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Original poster

Ds can't stop coughing ,what should we do?

22 replies

princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:21

He has asthma. Its not serious, well he's never had an attack. Its managed iykwim.

He has his humidifier on and has had some puffs of his blue inhaler. This usually does the tirck if he's coughing lots.
He's had piriton too.
He's been coughing continusly(sp) since he fell asleep at 7pm ish.

Any ideas on next step?
I'm thinking he could be bad because of the change in temp. Its got much colder.

TIA

OP posts:
Furball · 02/02/2008 23:25

Got any manuka honey? or if not normal honey. 2 x 1/2 teaspoons of that might soothe it.

SlightlyMadShrek · 02/02/2008 23:25

Will a humidified bathroom help him?

Raise his head with more pillows?

If you are worried call NHS direct

ScoobyDoo · 02/02/2008 23:26

It's not croup is it?

Could you take him into the bathroom & put a hot shower on for steam?

When ds has had bad coughs i use those vapour plug ins which have vicks in them it always helps with the coughing.

Have you raised his head a bit?

brimfull · 02/02/2008 23:27

You can give some more ventolin..

I would give him another 3-4 puffs and see if he improves.

When ds does this I have given him 10 puffs before.

Not necessarily advsing this but dr and asthma nurse said it was similar to a nebuliser dose

Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:29

Head is raised, and the hunidifier does the steam thing. It puffs out steam all night long.

I could try karvol but don't think it will help this time.

Maybe croup bt he's had this cough before and the things we've done normally help. Don't think its high pitched enough for croup.

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 02/02/2008 23:29

i was told you can give up to 10 puffs.

brimfull · 02/02/2008 23:29

Is he asleep?

nappyaddict · 02/02/2008 23:30

do you have a vapouriser? if not bowl of steaming water on radiator with olbas oil or something similar might help.

Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:30

dh says we should go to bed and theres nothing else we can do. This sucks

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Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:31

Yes he sleep-coughs. Not sure how much of it is quailty sleep though Moving around lots. Wimpers on and off too.

OP posts:
SlightlyMadShrek · 02/02/2008 23:32

Is he wheezing/receding or is it 'just a cough?'

If the former then I think you need to ring NHS direct.

I assume he is sleeping through this?

Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:32

I'll try and do more puffs. Its hard as he won't let me put it in his mouth when he's asleep and his facemask is at school.

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Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:32

Whats wheezing/receding please?

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Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:33

Whats wheezing/receding please?

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brimfull · 02/02/2008 23:33

If it's any consolation my ds had a bug a few months ago causing relentless coughing but no other symptoms.
I was really worried it was his asthma causing it but dr assured me there was no wheezing.

If he's otherwise realxed and asleep,not using his shoulders to breathe,ie are they going up and down when he breathes,then he's probably fine.

If he is using accessory muscles he needs to be seen I think.

brimfull · 02/02/2008 23:34

accessory muscles = shoulders

Original poster
princessmel · 02/02/2008 23:35

dh is up there, I'm going to see him.

OP posts:
SlightlyMadShrek · 02/02/2008 23:36

wheezing is the whistling sound when an asthmatic breathes out.

Receding is when his skin pulls in excessively between ribs & collar bone as he breathes. It is a sign of struggling to breath.

Do you have a yoghurt pot?

When pahracist had no pedadiatric masks we were told to cut a hole in the bottom of a yohurt pot for the inhaler and use the 'top of hte yoghurt pot' against the skin as a makeshift mask.

How old is he?

brimfull · 02/02/2008 23:48

how is he?

brimfull · 03/02/2008 00:41

I am assuming you've all gone to bed and your ds is ok.
Hope so.

Original poster
princessmel · 03/02/2008 10:22

Hi, sorry I didn't come back last night.

I went up to him and after a while he seemed to slow down so we went to bed. I didn't come back down here to post.

He slept till 5 ish and then started again.

He's ok now he's up etc.
Always worse at night.

Thanks for the info and the yog pot idea SMShrek. I'll do that next time. He's just 5 btw.

Lets hope he's better tonight.

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Original poster
princessmel · 04/02/2008 20:00

UPDATE on ds.

Took him to the doctors tonight. He was quite bad again last night.

She's given him a new puffer. A purple one. Not seen one of those before. Its called Seretide. Meant to be stronger etc.

And he has a 5 day course of steroids to get him back on track. Soluble prednisolone Tablets.

She said he was wheezy (she never normally says that about him) and his peak flow was only 80. It should be 140 for his height and age. (5yrs, 110cm)

I think he's got worse generally. Coughs more after activity etc.

We have to call her on thursday with an updated peak flow reading.

Just in case you're interested.

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