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Children's health

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Original poster

DD coughing every night and after physical activity persistently.

69 replies

Modestly · 23/02/2021 15:03

DD is Covid negative. It’s been around 2 weeks since she’s been continuously coughing throughout the night and after any physical activity. I’ve been going back and fourth with the GP just to get her examined in person. They told me it’s most likely asthma but have no way of confirming this. They gave her a blue pump (which doesn’t seem to help) and some chewable tables (Montelukast) which i later realised has serious side affects (depression anxiety to name some). It also has an article on the serious side effects and in just so furious how the doctors are not confirming a diagnosis and assuming it’s asthma or irritation and prescribing her such a serious medication. She’s suffering every night and with the treatment I haven’t been able to see any improvement. Her cough has just gotten deeper and has now turned into a Phlegm cough. The GP who did see said it doesn’t sound like a chest infection and do continue giving the treatment. See I’m just so helpless I can’t bear seeing her like this Especially when my instinct tells me it’s not asthma and something else . It doesn’t seem to go away rather it’s just getting worse. To top it up she also told me it can last for years (her assumption is that it’s asthma) but I’m sorry what ? I know a lot of people around me who have asthma. It does not sound like this and neither does the cough continue EVERY night continuously. We are tired and just so desperate. I’m just so worn out :( any advice would be appreciated. Do you think it’s worth going privately ? Do I watch her suffer for a year or so

OP posts:

twinmum2017 · 23/02/2021 15:28

It sounds like asthma to me. My daughters presented exactly the same, as did my husband as a child (he went undiagnosed for YEARS).

You need a brown inhaler to use regularly
Morning and night to get on top of the symptoms properly. The blue one is just for an attack, we use that if she can't stop coughing, but that usually only happens if she has a cold.

Crockof · 23/02/2021 15:32

@twinmum2017

It sounds like asthma to me. My daughters presented exactly the same, as did my husband as a child (he went undiagnosed for YEARS).

Agree, it can then take 2-4 weeks for the cough to clear. My child's is seasonal jfyi.

Cooper88 · 23/02/2021 15:35

My daughter had this and it wasn't until the brown inhaler got prescribed for morning and night use that the cough got under control. Her fought went on for months, and I do mean months before they prescribed the brown inhaler and within a month the cough was gone. BUT if we stop the inhaler it comes back.

Bee0808 · 23/02/2021 15:37

Asthma
Classic presentation of night time coughing

blackcat86 · 23/02/2021 15:40

Sounds exactly like asthma. Mine was diagnosed at 9 - same thing with the coughing at night. Diagnosed with tablets to see if it improved. It did so asthma diagnosis was confirmed. Unfortunately all medication has side effects but uncontrolled asthma is very dangerous.

AnnaMagnani · 23/02/2021 15:45

It sounds like asthma. I did this for my whole childhood and my DM managed it by telling me to stop coughing.

Got diagnosed age 32. Never did manage to run up the games field. Possible I wasn't unfit, I just had bad lungs but we'll never know now will we?

DM feels guilty now.

Oh and my asthma has just kicked of a week ago so it's the classic season for it.

BebeStevens · 23/02/2021 15:58

Montelukast is a cheap medication. A while ago there was talk of it becoming the first treatment option in asthma cases. I don't know if that happened or not.

There used to be a Facebook support group for side effects etc. Not sure if it still exists.

If the medication isn't improving things you need different medication. It may be they don't want to refer at the moment but I imagine you will need a consultant to be prescribed preventer for her. You could ask for a referral or even for an asthma nurse appointment rather than GP?

AnnaMagnani · 23/02/2021 16:05

I think Montelukast is first line for children - not sure, I don't treat children, don't take my word for it.

Times change, when it came out it was super expensive and people were desperate to get it!

Anyway for me it transformed my asthma from a nightmare to manageable. Bloody marvellous stuff.

Yes asthma does last years but the symptoms shouldn't - you escalate the treatment until you have got on top of it and then you manage it. Mostly I don't really think about mine.

You need to go back and be reassessed until the treatment is right.

Wannabecheerleader · 23/02/2021 16:06

My DS was the same, it was asthma.

