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Children's health

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What is this cough all about?

3 replies

trolleycoin · 15/10/2013 12:22

Will try and make a long story short. DS (aged 2) had ear infection (suspect due to back molars appearing), then croup, then the really nasty virus that was going round, at the beginning of September. He was ill with it for about a fortnight, going through the motions of temperature, cough, congested, loss of appetite, bucket loads of snot.

He seemed to be just getting over it and then got another cold, though not as bad, just snotty and coughing and it lasted about a week. Appetite back with gusto! He was still coughing, so I took him to GP. she wasn't overly concerned, said his chest was clear, ears were fine etc. She gave us a ventolin inhaler - which I think was more to reassure me. We were using it a couple of times a day if he needed it, and were about to ease of it, as cough seemed to be better and he was sleeping through again.

However, the cough has returned for the last 2 weeks and weirdly, it seems to have a schedule. 12am - bad coughing. 4am bad coughing. Maybe a bit before bedtime 8pm and after lunch 1pm - especially when he fell asleep in his car seat, but he didn't cough on Sunday when he fell asleep on DH.

He seems fine in himself, playing, eating etc. We were outside all Saturday and he never coughed, so I don't know if the cold is affecting it. We've not had the radiator on in his room as its between 18-20 c in there.

MIL was round today and said that he looks fine in himself and if I take him docs as he is now, his happy self singing etc, then they'll think I'm being OTT. But its not normal to be up at 4am etc coughing, I'm sick of it, so he must be too.

I am going to try arrange docs for end of the week so I will have a full diary of his symptoms etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions, as I feel I may need to prompt Dr if I don't feel we are getting anywhere.

OP posts:
JetSetWilly · 15/10/2013 12:24

Have you considered whooping cough? Have a look here for symptoms and also videos to see whether the cough sounds similar

Hope your ds is better soon

trolleycoin · 15/10/2013 12:37

You could be on to something there JetSetWilly. It sounds exactly like the cough without the whoop on the site. I'm going to record him next time he starts it, so I can show Dr.

That is what I find so odd about it though - the long gaps in between the coughs.

OP posts:
JetSetWilly · 15/10/2013 14:37

Argh would be horrible if it is.. I had it two years ago was awful and I was so grateful my kids didn't get it. Has your ds had his jabs? I can only guess mine didn't get it was because they had their jabs??

Unfortunately my doctor wasn't much help and there isn't much they can give that can help whooping cough. The only thing that helped me was sleeping sitting up and breathing in the vapours of Vicks in a hot bowl.

I think it's also hard for doctors to confirm it's whooping cough as well, the website will have much more info but from memory you have to ask for a blood test and by the time you have it it's too late to treat. Is he coughing up clear phlegm? That, the sound of the cough, and the cough presenting mostly at nighttime was how I knew it was whooping cough. Argh hope ds is better soon whatever it is :(

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