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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Child still vomiting when they cough (nearly 5).

23 replies

Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 04/02/2009 15:45

I really though DC had grown out of this, as DC hasn't been ill with a cough for ages. BUT he was set home from school last week as he had been sick, but it was quite clear he wasn't ill iyswim. He was due to go back today (snow days... 8-) )but last night he had a coughing fit and ended up being copiously sick.... it is a lot better than it used to be. Even 1yr ago if he got a cold he would be sick every night due to coughing. I barley sleep if he has a cough because I am waiting fir the vomity noises!! This all started when he was a baby with reflux (it was never treated because my dr said it would be too difficult unless I stopped BF... grrr for hindsight). I mentioned it as he was growing up, to be fobbed off with it will get better as he gets older... it just hasn't really. And they don't seem that bothered, even now. Any suggestions? (my DC2 had reflux, and grew out of it by 8ish mths).

many thanks!! If I don't reply straight away please bear with me, I am new!!

OP posts:

GrimmaTheNome · 04/02/2009 15:51

My DD used to vomit when coughing, till she was about 6 or 7... I can't remember exactly, but certainly it was at least a couple of years into school age. She never had reflux or anything like that, so its not necessarily related.

Touch wood she's grown out of it now. I think it is very common and they do grow out of it. But it is awfully tough till then.

LIZS · 04/02/2009 15:52

I've got a 7 yr old who does it too ! When she starts a cough we use several pillows and a vaporiser to try to avoid it.

MmeJaffaB · 04/02/2009 15:57

My ds does it, he is 6, he is used to having a bowl lurched at him usually at night when he has a cough.

Original poster

Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 04/02/2009 15:57

OOO good idea. I was given a brown inhaler for winter use (didn't need it this winter), so maybe I should try that again? I just don't like using it as and when, though obviously preferable to all the time.
So annoying because he has to be off school for 24hrs following this type of sickness (school's policy), and I can envisage him missing loads!!! He wants to be there, and is desperate to get back! LOL.

Suppose it might be worth a mention t the school re normal for him! I know when he has a bug... NOT fun!!!

Thank you!

OP posts:

steppemum · 04/02/2009 16:44

My ds is 6, he has never had reflux, but does getlong drawn out coughs that go on for weeks, and it isn't that unusual for him to throw up after a coughing fit. We try to reduce the coughing, and the easiest thing is karvol on his pjs, just clears him enough to reduce the coughing so he doesn't wake up and throw up.
Hope that helps!

Horton · 04/02/2009 17:12

I used to vomit when coughing until I was 9 or 10. When my asthma was finally diagnosed after years of my poor mother harassing doctors for an explanation, the consultant said 'oh yes, when they come in late like this, there's always a history of coughing'. Maybe get him checked out by the doctor? If he's been given an inhaler, please give it to him. It is dangerous not to use prescribed asthma medication if it is needed and it is perfectly safe to use the brown inhalers every day.

Horton · 04/02/2009 17:12

Also, as and when doesn't work for the brown inhalers. They take time to build up the protection.

Original poster

Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 04/02/2009 19:51

Oh I know how the medication works... Dr is not convinced of the asthma as he is under 5! I was told it was fine not to use it all the time. By as and when I meant a course of it. My no means does he need it all the time (the dr was reluctant to prescribe, and asked me if I wanted to?!). Am asthmatic myself, but if he has it, it is more seasonally affected so does not need treatment all yr round. I.e, the risks were less if he didn't have it when he didn't need it (summer mths). He doesn't get out of breath etc, but as I know he has a night-time cough which is classic asthma! Will pester the dr if it doesn't get better. Generally he is fine tho!! (other than the vom thing... which is bleck! Frankly he has always had a delicate gag reflex! which worries me more than the cough tbh).

Thanks tho!! I just realised how it looked (like I was playing with the meds, whereas I was doing as dr ordered)! LOL I don't just give him a day of steriods, but tend not to use all yr round. Obviously MY asthma is an all yr round thing, but then if I miss 2 days I develop a cough/wheeze!

OP posts:

susia · 04/02/2009 21:34

my son who is five has this too. He also vomits if he doesn't like something he is eating or if he puts too much food in his mouth. Recently I took him to see a paedratician (sp) because added to that he has always been a fussy eater and had problems with constipation. He had reflux as a baby and he frequently randomly vomitted (about twice a week) until he was about 3.

This does run in my family in that my mum had crohn's disease and I have IBS and her conclusion was that he had sensitive bowels and gastric problems but nothing too bad. She said some children/adults have this problem.

I know it is a nightmare. The worst for me was last year when my son coughed and then was sick in a posh restaurant. Of course, everyone thought he was ill.

On other occasions he has been sent home from school/childminder etc.

But I do think it is really common and I hope/think it will eventually get better for you.

Horton · 04/02/2009 21:37

Oh good, glad you are clued up. I would ask your doctor for a closer look, tbh. It's not safe for your son to be unmedicated if he is asthmatic, as you clearly know. But coughing, esp night time coughing is such a classic sign that it would be very unfortunate if your doctor didn't look into it and something bad happened. I would suggest that if he has a cough, you give him a course of the brown inhaler until he is better, for your own peace of mind.

