Toddler been coughing since Christmas

[Sagittarius25]

DS is now 16 months and has been coughing one way or another since Christmas. I'm not exaggerating to say he's had two 5 day periods in that time where the cough has stopped, to then quickly return.

He attends nursery to obviously picks up all sorts and I know that is normal, however we just seem to be going round in circles, with a cough that always returns, even without other viral symptoms. Wondering if anyone can give some advice.

Here's a history:

• over christmas period had a horrible cold/cough virus which took a solid week to shake and get normal temps and be back to himself, the cough then carried on
• took to docs start of Feb as didn't want to ignore the advice of visiting GP if cough lasting more than 3/4 weeks which it had - GP said viral and they get things back to back
• cough carried on through Feb with few days of subsiding
• by start of March he picked up another horrible cold/cough virus with raging temps, back to normal for two days after 5 days of bad temps (cough remained) then temps back up, so went to GP
• they prescribed antibiotics as everything was inflamed and crackle on upper chest
• antibiotics cleared everything, including cough, now 3 days after finishing antibiotics the cough is back, no other viral symptoms, just coughing

The cough changes between throaty and dry to chesty and wet and it is worse at night. A good night is he's coughing in his sleep at various points, so just annoying for us. Bad night is it wakes him and he's upset and coughing to the point of retching.

He has medicine when has a temp, cough medicine doesn't seem to do much, we have a Vicks humidifier on all night when he is coughing which puts out mist and menthol scent, this helps to a degree. We do vicks on chest, back and feet.

If he is just almost continually coughing, more so at night, but fine in himself, at what point do I push back firmer at docs? Surely this isn't normal??

I will say, before Christmas he was picking up viruses from nursery with usual symptoms and cough, but then clearing it and having weeks of nothing, it's like since Christmas something has changed.

Sorry for long post but I just don't know what is going on now!!

Any allergies in the family? Have you asked about childhood asthma?

@24Dogcuddler I suffer with hayfever every year from March to late Sept.

I haven't asked about asthma but have been reading a lot of forums and have been starting to think along these lines, or at least reactive airways type thing.

He did get prescribed an antihistamine when he was 12 months as was having a weird hives reaction to cold, didn't need to use it in the end the hives stopped. but still have the antihistamine unopened, don't know if this is worth a try.

Yesterday i also damp dusted, hoovered, new sheets and mattress protector on cot mattress and aired the room out, still no avail.

We have booked a private GP appointment for him through DH medical cover from work for Saturday, which DS is covered on. The NHS is great but hoping this provides a bit more of a holistic appointment and discussion without being rushed.

Can the GP (private or NHS) do a nose and throat swab and find out what your son has? Eg Mycoplasma is called 100 day cough or walking pneumonia because it makes kids cough for weeks https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/walking-pneumonia.html

Hope you get some answers soon.