Please help me, persistent cough. At my wits end

[moobar]

Can anyone please help me. Dd fifteen months.

Got a cough starting nursery eight hours a week September. Since then has had three chest infections, two X sickness bugs and two colds.

We have had three courses of antibiotics, three courses of steroids, piriton and benylyn cough syrup.

Nothing is shifting it. She seemed to improve last week when she had norovirus. Ridiculous as it sounds, tonight is coughing away again.

Dry cough. No temperature at moment (did with chest infections). Been on oxygen monitor, all fine. Cot is tilted, tried steam.

Is this normal??? Doctors don't seem interested.

Could it be teeth? She has only cut three bottom and two top are coming, one middle one side.

I have post natal anxiety and particularly around her. Is there anything else I should be asking?

Please?

Is she eating and drinking well? Coughing 24/7 or or more often during day or night? Any pets?

My daughter had a persistent (and loud!) cough but was otherwise well for weeks when a little older than your daughter. Took her to doctor who said it was whooping cough! I guess her vaccinations didn't work?!?

Any family history of asthma? I have asthma and had persistent cough as a child before diagnosis.

But if eating and drinking well and no temperature try not to worry, easier said than done I know.

Yes eating and drinking well this week.

No history of asthma and I think that's what they looked for with oxygen test?

Dogs, lots of dogs. However wasn't coughing last week when they were here. Does go for a spell without it then it comes back.

I just want to take her out nursery and wrap her up safe, this is never ending.

Does cough in day but absolutely more at night, seems to constantly wake herself up.

In my limited experience they are not really interested because before the age of two they expect all children to have a bad cough.
Their immune systems are developing and they generally grow out of it.
However, at two, the gp referred us to the hospital. That’s after lots of playing about with inhalers, montelucast (sp?) and general toying with an asthma diagnosis.

As boring as it is I started taking notes when the coughing took place, this helped the consultant narrow down possibilities.

It’s hard but try not to worry. If it goes on after two the gp will take it seriously.

Ok. Thank you both.

When you say about notes, do you mean detailed or just eg coughing 23rd all night?

Feeling really wound up about it.

My toddler had a cough at night and it went on for ages, no temperature and well apart from the cough. Stated on the preventer inhaler and it went. We have a blue inhaler but only have to use it when he's got a cold

DSs persistent cough turned out to be cough variant asthma. He didn't wheeze, just coughed. Much worse around viral illnesses. Seems to be very well controlled now on Clenil (brown) inhaler and montelukast tablets. I think it's the montelukast which has helped the most. Blue inhaler (reliever) never seemed to make much difference.

Ok. So what do I need to be saying and asking for?

How would I get her an inhaler. They said she just has a cough?

The doctor would need to prescribe an inhaler after tests. Could it be central heating, allergen in bedding,.

Yes @HappyHammy one doctor did say that. But went on to say no tests available at her age?

I'm so sorry for her. Nose running now as well. She just seems to always be ill. Wish she could get a wee break.

My little one gets a terrible cough when her acid reflux is getting a bit out of control. Doctor told me once that it’s one of the contributors to lots of long term, persistent coughs. Once I get her medication balanced again it disappears.

Keep going back to the GP until they refer you

I would.push for allergy testing. I thought over 6mo was ok. There might be online info.

I found taking notes about the timing of the coughing helped, and also if it was a wet or a dry cough.

For us it turned out to be chronic bronchitis, not asthma, but the go to diagnosis is asthma, so you have to work through that.
They can’t diagnose asthma while under 8 (I think?) so they give inhalers and montelukast To see if that helps.

It took over a year of inhalers that didn’t work and runny noses. I would have been rich if I had shares in Kleenex.
Be wary and google montelukast if it’s prescribed. It’s a wonder drug if you have bad asthma, but can be awful if you don’t. My child didn’t.

As pp says, we kept going back to the GP at regular intervals until my child was at an age to be referred. They are now on a low dose antibiotic for the foreseeable future and the late night coughing, waking themselves up and throwing up are a thing of the past.

She still sleeps on a slope though

In your shoes I would try piriton syrup regularly (2 x day I think for toddlers) for a week or so. If that makes a difference could point to an allergy, if it makes no difference then back to docs.

Fwiw my asthma is set off by dogs, sorry as I know that might be hard to hear if they are your much loved pets.

Thanks all.

Ok this morning I'm thinking this time it's another cold. Man alive. I'm saying that because I am coughing this time and have blocked nose. However that's her sixth in a matter of months.

Piriton twice a day I have not done. Good point.

Yes dogs a worry but I do think given no improvements when they were away that I might be ok.

Poor soul just seems to be having a bad winter.

My ds had a persistent, dry, nocturnal cough (outside of the usual run of the mill bugs) and was prescribed a reliever inhaler pretty much straight away, no tests or referrals. It helped enormously so he was prescrobed a preventor one too. He might have been a touch older than your baby though, 2 maybe (can't quite remember when he got his first one). He was 'officially' diagnosed with asthma last year when he turned 5, after having inhalers for years.