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Coughing until vomiting - when to worry?

7 replies

bouncingblob · 26/02/2026 20:38

DS has had a cold and cough for a week now. They are VERY congested with this, waking up with thick green mucus pouring out of their nose every morning, and waking up every few hours with a cough because of the mucus, and coughing so hard that they throw up the mucus. The intense coughing and throwing up only happens at night and is always connected to coughing.

We've tried saline spray, hot water steam, vapour rubs, Calpol plug ins, bulb syringes... absolutely nothing works. The GP was contacted on day 5 and was unconcerned saying it was just a viral illness and to let it take its course, but the cough seems to be worse at night than ever, and I thought by a week we'd begin to see some improvement with the congestion too, but it's just the same.

He's otherwise, during the day, an alert, happy, playful child, still eating and drinking well. But the night time coughing and vomiting episodes are causing him and us a great deal of stress.

OP posts:
lemondropsandchimneytops · 26/02/2026 20:43

My daughter sometimes gets like this when she has a cold. It's horrible. Have you tried dry cough syrup? We found that was the only thing that helped. It does just run its course in her case but it's hell at the time.

purplecorkheart · 26/02/2026 20:50

As an adult I get this. It is scary. I am not congested as you describe but get coughing fits that make me vomit. To be honest I limited my food intake in the evenings as I am scared to go to sleep despite sleeping upright if at all.

I am sorry nothing I said has been helpful but just wanted to say I understand how scary and awful it is for you.

OtterMummy2024 · 26/02/2026 20:51

Coughing till you vomit sounds like whooping cough. I had the same symptoms throughout January. Tom a good six weeks for the cough to properly go. My toddler also had a very bad cough at the same time but only had one night of making the classic whooping noise.

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Elisabeth3468 · 26/02/2026 20:53

Is he having a lot of food/milk? I'd still to smaller meals and milk feeds as less likely to vomit then. But it does sound normal. Their coughs are always worse at night 😫😫😫 my baby has a cough at night too and she will be coughing for an hour or two and can't settle for ages😪 it's exhausting.

bluescarf · 26/02/2026 21:06

Put some books under the legs of his bed at the head of the bed so his head is slightly raised compared to his feet, don’t let him lie flat if you can.

NoelEdmondsHairGel · 26/02/2026 21:11

My DS was/is always quick to vomit despite being robust and fit. Any temperature, feeling of mucus in the back of his throat, a cough, a sore throat, car sickness etc. A featherlight gag reflex.

I’m not saying that it’s nothing to worry about with your DS, but equally it may be how he’s built.

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