To take my son to GP as he’s had a cough for 2 weeks

[Lavenderlooks]

He’s 4.

His cough/snotty nose and congestion started weekend before last. On the Sunday.
I kept him off school most of last week as he wasn’t himself, very tired and whinging, out of sorts and not wanting to eat.

Now since this weekend just gone he’s mostly back to his normal self - playing, drawing. Chatting away constantly and being his usual cheeky self.
So he’s back at school since yesterday, but still coughing a lot and full of snot. He can’t seem to shift the congestion.

I know it’s likely viral, but I’m rather worried especially since the current news on strep A.
Would it be worth contacting the GP surgery (if I can get through) and see if he needs antibiotics to help him get over this?

His poor face is a little sore too, because he keeps wiping his snot onto his cheek using his sleeve, so it’s Leading to sore skin.

My 1YO is exactly the same and I hadn’t even considered taking him to see a doctor. Antibiotics won’t relieve congestion and it’s very normal for snot and coughs to linger in kids. Cough and runny nose are not even strep throat symptoms. Just use a barrier cream on his face, I like Aquaphor but vaseline or sudocrem will do just as well.

My son is 18 months and has finally got his first cold. My late wife would have told me off if I'd have taken him to the doctors.
The general consensus is as long as he has no temperature, is eating a bit or drinking then the child will be fine.
Currently son is watching Bing and squealing with happiness because of that whiney rabbit. He sounds chesty and has a runny nose. Will probably have it for a few weeks, as long as he is well in himself and not listless then I'm not as worried.

If you're worried about the cough you could always get a go to listen to their chest, my ds has viral induced asthma so each autumn gets an awful lingering cough that sometimes doesn't budge without antibiotics .

It's probably post-nasal drip, particularly if it's worse at night. Antibiotics won't do a thing.

Having a cough for 2-3 weeks doesn't mean they need antibiotics, if they're otherwise well it's very unlikely that antibiotics so you're just putting them at risk of the side effects. i.e. the cough being due to a virus which is unaffected by any antibiotic, so there wouldn't be any positive effect, however the antibiotic will cause damage to the gut microbiome - reducing diversity and activity - in the short term this leads to D&V, there are longer term concerns in regards to the impact on gastrointestinal, immunological, and neurocognitive systems.

Viral coughs are normally improving by 3 weeks but do last longer in some instances.

This nhs website has some information about what to watch out for.
what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/cough-and-cold