How long do you leave a cough?

[Butterflies27]

My dd (3yrs in march) has protracted bacterial bronchitis, she had a chest infection in December which needed antibiotics. 2 weeks ago she started with a cold, cough temp, after the temp settled for a few days it started to rise so got her checked out. She had an ear infection and was prescribed antibiotics. The cold symptoms had started to go along with the cough maybe from antibiotics but for the last 2 days the coughing has started again it's a wet cough, nose not running. We went out in the car earlier and she fell asleep but woke due to coughing. This is kind of how her Pbb goes. How long do you leave a cough wet and dry before getting little ones checked by a gp?

No one

When dd was little, the GP told me that a cough can, and will, last for 6 weeks and that apart from soothing your throat, cough remedies do nothing, (and basically, unless a secondary infection from a bad cold was suspected and would need antibiotics, to not waste her time!)

That said, your dd's situation sounds more like the latter- it might be an ongoing infection from her previous illness and might need the antibiotics.

Also both times in my entire 51 years when I've had flu, it's started with a hacking greasy cough first, so I'd get her checked out.

hope she is better soon!

My dd had pneumonia 2 months ago, then a few weeks later she caught the horrible cold / cough virus. I didn't take her to the docs for 2 weeks which was when she started coughing up green phlegm. It was just a cough still but under the circumstances even the doc said it was good I bought her. If you're worried take her, or if she coughs up green / yellow phlegm, has a fever, crackling on the chest etc it's best to get her checked.

I'm just wondering the same thing op, my ds had croup at the end of November, treated with steroids and since then the cough has been coming back every other week almost. Fine for a few days, then back again, I do t want to keep going to the doctor as they keep giving him steroids, I've resorted to a throat syrup, no active ingredient to try to soothe his throat.. We've been to the doctor 4 times since Christmas about it, if I were you I would just go today and see what they say

Many thanks for your comments. We have been to the Drs, after reading all the correspondence from our consultant he has prescribed antibiotics. With this PBB she has it isn't well known and a prolonged wet cough is the only symptom. Which means only the parent knows if it's back. I felt like such a fraud for getting antibiotics for nothing more than a cough. I know the Drs must roll their eyes at us. My dd caught 2 chest infections back to back 2 years ago, she wasn't prescribed antibiotics quick enough they left her and now the virus has harboured in her lungs. For 9 months she coughed day and night (the longest we haven't slept is 18 nights in a row) and we were told it was normal. She caught a chest infection every 3 weeks as a cold cough would turn bacterial. Once she got seen by a specialist X-rays taken etc she was given an antibiotic which kills it. She will grow out of this when her lungs get bigger, but they have no idea when or what damage this could cause to her lungs in the future. Trying to work out if we're jumping the gun or if she has a normal cough is so hard.

No you're not jumping the gun or being a fraud! Under those circumstances you've done precisely the right thing. I hope your little one recovers well

Thank you so much for the support. This is my 3rd child and has knocked my confidence massively as a mum.

From the sounds of it you've been doing everything as you should have been. You sound like a fantastic mother

I would love to know the outcome of this post if OP is still active?