Constant Coughs all year round

[lynnej]

My kids age 5 and 3 have constant coughs. Winters are the worst but now even though its the middle of the summer they are averaging one a month. It really gets me and my partner down as we have tried everything - bought new anti-allergenic bedding, got rid of our beloved cat. Now because we have been to our GP that often my ds is finally on the brown inhaler twice a day and I am hoping this works.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Please dont jump on me for asking but do either of you smoke?

No this is what we can't work out and nobody around them do either i.e grandparents.

does sound like asthma. IS is worse at night or one exercising?

From about the age of 2 my ds seemed to have a constant cough and after lots of trips to our GP we still got nowhere. Then our GP left and was replaced with a fab German doctor who diagnosed asthma and now he is on inhalers he only gets a couple a year, usually in the winter.

I'm going to keep giving her the brown inhaler and if she doesn't get a cough then I think ds will need to be on the same inhaler.

I am sure there is a link between steroids used in pregnancy (I was given these because both my children threatened to be born too early) and childhood asthma. I have a friend whose child has asthma and she too was given steroids whilst pregnant.

They cough because they have dry throats because they're breathing through their mouths. This means their noses are blocked. Often this can be an allergic reaction or an over-reaction of the immune system.

My DS had this. He was also extremely snotty most of the time. It completely cleared up when I took wheat and dairy out of his diet. I've tried re-introducing them but the symptoms come straight back.

It's a bit of a hassle, but well worth ago before you go down the 'asthma drugs' route.

I should mention that I came off wheat and dairy at the same time and my asthma cleared up completely. I'm now drug-free for the first time in 25 years. If only doctors looked at diet more.

My little boy loves his milk though, especially at night but he does get very congested and the milk seems to make it worse but if I stopped the milk he would then start crying as he has never had a dummy and thats his comfort and how I get a good night's sleep!!!

Oh I have this in abundance with ds2. He was given inhalers after a few wheezing attacks this spring but I am still not sure if he has asthma or not. All I knw is, if he gets a cold, the main symptom is always a cough and it usually goes on for 6 - 8 weeks. The other children in the family either get better in a couple of weeks, or, more usually, don't get it at all. Right now, he has a dreadful cough - really no other symptoms except it started with a temperature. He coughs so badly I fear he will stop breathing. I worry about it a lot but don't know what else to do.

It's worth biting the bullet, Lyne, and getting him off milk for a trial period at least.

My son drinks Soya milk and Rice Dream.

He'd rather be on cow milk but we're all relieved he no longer has a cough and ropes of snot flying out of his nose!

I'm soooo glad I saw a naturopath as I'm sure the doctor would've put him on drugs unecessarily.

I think I am going to try and get him off the milk as I am trying to train him at night too and he won't need a nappy then.

Lonelymum, my kids have coughs for weeks, in the winter they never shake it off completely, it just gets worse each time they get a cold. My ds is often sick in the winter when he gets it and thats distressing for me and him. I will see how the inhaler goes with dd and then work from there.

Lynne - I am sure you are right about the steroids thing. I wonder if there's been a study?

Oh fuck. Just seen how old this thread was. Sorry everyone! Twat.