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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU not to take DS to the GP?

16 replies

early30smum · 26/07/2017 19:16

DS is 4. Bit of background- he was admitted to hospital for 2-3 nights several times between the ages of 12 and 18 months for quite severe bronchiolitis/viral induced wheeze, needing oxygen on all those occasions and a feeding tube once. They said he may develop asthma but couldn't be sure. Grew out of it no problems and we've had no trouble since and touch wood he's been very healthy.

But now, 3 years on, he has quite a bad cough at night. Been going on for a few days. BUT he has no temp, no cough during the day, happy and well in himself, eating/drinking well etc. It's not bad enough to wake him up, I just hear him coughing. AIBU to think he doesn't need to go to the dr or would you make an appointment?

OP posts:

Whatsername17 · 26/07/2017 19:17

I'd leave it a few more days. And try vices on his feet and thick socks.

Whatsername17 · 26/07/2017 19:17

Vicks not vice!

PurpleDaisies · 26/07/2017 19:18

Coughing at night is sometimes the way that asthma presents. I'd take him.

autumncolour · 26/07/2017 19:19

A night cough is a common sign of asthma. I would probably make an appt with GP to discuss. Best wishes.

ticketytock1 · 26/07/2017 19:19

Do you have a scentsy warmer or similar? You can put dead wax in it, then add some Vicks and olbais oil. It's safe to leave on all night. I find it works wonders with my kids when they are chesty. Hope he gets well soon

FanjoForTheMammaries · 26/07/2017 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ilovecoleslaw · 26/07/2017 19:22

Night coughing is a common sign of asthma. Perhaps see the nurse practitioner at your gp surgery if there is one?

Anon8604 · 26/07/2017 19:27

I have asthma and a cough at night is often an early sign that my current medication isn't controlling it well. I'd take him to the GP as soon as you can - if it's not asthma then no harm done, and if it is he can be prescribed appropriate treatment if he needs it.

DipsyLaLa22 · 26/07/2017 19:28

GP here.

You are right, no need to see GP yet. A night cough can be the sole symptom of asthma but would have to be persisting for about a month, or have other symptoms for me to start investigating. Far more likely to be viral. If he remains well, give it 2-3 weeks before seeing GP.

40andFat · 26/07/2017 19:31

My 5 year old son has had a cough since he started Reception last September. Coughs at night never much in the day doesn't get worse or better. Never really poorly. Not saying you should ignore completely but I'd give it a bit more time if he's been free of asthma symptoms for so long.

kkkkaty123 · 26/07/2017 19:31

My dd has exactly what you ds has. Take him to be safe. They will check his oxygen by putting the clip on his finger. And listen for a wheeze on his chest.

autumngold6 · 26/07/2017 19:34

I would definitely take him to the GP as soon as possible. As some others have said, night coughing with no other symptoms is a common asthma symptom. My son is grown up now but when he was little he coughed at night with no other symptoms until one day he had a full blown asthma attack when awake and ended up going to hospital, it was really quite frightening for us all. Looking back the signs were there but we didn't realise. It was controlled by inhalers and fortunately he grew out of it by his teens. I am not one who goes to the doctor very often (and didn't take my children much either ) but I really think you should book an appointment as it could be asthma which can be very serious especially if left untreated. I used to work in a GP surgery and I know that they would not think that you were wasting their time, especially with his past history.

Original poster

early30smum · 26/07/2017 20:14

Thanks all. I will see how he goes over the next day or so and then make an appointment if no improvement. I hate wasting GP's time, but if there's a chance he could be asthmatic it would be awful to miss it. I have a bit of history with thinking things are fine when they're not- once took myself to the GP for a cough and it turned out to be pneumonia... Had been feeling horrendous for weeks but thought it was just one winter virus after another!

OP posts:

Musicaltheatremum · 26/07/2017 20:27

Agree with dipsy. I'd wait a few more weeks. Coughs after infections can go on for a good 6 weeks. I certainly wouldn't be looking at asthma until well after this.

wingingit4 · 26/07/2017 20:32

I listened to son coughing at night for ages (not waking himself up with it) before trying him with ventolin/spacer given ages ago like your son. He stops coughing the minute he has it - felt pretty bad . He has no day time symptoms at all unless he gets a very heavy cold.
No harm in trying, especially with episodes of previous wheezy illness. Response to treatment gives you the answer...

AllThatIsGoldDoesNotGlitter · 26/07/2017 20:39

Agree with Dipsy and Musical (am also a GP). I would be interested in a nocturnal cough if it had gone on for more than 4 weeks, or if there were other symptoms. Please do take him to see somebody sooner if you're worried, but if he's otherwise totally well, let the natural history play out. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment causes harm, just as missed diagnoses do.

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