Cough That Won't Go Away in a Almost 4 Year Old

There are two things that have worked for us. The Vicks Vapor Patch is the best. I really works. Also, if this cough does not go away after two nights with the Vapor Patch the doctor should prescribe a cough medicine with something stronger in it. This has only been given to my son twice in his life and has always worked.

Have you tried any homeopathic remedies? If you have a health food store or anything like that in your town, you might try some elderberry syrup. Or some mix that has that in it. Our son had a terrible cough for a long time, and as soon as we tried that, he stopped. Almost immediately.

Hi there
our son also had an ongoing cough which turned out to be post nasal drip as a result of being allergic to dust mites. at first we were told to give him a little children's Benadryl which didn't too much but make him sleepy and kinda moody, then another doctor said, yeah she no longer prescribes that but instead Zyrtec which did the trick.... and doesn't have the extreme side effects that Benadryl has. It's worth talking to your doctor about. Also, you may want to consult with an allergist.

Saline solution is the first thing I'd try. Use either a product called Simply Saline, available as an OTC, or make your own. I am including a recipe for making and using your own saline solution.
Alternative to antihistamines: 12 oz sterile water (put water into microwaveable container, bring to a boil)Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and ½ teaspoon baking soda.
Mix well, cool to lukewarm. Using a baby nasal syringe, fill each nostril and hold for 2 minutes.(note: lying on back across bed with head hanging over side is a good way to get solution deep into nostrils and keep it there for the two minutes.) Have plenty of paper towels handy to catch the liquid when getting up. It is best to go into the bathroom to allow the liquid to drain into the sink. Blow out of the nostrils and suck through the palate to get the mucus out. If this is done regularly, sinus problems should be kept at bay.
I know some of this sounds rather 'yucky' but it does work. Also use the same solution as a throat gargle. At age four, it may not be easy to teach your son how to gargle, but even if you can get him to rinse his mouth with the solution, that may help. If he happens to swallow the solution, no harm is done.
This solution helps keep the mucus, that can accompany any number of ailments, under control. If there is no underlying problem requiring treatment, using the saline may resolve the problem completely. If there are other issues, it will at least give your son's body a better chance to work to heal those problems.

Hi,
It sounds like coughing asthma to me. One of our twins has it too. The Xopenex and Pulmicort are used as asthma medications so it would surprise me if your doctor hadn't mentioned this possibility. Hope this eases some of your fears.

My son is pron to colds and he coughs a lot however I recently learned that his cough (when he has no cold) is from allergy's and it is a natural way for his body to keep from choking on the drainage, he shows no normal signs of allergy's, just the cough. He is now on Flonaz and Loradadine and it makes a world of difference. Hope this helps, Good Luck!

Asthma. In my son it was caused by a virus and the cough comes back around every cold and lasts for weeks. He sometimes has a runny nose. We started treating it as a dust mite allergy and it got much better. I was very worried that it was pneumonia. But it didn't seem to stop him from doing anything, no fever, no crankiness. Dr said he's just going to cough from time to time and to give him his inhaler and not to worry.

It is the wierdest thing, but my 1 1/2 year old and I have both had an ongoing cough since October too! No other symtoms except a runny nose. I just kept expecting it to go away, but it didn't so we went to the dr.'s and got the post-nasal drip diagnosis. It seems that this can cause the "forever cough". The dr gave my son allergy and asthma medicine (which didn't make sense to me because we don't have allergies or asthma), but it seems to be working. I think what we really needed of that med was to have no or very little snot so our throat would not be so irratated. He also said no air-con because dry air is dry throat. I'll look up the exact names of the meds if you want them.

I should add that the alternative medicine practitiioner gave us a lot of tips too (that I was too lazy to follow but maybe you wont be) -- garrgle with salt water and hydrogen peroxide, inhale salt water into nose or swab out nostrils with salt water. Plus verious immune boosting herbs and homeopathics.

This sounds like asthma with chronic brochitis. I am not a dr but my son (now 16) was little he had the same problem aggravated by ear infections. He finally had two sets of ear tubes and his tonsils and adenoids (sp?) taken out. Asthma has been an ongoing problem for his entire life and he now is on Qvar twice a day (inhaler), Singulair for allergies (hayfever has been a problem since he was 6 weeks old) and Abuterol for emergencies. He also has had to go on steroid therapy every year in February for the last three years because the cold, damp weather here in No Cal seems to aggrivate it. Unfortunately there is no cure for Asthma but it is manageable. Just keep taking him to the doctor until you find something that works. There is a LOT of info about Asthma on WebMD.com You might want to print some stuff out the next time you go to the doctor.

If you have not already take him to a allergy specialist to see if it is asthma and get proper meds and diagnosis.

Unfortunately we have had the same issues with ALL of us! 5 weeks of sore throat, cough and sinus issues. I think it is the particular bug. Keep him hydrated, keep a pot of hot water on the stove for moisture...it seems to have helped us a bit. I would not worry about cancer or anything else that serious. If anything you may want to have him checked for allergies but my guess would be the bug that has been a stinker this year.

Hi M.,

Looks like you've got a lot of great ideas here. I too want to include the possibility of asthma. My nephew has asthma, and when he gets a cold, he always has bad coughing fits that seem to last forever. The air in our area (we live near Fresno, CA) is so bad. I'd have your son checked by an allergist.

Good luck and Happy New Year. God Bless!
N.