Doctors won't prescribe medicine for 2 year olds cough

[lboogy]

We've been for a covid rest, to get that out of the way.

My D.C. has had a cough for the last 5 weeks. It was most severe 4 weeks ago for 2 days. After that D.C. coughs only at night and wakes them up. So for the last 5 weeks we've had interrupted sleep because D.C. will take 2 hours to settle back down.

Spoke to the doctor 3 times and been in once. Each time I'm told wait and see it's likely an infection and dc needs time to fight it off.

It's 4am and D.C. has again woken up from
Coughing and has been awake since 1.30am. I'm at my whits end extremely pissed off at the doctors reluctance to prescribe antibiotics.

Would I be in my rights to ring up and demand they prescribe something to make the cough go away?

An inhaler sounds much more appropriate than antibiotics for a night time cough.

What medication are you hoping will take the cough away?

YABU

No you wouldn’t.

Antibiotics often don't help a cough.

But they are saying it's an infection. Isn't antibiotics supposed to help with infections?

I've tried OTC medicines

I'm going to buy a humidifier and see if that works

Ask about asthma. A night time cough is a very common symptom in children

Depends on the infection type. Some unfortunately just have to run their course.
Antibiotic guardianship is a big thing now in healthcare because they’re finding we aren’t replacing/ finding new ones at the same rate they become ineffective (the bacteria is becoming resistant basically).

Antibiotics help with bacterial infections, not viral ones, which this is most likely to be. Regardless of whether he still has the infection or not, coughs can persist for several weeks once the initial infection is cleared. Their throat is just irritated.

I'm not sure about what age your child is, but bronchostop is an over the counter medicine that uses natural ingredients and is amazing at soothing a cough. Their junior version is for 1 year and over. If you haven't tried that one, it's worth a go. It's the only thing that works for me with a cough.

But yeah, if the doctor hasn't checked for asthma, as has been said, that's definitely worth getting checked.

Antibiotics are only for bacterial infections. If a cough has lasted 5 weeks it is highly unlikely to be bacterial. This is much more likely to be a post viral cough or the beginnings of asthma. Antibiotics won’t help with either of these. Sometimes waiting is all you have. There is no magic medicine apart from calpol

Have you tried switching the shower on and letting the bathroom get all hot and steamy and keeping the shower on and holding your dd in the room for 10 mins 3 times a day? We did this with our dc and it was the only thing that worked and got rid of it...so sorry I do sympathise op and awake myself in the midst of a sleep regression...😴 Otherwise as a nother poster said could is be asthma? Is there any cold/phlegm symptoms?

I also recommend broncho stop if you haven't already tried that. My 3 year old has a cough (also been tested and negative) and it works like a dream.

An inhaler might help - my ds was prescribed one for an extended cough when he was young and it helped.

A humidifier in the room at night might help too.

Agree with the others on antibiotics.

I've just realised that I read and reread the post to see age.. When its in the heading!

Is the cough productive?
What's the cough like? Hacking? Tickly?
Have you tried vapour rub on his chest?
Try sleeping him in a raised position almost sat up? If old enough.
Any history of asthma?
Any fever?
When was his chest last listened to by a GP?
Unfortunately, if it's been going on for this long it's likely viral, or allergic.
If go didn't hear any crackles on his chest there's not much except waiting it out.
Sounds like he needs to be checked over, however, demanding won't get you very far if there is no way of treating the problem, for instance, if it's viral. I understand the need to vent.
I'm sorry if that's not what you want to hear.
I hope he's better soon and you all get some restful sleep. Sleep deprivation is just awful.

I feel your pain OP, though can't offer much in terms of help I'm afraid. DS has had a near constant cough since June when he returned to nursery after the first lockdown. It goes through peaks of being really noticeable to lulls where I've almost kidded myself it's gone, only for it to resurface. We've been for multiple covid tests as a result, all negative, but the GP isn't remotely interested because it's a productive cough so unlikely to be asthma and there's nothing they can prescribe for a cough caused by viral infection. In our case, DS actually had quite a severe case of pneumonia a year ago, which the consultant explained would make him prone to these sorts of infections, which unfortunately has proven correct. I'd definitely push for him to be seen in person if he hasn't been already though.

It's probably a viral infection and anti biotics won't help, especially if it's only at night it's just lingering as winter coughs often do. There probably isn't a medicine safe for a child that will help this. Meds are usually only prescribed for much more problematic coughs but here in the Uk they are still reluctant. I know how annoying it is, dd had whooping cough as a baby and coughed pretty much for the first 5 years of her life even now at 7 she has a morning cough but usually better just to ride it out.

It is most likely a viral infection, which antibiotics won't help, and as others have said, using unneeded antibiotics increases the risk of antibiotic resistant strains developing. Sometimes coughs just take a while to go unfortunately, I had one myself once for about 2 months and the dr said the same. I think it tends to be fairly obvious to a dr if it is a bacterial infection.

Why not prescribe it yourself, since you seem to be qualified to make a diagnosis?

And good luck “demanding” 😂
Because that always works out how you plan it. Maybe try having a reasonable discussion like he adult you are supposed to be.

Night time cough is a symptom of asthma.
But as he’s only had it for 5 weeks we can assume it’s not that, although you should keep an eye on it long term.
But an inhaler for short term use might be beneficial. Specifically ask about a short term inhaler with a spacer.

My dc has asthma, but only really gets triggered by a virus. He's been given antibiotics when he has a cough that turns into a chest infection, if he's just coughing a lot then it's inhalers.
Has he had his chest listened too?

At this time of year coughs and cold are common, and antibiotics are only effective on bacterial infections. This is most likely viral and the cough can take a while to clear, especially when it's easy to pick up colds.

My dcs had similar every winter until about3/4. They were prescribed inhalers.

Antibiotics are not the elixir of life.

DS has just turned 3 and miraculously we have got this far into winter without his constant cough October-April. He had ‘reactive airways’ which is basically pre-asthma. Their airways are so small and irritable at 2. Inhalers definitely helped. And now it looks like he’s grown out of it, wahoo!! Watch out for his throat sucking in, and wheezing (stridor breath) you need to ring 111 if that happens. Otherwise just ride it out I’m afraid! Humidifier, olbas oil in the humidifier if poss. Lying on front if he will.