Coughing in the night

[Sunflower100]

dd (21 months) is reasonably well- slight runny nose and very occasional slight cough by day but in the middle of the night she keeps having very long (can be an hour and a half) coughing fits - dry cough and can end up retching.
She has eczema and several food allergies so is a likely candidate for asthma. She isn't 'chesty' or 'wheezy' altho is prone to coughs, colds in her upper respiratory tract and people who have baby sat have commented how loudly she breathes while asleep
Does this sound like asthma? Anyone got any experience? GP says she is too young to diagnose and Im beginning to feel like a neurotic mum!!

dd2 had a night cough for over a year (0.5 - 1.5 years) and inhalers helped. She used to sleep in a car seat because she could not be laid flat. She has not "officially" been diagnosed with asthma and the night cough disappeared at about 2 years old, so no inhalers needed now. She had bronchiolitis as a baby and is prone to chest infections.

Do you know if it is suitable for a one year old?

I would ask for referral to paed. DS had very bad night cough and was out of breath when running. GP would not diagnose so I pestered for a referral saw paed when DS 20 months and he was diagnosed with asthma, he is now on inhahlers and singulair granules and nght cough only reappears now when he has a virus

norksinmywaistband is right - My ds had a cough for a year a bad one all night amongst other things are was eventually diagnosed with cf.

Your dd wont have cf its most probably asthma but best to get it checked to get whatever it is treated.

That sounds like asthma. My dd's asthma manifests itself in coughing fits, always at night. Worse in winter as cold is the trigger.

She's on a salamol inhaler with a volumatic attachment.

Has really helped. Her coughing fits used to frighten me.

since shes such a likely candidate for asthma i can't help but think that what it is. haven't noticed her being out of breath really tho. norks- your ds was diagnosed at 20mo- that shows it can be done. GP says its not possible

gp means that they don't want to label a child asthmatic. Which is true. People don't tend to say "she's asthmatic" full stop. But they will say, that sounds like symptom of asthma or however it's phrased. They can still recognise it and treat it at 20 months.

DD (21 months) has or better had exactly the same. Was referred to paediatrician in Sept and put on an inhaler with spacer. Inhales mornings and evenings only. Apparently "she is either slightly asthmatic with a good chance that she will grow out of it or has very sensitive airways".

Anyway, she has responded well to the treatment. Within a week no more coughing and even if she does have a cold she will normally just have a short bout and settle herself. Before she would be really distressed, cry and occasionally be sick. HTH

Thanks Bienchen - if it does turn out to be asthma thats just what Im looking for- thanks all.

Sunflower, apparently doctors find it a bit difficult to diagnose milder forms of asthma, especially if there is no general shortness of breath, wheezing. Explained that this was done on a trial/error basis. It worked for us. We are now just under normal GP care after one follow up visit and are planning to phase out inhaler after the winter as advised by paediatrician.