At my wit's end

[blablablaaaaaaaaa]

Not sure if anyone can offer any advice.

My 2 year old (very nearly 3) keeps getting a terrible cough that only seems to affect her at night. Her nighttime coughing fits are terrible - she usually ends up making herself sick and sometimes is coughing so much she can't talk. She coughs a few times during the day, and is otherwise completely well. No temperature and not snotty at all so I don't think it's post-nasal drip. I've been to the doctor so many times and they always say it's a virus. They've said it's not asthma.

However, is this how asthma might present itself? She's also really prone to chest infections and I wonder if that's related?

Sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense. Literally at my wits end and so sleep deprived because she's constantly waking herself up throughout the night. I feel awful for her and wonder if I'm missing something potentially serious? Should I go to a chest specialist do you think?

Any advice would be so appreciated!

Hi OP. Sounds like it could be viral wheeze. We were prescribed an inhaler and montelukast to use as needed. It’s not asthma per se but can be an indication of asthma later on (they don’t generally diagnose asthma so young)

Thanks for responding! We do have an inhaler that we give to her but I don't think it makes much difference! I just don't know what to do.

(That said it doesn’t explain the coughing at night only)

Night time coughing can be a sign of asthma or wheeze
i would push for a referral to a lung / respiratory specialist or certainly see your GP and ask about inhalers and montelukast (steroid)

I can recommend a paediatric respiratory specialist in London if it helps

Asthma

I'll try the GO again and definitely ask about montelukast - I'd never heard of that. Thank you!

GP*

Could there be any mould or damp? A friends child was sharing a wall with the bathroom and had a terrible cough at night. A while later they discovered a leak when changing tiles and it had penetrated the wall and inside the wall was full of mould and damp. Once this was sorted their child’s cough went away almost instantly. Just a thought.

Could it be reflux? If she's lying down that could be why it's happening at night

I don't think it will be that - we've recently moved her into a new room but she was like this in her old room too!

Aw no worries, at least you know it’s not the room though that’s something. I hope u can get to the bottom of it soon x

Hmm, I don't think so, as she never has any issues with eating and doesn't tend to get hiccups/vomit much (other than through coughing). But I'll definitely mention it to the GP! I just want to get to the bottom of it and it's been going on for so long now!

Does she have hayfever, that can cause night time coughing? Have you tried anti-histamines (as long as they're not contraindicated by any other medications)

We've tried her with piriton before bed but I don't think it makes much difference. She's also not sneezing/rubbing her eyes or anything in the day.

Everyone has suggested some good ideas as to what it might be for you to run by the GP.
Also add on allergies (pollen count - itchy throat, water/dry eyes and coughing; hay-fever, exacerbated at night). Does she have too many cuddly toys/carpet - any other fibrous material in her room?

Or could it be psychosomatic as you attend to her while she coughs/clears her throat?

Any other symptoms?

She does have cuddly toys and a rug in her room - shall I try removing them do you think? She also sleeps with a little comforter but we have 2 and rotate them every few days (to wash them).

She says her tummy hurts sometimes and when I ask her to show me where, she points at her chest. She's not obviously wheezy though, although sometimes I can hear a wheeze. It's not there all the time though. Can't really think of anything else!

This happens in winter too - she never seems to be able to shake any cough - it's always worse at night and, a lot of the time, ends up progressing to a chest infection.