DD has had a cough for about 6 weeks

[redskyatnight]

Title says it all really. DD has what sounds like a nasty cough but isn't really , and she's had it for over 6 weeks. No other symptoms. It seems to get better and then get worse again.

She had exactly the same sort of cough 2 years ago, I took her to the doctor and he helpfully said "she has a cough, it will take a while to go" -can't remember now exactly how long it did take to go but it did go eventually.

DD's cough doesn't really stop her doing anything but sometimes it keeps her awake at night and sometimes she struggles to breathe when she is coughing and almost makes herself sick iyswim. Loathe to go back to the doctor if I'm going to get the same sort of remark as before (not to mention we'll probably have to wait about 3 weeks for a non-emergency appointment), but hate to see her coughing!

Suggestions?

I would make a doctor's appointment anyway, if the cough has gone by then you can cancel, if she still has it she does need to see GP. Meanwhile, would go and see a pharmacist, talk through the symptoms and they might be able to suggest something?

How old is she? I would go back. Coughs do linger and if it's viral there isn't a lot that can be done but 6 weeks is too long and I would be looking at further investigations.

My DS suffers from a constant cough and has been diagnosed with 'protracted bacterial bronchitis'. His consultant explained that a child with a wet sounding cough lasting longer than 3/4 weeks is likely to have this. It makes him sick a lot and he coughs all the time. It takes a long course of strong antibiotics to clear it but it's treatable. A lot of GPs don't know much about it. Might be worth looking into?