Should I take my eight-month-old back to the GP for his cough?

[BessieBye]

My 8mo son has had a cough for a month. His sleep has been AWFUL and his day time mood not so good. He is ok for short periods and will be entertained for a little while, but gets fed up easily. He is feeding ok, not as much as normal but I’d say a good amount.

Not only has he had this cough for a month, but he’s had a cold at least once a month since he was born. Every single month we’ve had illness!

I know he has no immune issues as he was hospitalised in February and they done an immunology test and he was clear of any immune disorders.

I took him to the GP 2 weeks ago as I was losing my mind, so unhappy and waking every 20-30 mins at night. They said no ear infection , chest clear and throat a bit red but nothing concerning. Should I take him back to the GP since it’s been going on so long? Or is it just one of those things?

He hasnt started teething?
If in doubt get him checked to ask questions.
First year is hell for colds & germs.
Has the cough stayed the same or changed in that time?

Is the cough worse at night or when he's particularly active?
I wonder about asthma, but he could have a post -viral inflammation of his airways. I would take him back to the GP.

He has yes, he got his first tooth I think 3 weeks ago? I’m convinced there’s another one coming as the drool is next level!!

yeah I don’t think it helps being a winter baby, my daughter was born in the summer and rarely poorly. Until she started reception!!

Yes it’s worse at night, it wakes him frequently and you can tell he’s frustrated by it.

I think I will take him back, will ring them when they open. Thank you!

Yes if it hasn’t improved. I had the same last year for me - I had a relentless cough. GP checked, sent on my way. Went back and it was actually an upper chest infection. Sometimes it needs to develop first before they treat.

Yes go back. Unresolving cough, especially at night, can be a symptom of childhood asthma

Ask for a viral throat swab and ask the GP if it could be Mycoplasma pneumoniae or whooping cough. Your GP will probably complain, but they can send off to the nearest big hospital or UKHSA lab for testing. You don't want antibiotics unnecessarily, but if it IS some kind of bacterial chest infection, you want to know. If a swab test rules out viral and bacterial infection, you can think about things like reflux or allergy.

Asthma can get worse at night if not controlled properly during the day.