Persistent cough in 17 month old - silent reflux?

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

Can anyone please help (I have posted this in Children's Helath too so apologies for the duplication).

My 17 month old was diagnosed with silent reflux at about 4 weeks old (his older brother had it so we went straight to the specialist!) and was treated for dairy intollerence. Throughout the first year of his life, he had a persistent cough that would be at its worst at 5am and subsequently wake him. His reflux specialist referred him to a respiratory consultant as the reflux was 'under control' so he felt that the coughing may be unrelated.

Anyway, inhalers, singulair etc made no difference and at 13 months old we reintroduced diary with no huge impact and the cough subsided. He was signed off from both the doctors.

Now the winter is here, he is on cold number 3 and thus cough number 3. I think he is definitely hyper-sensitive. However, just wondered whether it could actually still be reflux? Have moved him onto Lacto free milk (for last couple of months). The cough is SO bad at night. Last night, I thik there was one 45 minute stretch when he didn't cough - otherwise it is every couple of minutes.

But does anyone have experience of anything similar and able to offer any advice?

It sounds a little like asthma to me. Both my DC get it occassionally, although DD (6) seems to have now outgrown it.

We find with DS using a steroid inhaler when it is bad really helps to manage it.

I do suggest a visit to the doctos though.

My chemist suggested the same and actually have an appt with the pead 'specialist' gp this afternoon to review him. Irony is, I have been so many times about his coughing and turned away feeling like a neurotic mother that I stopped going. Thanks for your reply - I suspect asthma too. Can it be seasonal?

Night coughing is a classic sign of asthma in children. And yes, it's almost always worse when they get a cold so can be quite seasonal. DS tends to be worse at the major season changes ie start of autumn and spring.