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Original poster

Can a cough be a symptom of asthma in a child?

17 replies

fabarooney · 11/10/2004 12:41

My 3 year old dd has had a terrible cough for over 3 weeks now. She had a very mild cold 4 weeks ago and the cough started shortly after that. She coughs violently when she gets up in the morning and we have noticed that it gets particularly bad after she has been active. I had to pick her up early from nursery today because she began coughing so much at play time and the staff were worried that she couldn't breathe properly. I took her to the doctor last week and he said that her chest was clear and that it was just a virus but I'm getting really worried now as it has been going on for so long and does not seem to get any better.

I am asthmatic myself and hubby has hayfever so we are a very allergicky family. Nursery have suggested we mention asthma to the doctor - I'm taking her there later this afternoon. Can a cough be a symptom of asthma in a child as young as this? Have no idea of the symptoms of childhood asthma as mine was adult onset.

OP posts:

Amfs · 11/10/2004 12:44

take her back to the doctor because a chest infection can develop within a few days

It does sound slightly asthmatic but I wouldn't jump to any conclusions .. I'm sure you are missing a key symptom of coughing in the early hours of the night .. that's when asthma tends to strike I believe

suzywong · 11/10/2004 12:45

hate to tell you this but my DS1 had a very very similar thing when he was 2 and a bit, we got one sensible Gp who said it was a virus and another over zealous one who wanted to send us down the asthama/inhaler route. We didn't go there and it cleared up of its own accord.

However, best go to your GP and get a test just to be on the safe side
HTH

Marina · 11/10/2004 12:45

Yes, it can be apparently, fabarooney (dh has mild asthma and ds was once checked out for it on the basis of one nasty cough and cold - he was clear btw).
There is also a nasty cough virus circulating, though. I would mention it this afternoon.

charliecatthenonsmoker · 11/10/2004 12:52

My dd had a cough and the doctor sent us away, I took her again as it was after she was active etc and I was thinking my goodness this has never quite gone away...took her back 3rd time and all of a sudden the doctor was really concerned and sending us for Xrays and blood tests. Havent had the results back and although she was better the coughs back again..Id take her and make sure the doctor has a good listen to her chest.

Allegra · 11/10/2004 12:53

Fabarooney, cough can be a symptom of asthma in a child even without any wheezing. Do mention to your GP that she coughs after exercise as that can be a sign as can coughing during the night. Hope you get on all right this afternoon.

Skate · 11/10/2004 12:55

Fabarooney - how very bizarre as I'm sat here working on a study all about paediatric asthma! I'm listening to interviews with asthma nurses so I know for certain that cough is a symptom of paediatric asthma. All 6 I've listened to say it is.

Often though the cough is at night, though they have also said it's exacerbated by viral infections (e.g. colds) and exercise.

By their accounts it seems like it takes a while to diagnose and they don't diagnose it in under 2's.

If I were you, with your family history, I'd go back and get it checked it out.

BTW - is she at all wheezy?

KangaMummy · 11/10/2004 12:59

DS has had asthma since 1 year he is now 9 his symtom was mainly coughing waking him up from sleep and in morning

It was very obvious when having an attack he would recess and wheeze and cough.

He is pretty well under control now he had numerous time in hospital when he was baby/toddler.

He was very prem at 27weeks and ventilated and on oxygen for 3 months so his lungs were weak to start with.

I would mention asthma to dr today when you go.
btw DH and I do not have asthma.

charliecatthenonsmoker · 11/10/2004 13:01

DDs wasnt so much wheezy as out of breath and sounding noisy inside when I put my ear to her chest.

albert · 11/10/2004 13:49

I hate to say this but it does sound suspicious. I am a life time asthmatic and I particularly remember getting it bad after I'd been running about when I was little. There was virtually no treatment for it in those days so I had a miserable childhood in that sense. Unfortunately DS (4) has it too and was diagnosed at 18 months after three boughts of bronchitus and one of pneumonia! Having said that, the treatment these days is really very good and I now only need to dose him up if/when he has a cold. Do get DD checked out but don't worry about it, she may well grow out of it and the medication (if necessary) is such that asthma should not prevent her from doing anything.

Original poster

fabarooney · 11/10/2004 15:39

Thank you all so much for your advice. Well, I took dd to the docs this afternoon and he was very suspicious about the cough being worse after running about and waking her up early in the morning. We're in Holland and they don't give an "official" diagnosis of asthma until a child is 4 and they can do blood tests, but he has prescribed a ventolin inhaler for her. We're to give her 1 puff twice a day for a week then go back and see the doc.
Is it possible to be a bit wheezy and asthmaticky after a virus and for it to clear up later? Or does this mean that dd is likely to have asthma and to have this forever?

OP posts:

bakedpotato · 11/10/2004 15:54

my dd was diagnosed with *childhood? athsma at around a year, mainly on basis of a stubborn nighttime cough. however it's not a permanent thing, the cough itself comes and goes. over the summer months we have often dropped both inhalers altogether for months on end. we just resume normal service in the coldy season.

as far as i can tell, the probs only start on the back of a cold, when she coughs after exercise and the nightcoughs return. and there's no doubt that colds also take longer to blow through. the inhalers do make a difference.

but it's really different to adult athsma, as far as i'm aware, and one doesn't necc lead to another. this is what i've been told anyway by medical types

charliecatthenonsmoker · 11/10/2004 16:08

This thread srurred me on to ring about my dds blood test which take 6-8 weeks. Does anyone know what they are testing her blood for?
Hope the inhaler works faborooney.

Pidge · 11/10/2004 16:51

fabarooney - as you're discovering, diagnosing asthma in young kids is hard. But it's good that you're getting support from your GP. And yes, a cough can be a sign of asthma. It doesn't have to be associated with wheezing. I've had asthma all my life and as a child it was a particular problem after exercise, on exposure to allergens (dust-mite, animals etc) or if I got a cold. Now, as an adult, I can go for weeks without taking my inhaler. I cycle an hour a day without getting wheezy. The only problem time for me is colds which have a tendency to become chest infections and I just have to be careful that I take inhalers then.

So ... even if it is asthma ... it needn't rule your life. And with the right treatment it can be really well controlled.

Have a look at the \link {http://www.asthma.org.uk/\ national asthma society website}

Pidge · 11/10/2004 16:58

Blast, can't believe I messed up the link:
national asthma society website

acer · 12/10/2004 12:38

Could be asthma, my ds has had quite severe asthma since he was one due to a reation to egg, he is 4.5 now and has just had an allergy test 4 months ago, turns out he is allergic to nuts and dairy, so have cut out all dairy (he now has soya) and the everyday wheeze and night time coughing has stopped! He still has bad attacks when he has a cold and is on a steriod inhaler, best to get your ds checked as asthma can be triggered by lots of things including exercise and coughing is definately a sign.

Skate · 12/10/2004 12:41

charliecatthenonsmoker - the only reference I've heard to doing blood tests in this study I'm working on (paediatric asthma) is for checking drug levels to see if they are therapeutic or not (ie high enough to be working). Could be that??

charliecatthenonsmoker · 13/10/2004 11:26

Ohhh how strange Skate, she was on antibiotics to see if they would clear her chest, but surely thay would just see if they worked or not, not put her through removing blood for it?
Anyway, took her to the doctors today and he has prescibed and inhaled and a big tuby thing for her to have 3 times a day.
How is your dd getting on with hers Fabarooney?

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