8 mo has had a cough since 10 weeks and GP has no answers

[AlmondFrangipani]

My DS got bronchilitois when he was 10 weeks and has a cough ever since. Been back and forth to the GP and tried various things (meds, inhaler etc) and nothing has got rid of it and she can't explain the cause. It gets worse when he has a bug and at it's particularly bad at night, driving us mad as it keeps him up a lot (and us). I'm also fed up of people commenting on it like I'm a bad Mum who hasn't noticed?! Anyone have any ideas/experience of this?

Your GP probably needs to refer you on to a specialist. My 15 month old dd coughs a lot and it is wearing, especially at night. It comes and goes but the GP, who is lovely and very good IMO, always says its a virus. So we haven't yet asked for a referral, but I think if it carries on for longer I will. I tried honey and lemon the other day and surprisingly it worked and cough eased off.

PS you are not a bad mum!

Why do people do that, comment like your blissfully unaware? I would push and push for a referral.

Things that you could do....try a humidifier, especially at night, try Vicks on feet, raising the cot.

Good luck, hope she gets better soon!

My two (DD nearly 4, DS nearly 2) both had bronchiolitis. DS had a worse dose, about a year ago, and the GP said it would flare up every time he got a cold for about 2 years, that he would be a coughy child, but she said unless he is struggling for breath, there's no need to take it any further, it's just one of those things they have to work through (she's quite hands off, only medicates or intervenes as a last resort). Your little one might be too young for honey, but I've given both DD and DS glycerine and lemon which I got in the pharmacy and it definitely helps. Hope she gets better soon.

DS had the same thing - still same cough at 8 week and 8 month check. Had also dropped percentiles so referred to pediatrician who treated for allergy (anti-histamines), asthma (inhaler), and reflux (gaviscon). We dropped the meds after a few months - he also has a very active cough reflex too, even now he will cough constantly with every cold -never blows his nose just sniffs it all down onto his lungs then spends days coughing it back up.

It was really helpful seeing the paeds who covered every eventuality.

Reflux causes a cough which can be worse at night as they are flat. I would also rule out allergies, especially dairy & soy

I was told many years ago after dd2 had really bad RSV at 8 months old, that it can cause scarring on the lungs and that's why she was always ill every year until she was about 7.