Why is my 10yo continually getting colds and coughs?

[RoooneyMara]

I'm getting a bit concerned now, that maybe he isn't getting enough vitamins or something is wrong with him.

He is normally healthy, very very active, eats a lot, seems happy and so on.

This year he's had a lot of colds - I think lots of people did in the winter, it was such a rubbish summer last year and very damp so that explains that.

However this term he's had a new cold at least once a fortnight, he's missed a lot of days of school, just because he's been constantly blowing his nose and coughing.

We don't seem to catch these colds really. Just ds, though sometimes we all get them.

I'm trying to think what has changed. I've had a baby, but I don't think that could cause serial colds. He's also been going swimming with school, once a week, since Easter.

Is it possible that swimming could cause this? Either through water getting into his ears or something - or something in the water making him ill, such as the chlorine, or maybe just random germs from the pool?

The other kids in his class seem Ok. Now I think about it, when he had swimming lessons for about 6 weeks last year he kept getting colds then as well.

I'd feel silly going to the GP about a cold. But does anyone else have any ideas?

Is it possible he has hayfever? Also....blowing your nose and coughing isn't really enough to miss school generally. A ten year old can manage those symptoms well enough at school....I would think twice about giving days off for sniffles if I were you.

My thoughts were hayfever too.

Does he seem unwell with it? Does he get a temperature or go off his food or want to sleep more? If there are no other symptoms other than runny nose and cough then it could well be hayfever.

My DD is asthmatic and swimming often aggravates her condition. I think it is the irritation of the chlorine in her throat and also breathing in the chorine fumes at the pool.

Hope that helps a little.

Not unwell as such - tired though from coughing all night. And I mean constantly coughing, I don't keep him off for a sniffle but when he is going to disturb the entire class all day and be unable to do any work, I think it's a bit pointless sending him in.

Thanks so much Monikar. He was dx with asthma as a 2yo but he's never really needed an inhaler etc. and nothing more has ever been said about it. So I don't think he has actual proper serious asthma.

But that might explain the irritation from the chlorine.

I did wonder about hayfever - maybe some piriton would work in that case?
Many thanks again for the answers.

Roooney If he was diagnosed with asthma at 2yo then it is possible he is slightly allergic and the swimming pool water sets it off.

A cough at night is a symptom of asthma - my DD would cough constantly and we were all exhausted. It is possible he would benefit from an inhaler - a ventolin inhaler would give him relief in about 10 minutes and so he would then be able to sleep. He would probably be given a brown preventer inhaler as well to be used night and morning so that when he came into contact with whatever sets it off (chlorine possibly) then he won't start coughing.

You could try the piriton and see if that helps - I have found it helps with the runny nose part but doesn't do much for the cough. You may have more luck though.

Thankyou, that is really helpful information. I might talk to the GP and ask if we could try an inhaler, if the piriton doesn't work - also I think I'll stop the swimming till the end of term and see if things improve.

Really grateful for your help.

You're welcome .

Just a thought - my DD had asthma 'up her nose' when she was little as well as on her chest, which caused a constant snotty nose when she had an attack, so your DS could have this? This can make the asthma cough worse as the snot drips down the back of the throat.

The gp prescribed a nasal spray (to be used as well as the inhalers) which really helped and improved the constant runny nose after a few days.

I suspect if you stop the swimming you will see an improvement anyway.

Oh wow - that does sound very familiar! Ds3 also has a very snuffly nose and I've been wondering if he has some kind of allergy - our house is very dusty

Lots to think about
Thanks again x

I would definitely see docs re asthma - my ds is asthmatic but doesn't wheeze - he just coughs and coughs, sometimes till he's sick. Once he was coughing, but not wheezing and I took him to the doctors as he had a temperature too and I suspected a chest infection. He was so wheezy he needed steroid tablets! I would ask the doctors about the swimming before stopping it as swimming is very good for asthma.