Ceebee74 · 04/02/2009 21:39

This thread has reassured me a bit - my DS1 (2.6) goes through phases of having a coughing fit every night - usually around 10ish at night) that always end in him throwing up - like another poster says, he has got used to a plastic jug being shoved in his face!

He was like this last week - pretty much every night but he has now gone 2 nights without throwing up.

He only does it at night though - barely coughs during the day .

I did take him to the doctors about it (maybe about 18 months ago) and he prescribed an inhaler but it didn't seem to make any difference tbh so we haven't used it since.

Ceebee74 · 04/02/2009 21:41

Oops just read this thread properly and seen that nighttime coughing is a classic sign of asthma.

Would it be worth taking a 2.6 year old to the doctor? He can go months without doing it and then do it for a week etc so it is by no means continuous.

Horton · 04/02/2009 21:42

Ceebee, go back to the doctor and tell him the inhaler didn't work. And maybe try antihistamines at night - he may be allergic to something like dust mites which could bring on asthma at night.

How long did you give the inhaler for?

Ceebee74 · 04/02/2009 21:46

Maybe a week - tbh, it ws really hard to get DS1 to sit still and he HATED having the mask over his face so we perhaps gave up too easily.

I think the coughing/vomiting then stopped so we never really gave it a second thought. Am only thinking about it now really as he has just had another bout last week - but he probably has 3 'phases' a year maybe? Surely if it was asthma, it would be more often?

Horton · 04/02/2009 22:04

OK, a week isn't long enough really. If he has further coughing episodes, it might be worth trying it again. Keep it up for a minimum of two weeks (am posting from my own experience of how long it might take to work).

I think if he has mild asthma, it might only be three bouts a year. But not treating it is likely to make it worse, not bette, and it is dangerous. Asthma can worsen very suddenly if untreated. If I were you, I would definitely see the doctor again. Also, some people don't respond well to the standard treatment (Becotide) and require something else. It's worth asking. Not sure how the other possible treatments work with small children so I can't offer any advice.

Horton · 04/02/2009 22:05

better not bette, sorry

stillenacht · 04/02/2009 22:05

my 9 year old DS was doing this over Christmas.

Original poster

Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 04/02/2009 22:13

Thank you for the replies! It is good to know it is normal, if not pleasant! Thanks for the advice Horton. Was worried you might think me dismissive, I'm not at all!! I keep a close watch on him and treat him when he needs it (like he does now). A bit like me where I increase my dosage as and when I get a cold etc (so need more than usual). Ceebee, they can give a syrup if the inhaler is too hard for your DS, tho it did make my DS a bit more lively than usual (unfortunately this can happen with the inhalers too). It did help! (it was salbutamol/ventolin syrup).

OP posts:

steppemum · 05/02/2009 15:26

although nighttime coughing is a sign of asthma, there are other causes. If you have a cold which develops into an irritating cough, then you can cough for up to 10 weeks after the cold is gone, and that is quite normal. Also, the reason for this kind of cough to be nighttime and not day time is because it is caused by a post nasal drip, where the drip from the nose/sinuses tickles the back of the throat when yo are lying down. This is what my ds has, and if he gets up, blows his nose, and sits up for 10 minutes the cough goes and then he can go back to sleep (then I hear him coughing on and off in his sleep) Once the cough from the cold has cleared up, he then doesn't cough at night until he gets the next cold.

I just say all this because coughing at night is not always asthma.
hope that helps someone!

StealthPolarBear · 05/02/2009 15:34

it's helped me thanks! DS vomited through coughing last night and I was worried his cough had flared up recently.
DH has asthma so it worried me.

sleeplessallweak · 01/04/2009 03:45

Thanks to all of you for your helpful and encouraging emails. We've been following everyone's problems that matches our own for quite some time. Hopefully someone can help again. We had our own 5YO son's tonsils removed because of the coughing-within-10-minutes-then-vomiting nights that were so hard on him. All the docs said it was enlarged tonsils or allergies. Well, now that's not so evident. He does sleep better but when he has a backed-up nose or cold it starts all over again. It begins upon putting him down for the night as a nasty phlegm choke, then a cough, then saliva build up in his mouth followed by vomiting. Please help.........

busterk · 01/04/2009 11:47

I am new to so hopefully i reply correctly. I took dd to doctors yesterday because of a problem similar to this. Everytime daughter has cold or cough she is sick. I have just had 8 nights of cleaning up sick!!

Doctor said when they get cold the mucas that they would normally blow out their nose goes into tummy and makes them sick.

DD also is sick when she is eating and coughs. And similarly to a lot of posts DD was on baby gaviscon when a baby due to really dad reflux ie after every feed.

emmywoo · 01/04/2009 12:29

Hi All, my dd is 2.5yo and has had a cough for 4 weeks now, she coughs and coughs and either brings up what she has recently eaten or brings up loads of mucas. Have been to see 4 doctors in as many weeks, one doctor gave me 2 inhalers (brown and blue) and then a week later a different doctor told me not to use them as definately not asthma but a virus. Some days she is ok, but then other days really bad. I have taken her off dairy, now only giving lactose free milk, yoghurts and that does seem to have made an improvment. I have so much sympathy with you all as it is really upsetting to watch your lo go through this and not know what it is or when it will go away. Similar, my lo had bad reflux and was on baby gaviscon

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