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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anybody awake who can offer some advice re cough?

23 replies

justdone3 · 18/01/2023 05:37

DS (almost 4) started with a cough yesterday, it was as soon as the cold weather started again. He coughed a bit at nursery but wasn't too bad. Then had a major coughing fit when I picked him up and got him in the car. Assumed it was his asthma due to the cold hitting his chest so tried his inhaler which worked a bit but not much.
Then last night the cough has just been none stop, I'm talking 30 minute bouts of non stop coughing followed by about 20 mins sleep. And that just repeated all night. He's the same this morning, can't go more than a few seconds without coughing. It's a really dry cough.
The thing is he has no temperature at all and when I've asked him he said he doesn't feel poorly he's just got this cough. I'm worried it's going to tire him out and not help his breathing because it really is that constant.

Would this likely be asthma or just a bug?

I should add he has suspected asthma as every winter when he gets a cough it gets really bad and he needs steroids to get it better. The dr said because I have very bad asthma it's likely that he will have it too (although hopefully not to the same extent) so they treat him with 2 puffs of a brown inhaler daily during the winter and we use a blue inhaler for relief when he gets bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 05:53

Anyone?

OP posts:
mutleyschuckle · 18/01/2023 06:18

That's how my sons asthma attacks usually present- he just can't stop coughing. It's continued coughs on every breath similar to me unfortunately. Last time after trying his inhaler & it not stopping i called 111 & we were admitted for the night while he had steroids & monitored. After this he went on montelukast (read up though it's not for everyone) & hasn't had an attack since.

Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 06:22

@mutleyschuckle thanks for the reply. I've just tried calling 111 as he's almost too tired to even cough properly now but still can't stop. They just said I need to speak to a pharmacist but I think he probably needs to be seen so I'm going to call the Gp when they open at 8. He can't go more than 10 seconds or so now without coughing so I'm worried he will get so tired it will become hard to breathe!

OP posts:
HoollyWugger · 18/01/2023 06:26

Same when my DS was that age. Diagnosed with cough-variant asthma, and always so much worse at night. Keep on with the inhaler, and speak to GP/asthma nurse.

Pirrin · 18/01/2023 06:29

That certainly sounds asthmatic, poor boy. Hopefully you can get that gp appt inthe morning. Im aure it doenst need saying but If you're worried about his ability to breathe around the coughing please dont hesitate to go to a&e. Asthmatics are very good at having a lower threshold of needing invention because it's become so normalized (not saying that's you, but just in case!).

Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 06:31

Thanks all, I'll keep up with the inhaler until we speak to the Gp. Hoping we won't end up in A&E but I'll keep a close eye on him

OP posts:
Christmasbahhumbug · 18/01/2023 06:36

Have you tried a steak colorised in his room? Works like magic here.

Christmasbahhumbug · 18/01/2023 06:36

Sorry autocorrect- steam vaporisor!

Hollyhocksandtulips · 18/01/2023 06:37

Oh pour thing. Definitely sounds asthma type. I hope he's soon seen

MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 06:40

Try and get him some steam, eg in the bathroom. When DS has a cold we double the dose of his preventer inhaler, on the advice of the asthma nurse, which helps to stave off the cough he used to get with every single cold (and which led to many many unnecessary Covid tests, poor kid).

Definitely see the doctor today though.

toomuchfaster · 18/01/2023 06:41

I would say ring your GP at 8am. If you can't get through, ring a pharmacy at 9am, they will have advice and suggestions but if necessary to recontact 111 you have ticked the box.

Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 06:41

@Christmasbahhumbug I was staring at that for so long trying to work out what it was haha.

Good idea re the steam, I'll go and run the shower for a while and sit him in the bathroom to see if that helps

OP posts:
mutleyschuckle · 18/01/2023 06:47

Honestly if he's struggling that much now I would be heading towards an a&e. Children can & do compensate well for so long then just go downhill. I don't think the gp will be able to give you anything in the meantime- ours would just send t out up to the hospital.

Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 06:57

I've just taken a video (not of his face just the coughing) as he's getting too tired to cough properly but it won't let me upload it Sad. Don't want to waste time taking him somewhere if they are just going to say it's viral but I also am conscious of him getting worse. Only another hour to go until the Gp opens so I'll see how he goes until then

OP posts:
MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 07:03

OP do you know the signs of respiratory distress to look for? Tracheal tug and eternal recession?

MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 07:03

He can still be treated if it’s viral, just not with antibiotics. I would want him seen.

MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 07:04

MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 07:03

OP do you know the signs of respiratory distress to look for? Tracheal tug and eternal recession?

FFS sternal recession

Original poster
justdone3 · 18/01/2023 07:10

@MotherOfHouseplants yes that's what making me doubt myself about taking him in because he's not pulling in at the ribs when breathing. Although I can definitely hear a wheeze now.

OP posts:
MotherOfHouseplants · 18/01/2023 07:20

I am sure you know this but if there were sternal recession he would be in serious respiratory distress and it would be a 999 job. Look for a tracheal tug (sucking in the triangular shape between the collarbones) as an early sign.

I know you are second-guessing yourself because 111 fobbed you off but going back over your posts: he is coughing so persistently that he is exhausted; the inhaler isn't touching it; he's now wheezing. I think it's time to consider some urgent help, love. Steroids and a nebuliser would probably help him now.

Do you have a partner at home or other children to arrange care for? Start getting a bag together and seriously consider attending A&E or urgent care. If you have a pulse oximeter or a fitness watch which has one (like a Fitbit) put it on him to keep an eye on his oxygen levels.

I'm not medically trained but I have had blue-light respiratory events with both of my children in the last twelve months and no-one has ever made me feel we were wasting their time. Good luck Flowers

MotherOfHouseplants · 19/01/2023 17:56

Hope your DS is feeling better @justdone3

Original poster
justdone3 · 20/01/2023 12:05

@MotherOfHouseplants he's much better now thanks after a few doses of steroids. I've been in hospital for the past 24 hours with a chest infection and flu though so I'm guessing he was brewing a bug and it's spread to me Sad

OP posts:
MotherOfHouseplants · 20/01/2023 12:16

You poor things. Get well soon! Have an unmumsnetty hug.

bakebeans · 20/01/2023 21:42

Both my children had bouts of that It turned out to be croup. If a fry cough, try taking him in the bathroom. And run all the hot taps and let him inhale the steam it will help break it up

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