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Children's health

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Is this something or nothing? Constantly ill.

4 replies

ohbugrit · 12/03/2012 08:45

Poor DS, 4.8, has had a chronic cough for months now - it clears up at times then returns every time he has a cold. He's on asthma meds just now to see whether that's what's causing it but the cough has gone and come back again in that time so I don't think it's asthma. He's due to see the GP again on Thursday. He's also got what looks like an infected finger that's not clearing up. And he had awful earache over the weekend which is better now but he's not hearing much today. He's bright and energetic (he gets hyper when he's tired rather than listless) and eating and growing but he's also chronically tired and run down.

He's already had his tonsils and adenoids out to sort his snoring but even that's recurred recently. A nurse friend has suggested post-nasal drip? He's just always tired and can't concentrate and the cough is awful. The GP wouldn't refer back to ENT last time because the symptoms were too much like a virus. But it seems like constant viruses ... But then they are supposed to have constant viruses at this age aren't they?

I don't know how much is too much. I feel sorry for DS. I think the GP thinks I'm paranoid. Maybe I am?! WWYD?

OP posts:
ohbugrit · 12/03/2012 09:34

Bump :)

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Marne · 12/03/2012 16:28

Your tonsils are there to help your imune system (apparently, gp told me) which is why they don't often take them out when a child is young, this is why childrens tonsils are larger and they shrink a little as they get older and the imune system become mature. So it is likely he has a lower amune system than other children and is likely to pick more things up, antibiotics also hammer the amune system (killing of the good bacteria which the body uses to fight off these things). I would be giving he extra vitamins, i give my dd's a vitiman tonic to boost their imune systems after they have been poorly.

ohbugrit · 12/03/2012 16:53

Thanks. He takes omega 3 and multivitamins daily. :)

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ohbugrit · 16/03/2012 18:58

GP has given penicillin for his finger and increased the dose of steroid inhaler. Apparently ENT won't see him unless he's already tried a bigger dose Hmm. DH has a nurse colleague who has advised that we go back and demand referral (and swap cows' milk for goats' milk in meantime) - she thinks it sounds like glue ear. I'm so bloody confused. :(

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