When a cough needs seeing to

[buggycough]

Hi
My 2 year old has had a cold for about a week and 2 days. She started nursery around this time so obviously picking up illnesses already!
She's had a snotty nose etc., but yesterday she developed a really phlegmy cough. She'll cough and then really choke on the phlegm and struggle to catch her breath for a few seconds.
It may be fine and I might be overreacting, but it's frightening me! I'm scared she will choke in her sleep or something. It's so scary watching her having to choke on the phlegm and catch her breath
At what point do you call someone about it?

I’d say definitely go see your gp, we were always told if they struggle at all it needs to be checked out

Do you think that I should call 111??

Yes I've taken my dd to the doctor with a hacking cough. Usually it's a virus but they always want to listen to her chest. She has allergies and a history of coughing.
Does your child have a temperature,?
Are they eating and drinking OK?

She doesn't have a temperature. Has been eating and drinking but not as much as usual

You can call 111 whenever you like op. Don't feel like they need to be a certain level of unwell. I've always found them to be brilliant. Sometimes I get my dd seen almost immediately at a nearby clinic.

But 111 will triage you and ask these questions.

If the phlegm is green or brown and they have a fever, absolutely call 111. However because young children are not very effective at blowing their nose it could still be viral and caused by snot dripping down the back of their throat rather than something more sinister.

Thank you everyone. She is fast asleep now and she's still be coughing but not struggling. The struggling tended to mostly happen when she was eating or drinking. Her breathing sometimes sounds quite hoarse but I suppose with a sore throat and cough it will do? It's not all the time though and she's mostly silent when asleep