20 month old - cough that has lasted for about 7 months

[StarExpat]

This past winter, DS had pneumonia, then several episodes of tonsillitis. Throughout all of it, he has had this chesty cough, sometimes a barking cough. It's definitely phlegm-y sounding and sometimes (sorry TMI) I can tell he's coughed something up as he chews/sucks in the back of his mouth, then swallows it back down.

Anyway, when he was ill, he'd cough a lot. Now, he only coughs at night, after (sometimes during) his nap, and when he's first up in the morning. It sounds really horrible. He also coughs when he's been running around a lot outside. People always give an odd look at him when he coughs because it sounds really awful.

Mothers often ask me if he's ill or say "aww, poor little lad" or similar... when actually, he's perfectly fine other than the cough. he'll cough several times in a row and it's really chesty so it does sound bad.

I have asthma (had it as a child and it's not bad now at all, but was when I was smaller). I know that 20 months is too young to tell, but I'm hoping this isn't it.

He did seem to have hayfever. We controlled that with Piriton.

What else could this be? I don't want him to have this cough forever. Do you think it's something more sinister?

My mother (non-smoker all her life) died of lung caner at the age of 40, so this is probably what is worrying me most of all I know that is an over reaction, I just have this feeling that something is not right. And I want my little boy to be ok Anyone else with a cough like this or know what it might be?
Sorry it's so long.

Thank you both. You are so lovely!

Yes, nothing sinister however, penicillin based antibiotics won't work - according to our doc.

One more question. Then I really need to get myself over to that asthma support thread!

If inhalers are given to children at an early age, does it make them more dependent on them? Would it be better not to give the inhaler unless the child's breathing is absolutely uncontrollable or better to give it to ease/prevent?

Thanks chuckbartowski. Your reply on the other thread helped a lot

Yes I saw the GP. I was condescendingly kindly brushed off and told that it's just a lingering cough. Odd because I made ds climb the stairs to the office after running him around like mad outside just before and when we got up there, he was coughing for about a minute straight, gasping for air in between. I gave him the inhaler through the spacer in the dr's office, he was calmed with that (though ds hates that thing, so that was another obstacle). Dr said it sounds like just a lingering cough from chest infections. and not to worry, it will go away.

I've just booked an appointment with the dr we occasionally use privately. He's usually much less dismissive but doesn't over prescribe meds, either. We see him later this week.

That's silly that I thought one might become dependent on an inhaler... because I never became reliant on mine. I'm fine without mine now except on the odd emergency occasion.

I will. I can't say I blame the GP. When he was first born, I brought him in for every little thing because I was so anxious. I've calmed down a lot now, but I have been in quite often throughout the winter - every few weeks with him with tonsilitis or chest infections. Once, there was a weird red mark on him and a fever that wouldn't go down and dr sent us to the A&E for suspected meningitis... I need to just relaxxxx but this breathing stuff is just to serious to ignore, imo/ime.
Thanks for all of your support. I really appreciate it