Cough variant asthma - tell me it gets better!

[Itstheimplication]

DS is nearly three and was diagnosed with potential cough variant asthma earlier this year. We have a brown inhaler and a blue inhaler and do each twice a day morning and night. He also has montelukast granules before bed

things have improved significantly although the cough never fully goes but every single slight sniffle he gets turns into a cough and it’s horrendous overnight when he’s unwell.

I’ve got a humidifier, vicks, olbas oil, propped the cot but because he can’t blow his nose (can’t quite work out the mechanics) and because he swallows back the mucuous (we encourage him to spit but like a stubborn toddler he refuses) the cough seems to linger.

he also has coughing fits so bad he’s sick when he’s got a cold or infection.

i guess I’m just asking if it gets better as they get older and can blow their nose etc? Being felled by a cough when he has allergies in summer, due to the different temperatures when there’s air con etc, and then every sniffle or infection is so wearing for both of us.

My DS had CVA. Two inhalers. He grew out of it after 3 years or so.

All it took to get my DS to blow his
nose properly was his Auntie telling him to push it out of his nose. I think it helped that it wasn’t me trying not just that she was telling him to push instead of blow.

I have one with cough varient asthma and the inhalers did bring it into line after a few months. I wouldn't use Vicks though, it won't relieve the asthma cough and may irritate the airways.

You should push for allergy testing. I'm really surprised they haven't done it when he has eczema. He is bound to have some allergies which will be triggering both conditions, and if he doesn't then you won't need to do so much cleaning as dust mites won't be a problem....

At the very least he should have the skin prick tests for the eight most common allergens. It's painless and quick. My son's eczema radically improved once we found out what he was allergic to.

I find it very strange they won't test for allergies OP, when you say he's felled by a cough when he has allergies in summer?
Mine have allergic asthma, exercise induced asthma and their asthma always gets much worse with colds too. When they were younger it presented mostly as coughing, but wheezing is more apparent now. It was definitely worse when they were younger and the airways were narrower. It's improved a good bit now but they say it gets worse again in old age.

Hes 11 now and has totally grown out of his asthma, but will get wheezy as a result of an allergic reaction rather than being asthmatic.

I'm confused now@ImEasyLikeSundayMorning.
I was told mine had allergic asthma, but you say your lad "will get wheezy as a result of an allergic reaction rather than being asthmatic".
What's the difference?

DD has coughing asthma, she is 17 and is much improved now.

I found that anything menthol used to make her cough worse, such as the plug ins and olbas oil.

Have you got an asthma plan from GP/asthma nurse?

My daughter has this, though it suddenly popped up at age 4 after joining school. She has been on montelukast and nebs, the usual stuff But what really helps prevent the colds on a day to day basis is Snifflex by Creekside Naturals. It has a great natural composition but you must also supplement with D3 and Zinc alongside. As well as, probiotics, I was suggested this when I posted a similar question and it does seem to help. Try this regimen! It helps us a lot!

Even mine doesn't blow her nose at times and the coughing definitely increases, have to keep reminding. With eczema, you want to eliminate dairy and see whether this helps? We eliminate gluten

We tried eliminating dairy for the eczema made no difference. The thing that seems to trigger it is being hot and sweaty in the summer and then as soon as the weather changes in winter.

they said it’s not standard to refer for allergy tests unless there is clear evidence that there are allergies to something we’ve been unable to identify, apparently the eczema itself isn’t enough to warrant this as it’s very mild and because they’ve decided he has CVA it’s normal for him to get the cough triggered by hayfever in summer and colds etc in winter. This was when I asked about allergy tests.
becausr they can find a reason for things ie hayfever in summer, rather than an unknown food allergy for example they won’t refer and we can’t afford to go private.

Hello to everyone, am hoping to reignite this thread! OP how is your DC getting on now?? My 2 year old has a terrible cough induced by mild viral infections, doctor thinks asthma type thing and we have brown and blue inhalers and montelukast granules. Only been using for a fortnight after two courses of steroids within a month 🥴 I would love for him to be able to avoid steroids.

Mid 40s with the asthma cough, my attacks are long and slow. Currently in the midst of a virus so out comes the cough. It’s waring especially at this time of year.

I hope your son grows out of his.

Aw hope you're okay. It's a difficult time of year.

To the post reviver, I had the same as a child and outgrew it. By the time I was 18 it was gone. As an adult I have a tendency to get bronchitis and chest infections, and if I go for a run outdoors in cold weather the asthma symptoms start to appear. But it's easily manageable. I don't use inhalers at all any more and haven't as an adult.

That's really reassuring to hear and I'm very glad for you! It is totally new territory for us so we are learning how to get it under control. I hope he outgrows it too! Appreciate your post.