1 year old constant coughing, tired and desperate

[ifindmyself]

Hi

My one year old( 1 tomorrow) has been constantly coughing at night for 8 days now. He's finding it very hard to sleep and so are we, he's also crying alot. The last few days he's also been coughing throughout the day and the last two days he's had a streaming nose. He's starting to wheeze a bit when he breathes especially at night.

We've been to the doctors twice, they gave us antibiotics(the doctor thought he may have swollen tonsils) and an asthma inhaler. He's on the antibiotics but I find it impossible to get him to use the inhaler. We have also taken him to A and E where he miracously seemed better for the two hours we were there. They suggested calpol/ neurofen.

Also to try and stop the coughing he has a humidifier in his room and we do the bathroom steam thing but its not having much impact. Thinking about going back to A and E, haven't really slept for days.

He's had two similiar bouts before but not as bad.

Is this croup? Is this asthma? What should I do-all advice very welcome

You poor things! My now 15 month old was like this but we sorted the inhalers out and he's TONS better. With the inhalers there's no easy way - I'm assuming you've got a spacer? We got an orange one and then moved up to a yellow one which was a better fit. I hold him v tightly and basically hold it tight over his face till he's done 10 cries/breaths and repeat as required.
If he gets a cold it goes straight to his chest everytime. V upsetting! We also found that a good (max) dose of antihistamine esp ketotifen or chlorphenine helped tons too.

Good luck!

Brillant thanks for the advice-will be more determined with the inhaler tonight

you have to pin him down and force the inhaler on him. Doesnt matter if he is distressed - although i know this feels awful - he will not remember and the benefits of the inhaler will mean that he finally turns the corner

Thank you so much- we gave him the inhaler last night-and he finally slept and he's alot better. Thank you !

I know it's not quite the same but vicks on the feet also helps coughs.

My DD has to have an inhaler everytime she gets a cough because she cant shift it. Its not asthma just very common in toddlers. She has to use it before bed and during any bad coughing fits.

I find that if we use the inhaler on a teddy first before bed then use it on dd then there is a much higher success rate. Now shes abit older 2.5 i get her to sing a nursery rhyme whilst were using the puffer.