Bad chest and cough in 3 year old

[Okaaaay]

Just looking for some reassurance and a hand hold. For full disclosure upfront, I have health anxiety around my DS3 following an episode of sepsis when he was 2 (from which he recovered). I’ll summarise the long story, but the current worry is an awful wheezy cough which made him vomit tonnes of fluid last night.

My DS started with a bad cold about 6 weeks ago which went on for around 5 days. On the 5th day he appeared much more unwell, wheezy and sucking under his ribs. I took him to the GP. His O2 sats were 89/90 (should be 95) and so he was admitted to hospital. The paediatrician said it was a viral wheeze and he was started on a standard blue inhaler and had one dose of nebuliser. He perked up after 24 hours and a small amount of O2 and we went home to follow a wheeze plan. He recovered nicely.

Two weeks later his cough, which had been lingering, reared it’s head again. I took him back to the GP who did all his obs and said he was fine but to restart the inhaler. Again, he appeared better after a couple of days.

Yesterday (three weeks later) he started with a sharp cough and very mild cold. It escalated during the night and he coughed on exhalation for 3 hours solid - it was horrible. The cough was totally disproportionate to the mild cold. It sounded mucusy as it progressed. Eventually he was really sick. He then slept for a few hours (he seemed to cough less whilst in the deepest part of his sleep). Back to the GP who advised to restart inhalers and has prescribed antibiotics to ensure there isn’t a bacterial infection.

I’m tired (having not slept last night or properly for ages to be honest) and really scared. The coughing last night was frightening me - shaking his little body and had us up for hours. I’m worried it will happen again tonight. My mum has him today and he’s coughed through the day and badly at nap time. I’m worried he’s got a pneumonia or early onset wheeze (asthma) and that he’s going to get really sick. My partner and I work full time and are totally on the edge at the moment (both at risk at work) so him being poorly too is overwhelming me completely.

Positive stories of similar children who have recovered or tips for easing nighttime. Thank you for reading

Not much advice for tonight apart from using the inhaler and leaving a window slightly open in the room he's sleeping in.

Tomorrow wash his bedding at 60 degrees and hoover the room he's sleeping in, including the mattress and curtains.

It sounds as though he might have Dust Mite Allergy.

It certainly won't harm him doing those things.

Look up how to freeze his soft toys as well

Hi,

I'm writing this now as my poor daughter is coughing up a lung. I also have health anxiety but I'm convinced there is something else going on here. She was 5 weeks premature.

Whenever she gets a cold.. which is all the time considering she's at preschool. She gets a horrendous cough for 10 plus days straight. The poor thing can't sleep.. I can't sleep it's bloody awful.

On 12th April she had a chickenpox vaccine.. a week later she developed croup and ended up in A&E. Doctors don't think it was related. But I don't know. She had a dose of steroids and the cough began to dwindle.. around 26th April. I'm also giving her hay fever meds.

Fast forward to now and she's been getting a cough that's progressed since 5th May. The poor girl hasn't had a restful night sleep in ages! Neither have I to be fair.

For the past 3 days it's been awful. Coughing every 5 mins. She went one night where it was every couple of hours and I thought.. ok we're coming out of this.. but tonight were back to every 5 mins again.

Doctors check her vitals and oxygen and airways are always clear!! What the hell is going on. They have prescribed a brown inhaler now as well.. which I gave up with before because I thought it was actually making it worse but I've been told to preserve.

On day 3 of 1 puff in the morning and evening for that now.

I just don't understand at all. Surely this isn't normal. Coughing so much when she has a cold or whatever. Doctors don't want to investigate further as her vitals are always ok!

Im at my wit's end and feel so helpless not being able to help her.

Ive tried everything Humidity, snot suckers, saline solutions, inhalers, propped her pillows up, medicines.

None of my friends have this issue with the coughing with their children which actually annoys me. Im just so tired of it. I'm also very scared.

Could it be Dust Mite Allergy @Pinkpanda123? My DSis was like this as a child and that is what was causing her cough. It's usually a dry, barking type cough.

There's some information about it here from Allergy UK.

Hi,

Yes it's the same a barky dry cough. I've just had a look at the link.. thank you! It's alot to do to help prevent the cough but I'm willing to try!

Thank you.

No problem