How Long Should I put up with this hacking cough?

[ABPMum]

My 17 Month old DD has had a cough that seems to have got worse rather than better, over about 3 -4 weeks. It didn't help that she started nursery 2 weeks ago and obviously picked up lots of little bugs there, so she may have a 'new' illness / virus? Been to the doc twice who has said her chest is clear, but now she is vomiting with the cough and her appetite is practically non existant. Is this quite common? How long should I leave it? As is usual I have heard all kinds of conflicting advice, but ALL is welcome! Thanks

Hi. Take her back to the doctors. Don't worry if they think you are a neurotic mum! My dd had a terrible cough for weeks and weeks and even though I had originally taken her to the doctors she did eventually end up with a chest infection which took two rounds of antibiotics to clear. Hope this helps. :)

Agree with pp - take her back to the docs.

Ds1 was like this from about 5 months - coughing until he was sick esp at night, failing to put weight on and generally really unhappy. Got sent for all sorts of tests and eventually they tried him on an inhaler - pretty much an instant change! He has asthma which shows its self as a persistant cough usually at night - hes 9 now and has only had a full blown "classic" asthma attack on a handful of occassions, but will cough his way through the winter if he doesn't use his inhalers.

Not saying your dd had asthma but its worth asking the question - don't let them fob you off saying they can't diagnose asthma until they are older - if the inhaler works and stops the coughing what does it matter if there's a dx or not.

sorry has asthma not had must learn to proof read

The Doctor told me that a cough can take a month or 6 weeks to get better, but should be gradually getting better during that time. If it's getting worse then it has probably become bacterial and will need antibiotics.

Thanks all, it really helps! Yes whojamaflip, the GP did mention asthma and asked me to listen out for the slightest wheezing at all and if so we will get her on an inhaler to see if it helps. No wheezing, but just managed to feed her today for her to just throw up on the second cough, so bck to the docs it is!