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Original poster

PLEASE help me stop my boy coughing

94 replies

Sparklydiplodocus · 12/01/2022 21:55

My boy is really unwell. He’s been put on steroids and antibiotics. He cannot stop coughing for a single minute. I’ve tried honey, elevating his pillows, vicks on his feet, everything. HELP!!!

OP posts:
smartiecake · 12/01/2022 22:36

Call 111 if he is coughing so hard he is retching. Steroids usually work pretty quick. Sounds like he needs to see someone tonight

SeththeSloth · 12/01/2022 22:37

Having had similar myself as a child, I found a warm, not too hot, hot water bottle on my chest often helped.

mochachocochino · 12/01/2022 22:38

Try a wet flannel, tea towel or towel in the room to help keep the air moist.

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Elliejane · 12/01/2022 22:41

Outside cold air sometimes helps if croup
If in any doubt a&e

SnugKnights · 12/01/2022 22:41

I’d be going to A&E OP if he’s retching and constantly starts coughing again. I think he needs to be seen, 6 hour call back from 111 is no good.

Original poster
Sparklydiplodocus · 12/01/2022 22:41

Not sure whether to take him to a&e. He has been constantly retching for hours

OP posts:
RenGreen · 12/01/2022 22:41

I think go to hosptial OP. I would be worried having had a child in hosptial myself with a similar issue. Do you have anything to monitor his oxygen levels?

thaegumathteth · 12/01/2022 22:42

Is he able to do a peak flow? I know it's almost impossible when they have a cough.

Ds had a cough like this and it was whooping cough , he wasn't unwell in himself with a fever or anything it was 'just' this awful cough

thaegumathteth · 12/01/2022 22:43

Do you have a oximetre? Or might a neighbour? I know it seems unlikely but quite a few bought one at lockdown.

WhatToDoNoww · 12/01/2022 22:44

@Sparklydiplodocus

Not sure whether to take him to a&e. He has been constantly retching for hours
Apply vicks very generously on the bottom & top of his feet, including between his toes.. Rub it in & then put socks on. Trust me this had worked wonders for my DS. Hope it works for yours too. Please please please try it. Sending him get well soon wishes
SeththeSloth · 12/01/2022 22:45

Given he’s asthmatic and sounds like he’s been struggling for several hours, I think you should you get him checked out at a hospital. I’m sure they’d rather see him than leave him like that.

RaisinforBeing · 12/01/2022 22:46

My child gets like this we have rescue oral steroids (dexamethasone) for this. Neither Ventolin or Prednisolone have any effect on him. The Dexameth calms his cough within 30 mins. Before we had this at home we were frequently at A&E.

JanuaryBluehoo · 12/01/2022 22:48

Sounds like a and e.
It's exhausting aside from anything else poor kid.

Original poster
Sparklydiplodocus · 12/01/2022 22:48

Oximeter says 96 on oxygen levels but he is still constantly retching.

Think we will have to go to a&e

OP posts:
SnugKnights · 12/01/2022 22:48

Please do take him to A&E OP they will be happy to see any child with asthma who has been coughing for hours. I hope they get him sorted quickly and you can all get some sleep, he must be exhausted the poor lad.

Dmsandfloatydress · 12/01/2022 22:49

A and E . They will give dexemethazole. Just call and ambulance. Its what I had to do with my 5 year old in the same situation .

Xiaoxiong · 12/01/2022 22:50

Did the antihistamine help? When this happens to DS1 (also diagnosed asthmatic) it's often an allergic reaction, and the dry air from central heating doesn't help. We have had to go to A&E for dexamethasone before when he was younger and would get croup and bronchiolitis basically every winter. We start the preventer puffer every night religiously from October half term nowadays.

namechangerqwerty · 12/01/2022 22:51

A&E.
Sounds to me like an asthma attack.
Well wishes to him.

Sideswiped · 12/01/2022 22:51

Yy, A&E, OP. He needs help.

Xiaoxiong · 12/01/2022 22:51

Oh and they were always very happy to see us at A&E and told us we did the right thing to come, even with a cough half as bad as it sounds like your DS's is. Good luck and hope he feels better soon!

Eloisedublin123 · 12/01/2022 22:52

Def A and E 💖

Pinkstegosaurus · 12/01/2022 22:53

My husband is severely asthmatic and my oldest dd has had breathing troubles recently so I have a little experience.
Is his stomach sucking in under his ribs? Does he have a dip when he breathes in at the bottom of his throat? Either of these and I’d be straight to a&e and keep giving the blue inhaler. If not and he’s still retching and I’d still be on to 111 for advice.
For the poster that asked about dairy - I’ve also heard about a link with dairy and asthma and also eczema - my personal experience is that my daughter has an aversion to dairy and eggs, no reaction beyond quite a visceral retching when any of those are in her mouth (without her knowledge of what they are) so I’ve substituted goats cheese, milk and then soy products where I can and it did improve her skin. I have no idea how this will pan out in the long run, I give her calcium supplements so she doesn’t go without but it does seem to be a thing.

Toasterandjam · 12/01/2022 22:54

Hope you've taken him to a n e and didnt have too long to wait.

SonicBroom · 12/01/2022 22:56

Good luck op, you’re doing the right thing

JanuaryBluehoo · 12/01/2022 22:57

My dd has mild asthma and is coughing too I've literally just rubbed her feet and given blue inhaler but touch wood it's not that bad at the moment but she's had this cough for bloody ages!!