Oneearringlost · 23/02/2021 16:11

"Especially when my instinct tells me it’s not asthma and something else"
What does your instinct tell you it is?

Merrz · 23/02/2021 16:13

I had the exact same as a child and was asthma, grew out of it. She needs a steroid inhaler to take morning and night, i assume they won't give her one until she's been seen though. It was awful, kept me and the whole house up I found sleeping propped up with pillows so i wasn't lying flat helped and also sucking an ice cube made a huge difference

MindyStClaire · 23/02/2021 16:31

Yes sounds like asthma to me too. Unfortunately two weeks isn't a long time to have a cough at all, especially for an asthmatic.

FAQs · 23/02/2021 16:33

Has she had an allergy test?

I have a couple of allergies which trigger coughing, but I’ve been given an inhaler as a precaution and it does assist.

Smellybluecheese · 23/02/2021 16:53

Definitely sounds like asthma. My daughter was given montelukast for hers at one point (she already had preventer inhalers though) and it made her asthma much worse, perhaps try stopping that and see if it makes a difference.

Smellybluecheese · 23/02/2021 16:56

Oh yes, and she coughed solidly for about 18 months before she was diagnosed. I look back at old videos and it is horrifying. Sounds like a very old chain smoker. I eventually persuaded the GP that because both her parents are asthmatic, it was quite likely she was too (up until that point my husband had been taking her to the GP regularly with the cough and failed to mention family history...anyway we got the inhalers and the cough cleared up pretty much straight away (within a week or two).

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:09

Because I haven’t seen an improvement with the pump and I can visibly see her cough getting deeper. I’m not an expert but I would have thought the pump can help rather it feels it hasn’t gotten better but more conjested.

Thank you to everyone else ! It’s really reassuring and I will most definitely check out if I can get referred to get a brown pump.

OP posts:

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:12

Thank you to all for the advice. I really appreciate it. Will definitely try to get referred so we can get hold of a brown pump. Also our fo curiosity , I was asked by her nursery teacher if an allergy could be a reason for this? We have recently moved to our new house but it has a lot of dampness alongside with windows that make the dampness work and cause mould to grow. Feel so guilty and gutted that my DD has to suffer due to this. We are planning to get the windows changed but my heart is broken seeing how she went from an active child to someone who is avoiding to play outdoors because of the coughing fits. Just wished there was more support and information out there for mother’s like ourselves.

OP posts:

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:14

I was also wondering the same thing ! Want to see if I can get referred to an allergist.

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 23/02/2021 17:14

I know this might sound weird but a deeper cough might actually be some improvement.

I am only speaking about my lungs but when I am bad I do lots of superficial coughs. When treatment starts working I can cough deeper and it sounds awful but I feel a lot better. And when treatment has fully worked I don't cough at all.

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:16

Also, do you guys think the monteklast tablets are necessary if the brown pump is more effective ? Yes all medications have side effects but this one has an article published In which the FDA talks about giving highlight to the warnings of the side effects :

www.ajmc.com/view/fda-steps-up-warning-for-montelukast-for-risk-of-mental-health-side-effects

Do have a look and see. It would worry anyone with a young child.

OP posts:

Powerplant · 23/02/2021 17:21

Did your GP ask for your DD to do peak flow tests?

AnnaMagnani · 23/02/2021 17:22

On the other hand the experts who have recommended montelukast for children will also be fully aware of this.

I'd suggest you speak to your child's GP in real life about your concerns. Asthma UK is also an excellent source of advice and support.

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:23

@AnnaMagnani oh wow I had no clue. I really hope that’s the case here

OP posts:

Original poster

Modestly · 23/02/2021 17:24

@Oneearringlost

OP posts:

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 23/02/2021 17:29

Agreed on all posts above saying asthma. Mine comes and goes and when it was bad i would wake in the night with coughing fits.
It is very interlinked with allergies though, have you assessed her room for allergens that could be setting her off?
Bedding washed regularly at 60°, hard floors if possible & hoovered daily, minimize items in bedroom, check round windowsill for mould, ensure house well ventilated, make sure none of those god awful chemical air fresheners in the house (plug ins & aerosols set me off terrible).
If i dont stick to the above my allergies flare up, which in turn exacerbates my asthma.

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