DS bad cough, any advice???

[Icoulddoitbetter]

Morning,

My DS is 13 months and has had a cough for about 10 days now. It's at its worse at night, as they always are, but has got worse over the last few days. Poor little thing has just started nursery so has had conjunctivitis in the last week, and I currently have a tummy bug that he also seems to have got . He's been up and down with his appetite, and has had a mild temp on occasions over the last few days but Calpol has always sorted that out.

It's the cough that's really bothering him now. It's a bit productive, he spits out little bits of phlegm at times. Last night after his tea he coughed so hard he threw up his yoghurt! Then overnight last night he coughed on and off till morning. We gave him some Tixylix before bed, and again at 6am more out of desperation. He's knackered during the day as he's not sleeping properly because of the coughing fits.

I don't think we need the GP yet, and am in quarantine myself because of my bug, so was going to call NHS Direct but thought I'd tap into MN wisdom first!

TIA

Take him to the GP please. They are more qualified then mumsnet. Only a GP can listen to his chest to see if there's any infection there. Small childrens' illnesses can change from nothing to something very quickly so be prepared to return if you are told all is clear. Is there someone else who can take him for you?

He is so young you need to get him seen by the GP.
He could have a chest infection or brochoilitis or it could be just a cough but you will feel better once he has been seen.
If it is just a nasty cough I always give my dc hot ribena as it seems to do them some good having a warm drink.But your ds is younger than mine so you might not want to be giving him ribena yet .
Let us know how you get on.

Doctor, please. If his chest is that productive then there may very well be a chest infection.

Please take him to GP - I have spent 3 days there this week as my DS2 cough has turned into infection and they have him on an inhaler and steroids at the moment. As Belle says this all happened overnight and we caught it just in time before it was a hospital visit.

Its best to get it checked out - advise the surgery you have the D&V bug they should put you in a separate room and Dr will come to you so you are not in contact with other patients.

Thanks I'll get an appointment this afternoon. pauline getting him to drink anything other than milk is impossible! We needed to give him Diorolyte a few weeks ago and we had no chance.

I didn't think Tixylix could be used on 13 month old?

Go to the GP it sounds like he's developed a chest infection. Can a relative take him if you're too poorly?

The only other thing I can suggest is tilting his cot a little at the head end and lots of steam to help clear it. Take him to the GP though, if he's coughing so hard he vomitted

Tea I can assure you my bottle of Tixylix states that it's safe for babies over three months, why would I give him something he's not supposed to have???!!!!

will make a GP apt this afternoon (you have to call at 2pm, just called to try and jump the queue but they wouldn't let me!)

I thought about tilting the cot but he moves so much at night he'd end up upside down!

I was very confident that I'd get swift replies on here about what to do, certainly before the time I'd need to call the surgery to get him seen today. Thanks ladies xxx

The law changed on cough and cold medicines a while ago to limit what was sold to under age 6's. So last time I went to the Pharmacy I could only buy Calpol, Calprofen or a honey and glycerin type medicine. I haven't been able to buy Tixylix for a while for my 2 DCs but I wasn't accusing you. Perhaps there is one available from 3 months I haven't seen. Either way he needs to see a GP, so I'm glad you're booking him in later.

Hope he gets better soon.

I bought this bottle about 5 months ago and basically it is just glycerin which is why we've never given it to him before, we didn;t see the point! No serious meds in there, or sedatives, more's the pity!

the tickly cough tixylix is fine as it is just the chesty cough one that changed to for over 6 year olds.

I did just look it up on t'internet to reassure myself and you can by it at Boots.com and it contains nothing more hardcore than Glycerol!

Vapo rub on the soles of his feet. I know it sounds really silly but it does work sometimes. It works most of the time for my DS. He had a cough from about 13 months (this time of year last year) until spring began. Short breaks in between with no cough then it would return. It's back this winter :( There's a mild cough in the evenings sometimes in the spring/summer as well but then it's more wheezing than coughing.

I think he has asthma. Dr won't diagnose yet.

Sometimes he has difficulty breathing in between coughing fits. I sympathise about the nights spent awake with it. We have an inhaler that we give him if it gets bad.

he also vomits at times from it. The dr said sometimes they swallow and digest the phlegm and it upsets their tummy so they vomit.

Tixylix is ok but isn't great. Homemade honey with lemon and warm water is better for a chesty cough (I've found with DS). Make sure water isn't too hot and he coughs a bit coughing fit after it's given but then no coughing like that for a while after. It works well. My dr recommended that, too. And while you can't give loads, there's no limit so can give more often iyswim.

Definitely see dr. Vapo rub and honey solution are just to strategies that might help.

And sympathy :)

Hot milk with a bit of honey seems to be providing temp relief between meds.

I know it's minging but he won't drink anything else warm.

Forgot to add, do see dr, though as it can quickly turn into a chest infection. We had a few last year and already one this year.

oh yes, honey instead of water is ok for that mixture although it can make phlegm a bit more difficult

Sorry I should have and meant to say my 4 year old has a bad cough just now hence why honey/milk seems o be helping lol

wet towel on a radiator, head raised, window open enough to let some air in. lots of vicks on front and back.

keep an eye out for a temperature/lethargy or vomiting.

I got some antibiotics from the GP, plus a bottle of childrene nurofen on prescription as a bonus! She checked his chest and thankfully that was clear, but she gave us the abx as the cough has gone on for a while now.

He's asleep now, first dose of meds given, so fingers crossed we're on the up.

OP, you could be me. We were in almost identical situation to you (DD almost 12 months) and given same meds by the doc! Hoping it works, for both of us! :)

So pleased it was nothing more Icould - hope he feels better soon and Ethel hope they work for your DD as well