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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take DS to docs over excessive coughing?

10 replies

lorrycat · 07/12/2009 14:21

Hi all.
My DS is 16mo and ALWAYS seems to have a cough. I have brought him to docs before and they always say his chest sounds clear. One time a doc did give me an inhaler to use but suggested the cough was a viral infection and to discontinue use of the inhaler when the cough clears up.

Trouble is, DS always seems to have some sort of cough. I ended up taking him to docs whilst we were on hols in oct, only to be told again that the cough was nothing to worry about. I've been told that the 'wheeze' i'm hearing is a build up of mucus in the back of his throat.

But now the coughing is back again and despite giving him a prescribed cough medicine all weekend, he was up half the night with this cough. Bless him, he say's "ouch" every time he finishes.

My dad wants me to bring him to docs again. Says this is how it went with my sister, who was eventually diagnosed as asthmatic, but i don't know what to do. I will probably get there and they will say his chest is clear, as always.

Any advice Mums?

OP posts:

Poohbearsmom · 07/12/2009 14:39

Bring him! Of course bring him, my Ds1 got loads of coughs and they hav also put him on preventive inhalers in the past too,(they said there is the possibility he may develop ashma but hopefully not) if he can not sleep and its been going on a few days id def bring him in again, they will probably put him back on the inhaler for a while. They said my Ds's 'little tubes things' in his lungs were swolen from all the coughing and our g.p gave him a fantastic syrup which she said is like the liquid equilivant of the inhaler and it works really well really quickly and he hasnt actually had a bad cough since he took it which is about 3 months now (which is a long time for him) your def not being unreasonable at all to bring him back, hope he feels better soon

Poohbearsmom · 07/12/2009 14:43

Just went into the medical box there, the name of the syrup my Ds was put on is ''ventolin syrup'' it says oral solution Salbutamol (as sulphate) on the box, good luck

Original poster

lorrycat · 08/12/2009 08:45

Thanks Poorbearsmom....It was Salbutamol inhaler that was given to me before. I will definitely ask for the liquid as it would be much easier to take than those tricky inhalers.

I will definitely bring him - its awful to hear him up cryin in the middle of the night with the cough.

Thanks again x

OP posts:

ginnybag · 08/12/2009 10:55

Take him. Diagnosis is often a process of elimination and every time you take him, the doctors will be checking things off in their heads.

They may well say his chest is clear, but that doesn't mean they think nothng is wrong, just that it's not an obvious cause, such as an infection.

Go in and specifically mention you've been in a few times and ask if there's anything other than his lungs that could be causing it. If he's coughing, it could be something irritating his throat just as easily as his lungs. What are his sinuses like?

Original poster

lorrycat · 08/12/2009 12:24

Well the cough is always along with a running nose...and we keep putting it down to a common cold. Certainly this is what we were told when we saw a pediatrician on holiday.

OP posts:

Addictedtothepc · 08/12/2009 12:28

Is it just a cough or accompanied with a fever?

Poohbearsmom · 10/12/2009 10:43

Hi lorrycat hows ds today?

JoeyBettany · 10/12/2009 11:33

My ds (now 8) is asthmatic and his asthma has always presented with a cough.

This started when he was 2, with persistent dry coughing and it was only when he was really struggling to breathe one night and I ended up taking him to A& E, where he was nebulized, that asthma was first mooted as a cause.

He now needs his inhaler regularly and oral steroids every now and then.

Colds and viruses are very common triggers for asthma so I would definiely take your child to the GP.

floppybits · 10/12/2009 15:00

try a humidifier, they're great for dry coughs as they moisten the atmosphere, argos and mothercare do them.
would definitely take him back...

Original poster

lorrycat · 15/12/2009 12:52

Sorry its taken me so long coming back to you all.

Took DS to docs last week and thankfully doctor gave him an antibiotic, as it looked like it was heading towards a chest infection.

We kept him off creche for a few days to let him rest, as he seems really tired (possibly antibiotic?) but we are coming to the end of the course and thankfully the cough is not as bad as it was and the rattle in his chest is not as worrying.

Thank you all for your advice and support x

OP posts:

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