Does this sound like asthma?

[hiccupgirl]

I'm taking DS (4) to the GP later today anyway but just wanted to get some opinions as to whether I'm being a complete pfb or whether I'm right to be concerned.

DS has had a 'habit' of making a whooping noise over and over when breathing especially when tired since around 2.5. The GP then reckoned it was a habit and not to worry about it. About 6-8 weeks ago he started with a continual loose chesty cough that just will not go. At his worse he is continually coughing as though to clear his throat, whooping again and you can hear the phelgm rattling when he breathes. Last night when he was tired he was coughing and whooping just over and over till he fell asleep. He is fine once he's asleep though. Now and again he says his chest hurts but mainly he's not bothered at all by any of this.

I'm concerned about asthma because my FIL has always had chronic asthma and DS already has mild execma which has flared up again this summer. It's reached the point where listening to DS breathing and coughing behind me in the car is like having my FIL in there...he sounds the same.

And I being really pfb and just seeing it there because I'm aware of how FIL sounds or am I right to be worried?

I would be worried myself. How did the appointment go?

Apparently it's not asthma, it's a nervous tic and he should grow out of it.

Unfortunately he wasn't very phelmy yesterday so she only got to hear the constant whooping noise rather than the rattling cough. She will refer him to a paediatrician if it gets worse or it annoys his teacher when he starts school (!) but we should just ignore it.

Tbh I don't know what to think. I'm not convinced that's all it is but he is highly strung and nervous about starting school so maybe it is and it will go soon?

Thanks for asking

It doesn't sound much like asthma to me, but I'm not an expert. The fact that it stops when he falls asleep would make me think it isn't. I don't think the whooping and loose chesty cough sound quite right for asthma either. An asthma cough tends to be dry and non-productive.

Could be the tic combined with a mild infection maybe?

Oh blimey, what a non-diagnosis!!!

Just keep an eye on it then OP, maybe mention to the school that he is nervous and ask them to keep an eye on it and tell you how he goes. Poor little poop!!!

Thanks everyone. I'm def keeping an eye on it and will be back to the doctors for a referral if it doesn't improve or it's a problem at school.

He did seem to do it less over the weekend when we ignore it more but then this evening he was whopping when breathing in and then wheezing when breathing out over and over. But it stops as soon as he's asleep . He's very aware of it now as well which I don't think is helping.

keep an eye on it and maybe film/record it so that you can play it at the next appointment.
it could be asthma, the eczema and coughing when tired could be an indicator.
when he whoops is it deep? i.e. lots of movement in his belly and in the dell between the clavicles

my 'asthma cough' is an annoying throat clearing and dry-but-deep (iykwim) cough.