Chronic cough in 7 year old

[IndecisiveRabbit]

Hello all, just looking for any thoughts on my son's chronic cough. He's had it for a year now, started last July after a nasty virus with rash, temp, vomiting etc. GP thought maybe cough variant asthma, tried inhaler, no change. Saw private paediatrician who though it could be reflux as also gets nausea sometimes, is a fussy eater, and I have it, so tried omeprazole, no change. Also considered allergies, so tried antihistamines, no change. Looked into immune system issues due to frequent infections but bloods look ok, as did all general blood tests, apart from raised tsh so possible thyroid issue. Also had 2 chest x rays, first showed signs of bronchial wall thickening due to resolving infection, but latest was fine. Just saw nhs paediatrician who has recommended trying steroid nasal spray as may be a sinus issue (he also has lots of perforated ear drums and infections, on list for grommets). Dry cough with lots of throat clearing and sniffing/snucking. Have been reading an interesting book on the cough enigma and vagus nerve damage. Any thoughts welcome! Thank you

I hope you get sorted soon, yes it could be any number of things as the thread shows. I’d just want to rule asthma out properly. Or it could be.

the other thing that was done with me prior diagnosis was a short course of oral steroids. I felt awful on them but the cough went. Came back as soon as I’d finished them which should have been an indication that I needed a brown inhaler.

I had a chronic cough for 18 months suddenly when I turned 30. I went back and forth everywhere and eventually was seen by a brilliant asthma doctor who put me on a steroid type inhaler and it literally went the next day! I still use my salbutamol on occasion but rarely need the steroid one - usually just if I’m ill to prevent myself getting worse. I had coughed so much I’d damaged vocal cords and so also saw a specialist there too. Definitely get the steroid one! X

I’ve got this issue with a cough that’s gone on and on. I’m on

hayfever meds
lansoprazole
gaviscon advance
salbutamol inhaler
flixotide nasal spray
ibupfofen

its so frustrating I bet he’s getting quite down with it.

I'm sorry you're having the same problem, and the same cocktail of medications. He's been OK with it so far, but it's been worse the last few days and he asked yesterday if the cough could kill him, which was awful, though he said it in a throwaway way and didn't seem upset (obviously reassured him and don't go on about it around him). I don't even know the amount of times we've been to the gp about it, literally tens, pushed and pushed for a paediatric appointment, paid for a private one, and still no resolution. This thread has been really helpful though- going to try the steroid nasal spray for a week, make a gp appointment to talk more in depth about asthma, and I've also found a chronic cough pediatric specialist who does online consultations (we're in deepest darkest Cornwall). Thanks for your help.

I'm glad you found the solution! Thanks, definitely going to be talking to gp about this.

Hi. My DD has a chronic cough which has now been ongoing for years. It started after a bad viral infection (probably covid). She has seen two respiratory consultants and had every test going - full asthma testing, blood tests, x-rays, lung CT. She has tried steroid inhalers, steroid nasal spray, antihistamines, omeprazole, etc. Every time she gets another virus, she gets a chesty cough which takes weeks to clear and it then settles back to being usually a regular single harsh sounding cough, sometimes with throat clearing qualities.

So I feel your pain. I'm afraid I can't offer any answers, except to say that we have been told that she likely has cough hypersensitivity syndrome, where the respiratory system is left hyperactive post virally. I do think there may be an element of habit too.

With regard to the throat clearing element, we have been told that it is minimally productive because the cough itself causes inflammation, which causes the production of mucus which then results in the need to cough, so it is a bit of a self propelling cycle.

Good luck. I hope your son's cough has an easy solution. If you do think there may be an element of habit, we have found in the past that chewing gum helps, as the saliva produced lubricates the throat, and the distraction/action of chewing means that they are much less likely to cough - it can break the cycle.

I do hope she’s been properly checked out asthma wise as that was how I was my whole life till it got a lot worse in my late 30s. I did also react to smoke and some other chemicals.

Thank you for your reply. That's very interesting, I haven't heard of cough hypersensitivity syndrome, and I've read a lot about coughs! That does sound very like what he has- triggered by a virus, gets worse after illness, the single harsh sounding cough, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of those things that can't be explained or treated, I just feel so bad for him so need to exhaust all the possibilities. I'm talking to an asthma nurse tomorrow, to try and definitely rule that out.
Thank you for the chewing gum tip, he loves gum so I'll definitely be trying that tomorrow I hope it eventually resolves for your DD, fingers crossed that it'll just lessen and one day be gone.

WarriorN - yes, she has had the most comprehensive asthma tests possible - all negative, and steroid inhalers make absolutely no difference. It's definitely not asthma.