Constant Coughing..

[Bol87]

My bambino is 21 months old & has no end of issues with her chest. She has a cough that just never goes.. (or so it seems). Every couple weeks or so, it suddenly worsens (usually around the onset of another cold) & she has these coughing fits where for 8 hours straight she breathes, coughs, breathes, coughs none stop. It makes her sick, she looses her voice & when laid down gasps for breath (but ok sat up).. Since October, we’ve been in A&E several times needing steroids. And told each time it’s viral but she’s struggling. She gets a shot & sent home. She’s also been on 4 sets of antibiotics from our GP as they can’t understand why it’s not clearing up after the steroids. I’m not convinced they think it’s an infection but give them as a precaution which I don’t love.. It happened again last Sunday, she had steroids, sent home but continued to keep coughing pretty badly. I took her to the GP today as she was getting distressed & we’ve got more antibiotics as she ‘ sounds chesty & the steroids should have helped by now’?!

Is this normal for a toddler? She goes to nursery once a week & I also take her to toddler group & with NCT friends in the week as well, so she’s around other children most of the week! I do totally get that they are always ill at this age & I hate making a fuss or seeming like I’m being a hypochondriac parent! In fact, I wait until I’m collapsing before going to the doc so this is all new to me..!

Thanks for any advice etc!

I don’t have good advice but I do believe some children are prone to poorly chests coughs and understandably it is so worrying for the parents and distressing for the child.

I have two DC aged 7 and 3. My eldest constantly had chest infections and nasty coughs when he was your DD’s age up until about age 3-4. It was awful and particularly worst during the winter. Every time he got s cold (which was quite often) it would lead to a bad cough and chest and the cough would linger for weeks on end. He would get over it then catch it again. He had anti biotics, steroids, inhalers and nothing seemed to help. Fortunately he has outgrown it now and now at 7 he is very rarely ill but if he was to get a cold/cough the cough would linger.

DD has had a few colds and minor coughs. She’s been fortunate not to suffer so I really do think that some children are unlucky.

Like I said no advice, it’s awful but she may just outgrow it.

Get your gp to check her for asthma.
Dc1 had a cough like that (complete with profuse vomiting) until they were diagnosed age 8 months - before that they used to sound like they smoked 60 a day.

That sounds like my asthma when it's not under control

Has nobody mentioned asthma??

She may be low on vitamin D. I was like her constantly sick but after supplements from the gp my life is great. No more chest infections, colds or anything.