Some specific cardiac issues get misdiagnosed as asthma.

I do think he needs Prednisone the more I watch him. Haven’t had it for few years as hasn’t had chest infection for a few years.

No he’s not had any kind of check on his heart.

Do you have a peak flow meter? It's a good idea to get to know his normal range so that when he's unwell you can check whether his peak flow is down and by how much.

No I don’t have a peak flow here. I know that when he has his annual review they were impressed how high his was being an asthmatic.

They’ve said he needs to be seen within the next 24 hours so awaiting a call. Just hoping it’s not at midnight!

Still no phone call! Chased them up but 111 couldn’t tell me how long we would wait....will chase again soon when Iv had my coffee! He still seems ok today....

just take him to a&e

font mess around with asthma

He’s not ill so I don’t think it warrants a&e. He’s just playing on the computer. He’s breathing fine just coughing a lot. Being autistic I can’t ferry him over to the hospital (about 25 miles away) and sit for hours surrounded by people unless it was an actual emergency. The out of hours is held at our own doctor surgery 2 minutes away. If he was having an asthma attack or struggling to breathe of course I’d go a&e route.