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Children's health

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Chronic cough in 6 year old

10 replies

IndecisiveRabbit · 20/01/2025 22:37

My son has had a cough for the last 7 months, almost constantly, with a few weeks off over the summer. It started with a nasty virus, when he had a hacking cough/temperature/rash but is now more of a throat clearing/dry cough. It tends to be worse in the mornings and evenings, and when he has a cold, which he gets an awful lot of, so it took a long time to realise how long it has been going for. He has had bloods done, all fine except for slightly high tsh, which will need repeating in a few months. He is otherwise generally well, eating/drinking/growing/full of energy/not bothered by the cough, though he tends to get lots of ear infections and burst drums. I have been to the GP numerous times about this, and have had referrals to paediatrics from the GP turned down by our local hospital twice, as they obviously don't feel he needs any further investigation, such as an x-ray. One GP suggested taking allergy medication, another an inhaler, although the test where you blow into the device suggested it was unlikely to be asthma or allergies as he had a low score. No breathlessness or wheezing. I have a private appointment booked for him next week as we don't seem to be.getting anywhere. Just wondered if anyone had any other thoughts?

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 21/01/2025 06:47

I’d try a trial of a steroid inhaler, for maybe 4 weeks, and see if there’s any improvement.
See if they will give you a peak flow so that you can record the results and see any improvement yourself.

Solasum · 21/01/2025 06:48

Do you live somewhere with pollution, or where crop sprays etc are used? I cough all the time in the City, but by the sea or mountains not at all.

K1ran · 21/01/2025 06:50

It could be allergies. Especially if it is worse morning and evenings. Ask your doctor If they would prescribe anti allergy medication.

HappyHedgehog247 · 21/01/2025 06:50

There is a kind of asthma that is cough based. My dd had it when younger. Inhaler helped.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 21/01/2025 08:49

Asthma?

PlugUgly1980 · 21/01/2025 09:54

Both my children are asthmatic (9 and 11 years old). One only coughs and the other wheezes. Just different variants. I'd try a steroid inhaler and see if it improves.

IndecisiveRabbit · 21/01/2025 20:53

DustyLee123 · 21/01/2025 06:47

I’d try a trial of a steroid inhaler, for maybe 4 weeks, and see if there’s any improvement.
See if they will give you a peak flow so that you can record the results and see any improvement yourself.

Edited

Thank you for your reply. Yes I think that this is probably the next thing to try, after reading up on cough asthma. The GP is happy to precribe it but isn't convinced that is the problem, so I had held off trying.

OP posts:
IndecisiveRabbit · 21/01/2025 20:56

Solasum · 21/01/2025 06:48

Do you live somewhere with pollution, or where crop sprays etc are used? I cough all the time in the City, but by the sea or mountains not at all.

We don't, we live in a small village near the sea. However we do have cats, and there has been a bit of damp in some rooms of our house, though I have tried to clear it whenever it appears, so I was wondering if it could be related to allergies/spores of some kind.

OP posts:
IndecisiveRabbit · 21/01/2025 20:58

K1ran · 21/01/2025 06:50

It could be allergies. Especially if it is worse morning and evenings. Ask your doctor If they would prescribe anti allergy medication.

Yes I did wonder if it could be something in his bedroom, due to the pattern of the coughing, but everything is clean, unscented washing powder etc. Definitely a possibility though.

OP posts:
IndecisiveRabbit · 21/01/2025 20:59

PlugUgly1980 · 21/01/2025 09:54

Both my children are asthmatic (9 and 11 years old). One only coughs and the other wheezes. Just different variants. I'd try a steroid inhaler and see if it improves.

Thank you, yes I think this is the next step.

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