3yr old coughs until sick - been happening for months

[neeka]

My 3yr old dd has been coughing for what seems like everyday for over a year. Asthma and chest infection have been ruled out and now allergies are being explored. She coughs until she is sick - day or night. We have cats but she coughs when in a cat free environment. She coughs when she hasn't left the house so doubt its hayfever.
Any suggestions as to cause or remedy?

Is it a spontanious cough or does it sound like she is trying to make herself cough to start with? My neice used to do this for the attention, she knew she could make herself sick like that

it starts of it's own accord but sometimes i do think she is doing it on purpose. it sounds chesty though so doubt she can fake that. it's driving me mad! get precious little sleep as is with 7month old dd too!

Do you give her lots of attention when it happens? May be an idea to just clean her up and return to what ever you were doing. Then again she would maybe be more likely to "put it on" when not getting her own way so maybe not an attention thing

Have you raised the issue of whooping cough with the GP? It's much more common than you may think (even in immunised children).