Persistant Cough

Hi T. - My daughter had croup 5 (yes, FIVE) times as a toddler. It is a horrible experience, for sure! A few things I learned while going though this: 1) Make sure your humidifier is cleaned out per instructions - I had gotten a little lazy and there was mold growing in it, so I was inessence poisoning the house! That caused us both to cough. I felt like such an idiot when I figured that out! 2) Try honey mixed with lemon juice before bed - it actually coats the throat and my daughter loves it (even now at 9 years old). It helped her finally get some sleep when the cough meds just didn't do a thing. 3) Talk to an allergy and asthma doctor - we went when she was 2 and though she was too little to test for anything, they tested me and found what I was allergic to, as well as that I have asthma! I had NO idea, but it did explain how my coughs would just NOT go away throughout life. So the Dr. was comfortable treating her for asthma since it's hereditary and she had the right symptoms (coughing all the time). That helped as well. I wish my parents/Dr. had figured out I had asthma as a kid, it would have made a big difference in my life. Hopefully something here will help. I understand the frustration... hang in there.

Call the Dr. everyday and keep a journal of his night and day activity as well as coughing, symptums and length of cough time. I had a cough that lasted 3 years! I changed Dr. three times before one finally took me seriously! Also, record every medication he is on and reactions to them. No one should have to cough that long without some relief. I have had friends break ribs over coughing, but I never have just a lot of muscle pain from all the coughing and constant exhustion.
C. B

Take him to a pediatric chiropractor! My 4 year old used to have really bad coughs from spring time allergies. They did the steriod inhalers, the singular, you name it. Until we found a pediatric chiropractor, nothing really worked other than just waiting it out for several months every fall and every spring.

Similarly, my 1 year old just had a bought with croup, and a couple of visits to the pediatric chiropractor resolved that as well, without any further interventions.

Depending on where you are located, if you need a referral, let me know.

M.

check w/another pediatrician. My boys had this trouble and it turned out to be asthma induced by an illness. We got a nebulizer and started treatments and w/i a couple of days they were much better. The oral steriods didn't do the same things. It's crazy, but you really need to push the information onto your pediatrician. The fact that it's waking all of you up at night, and has for a long time should clue them in that it's not just a cold. They don't go on so long. I guess it could be allergies, but I would ask to have him tested instead of just treating it. Hope this helps, it looks like we could be near to each other, so if you need a suggestion of the pediatrician we used, send me an email.

Hi Tanqi-

My daughter had a big bout of the coup/RSV earlier this year. Her cough lasted for weeks. Finally, I spoke with a homeopath, who suggested Spongia Tosta, which is homeopathy that is just for croupy coughs. You can get it at any natural food store and some pharmacies. It was incredible. I gave her two doses one day and the next day, no horrible cough. It never came back. Pharmaca (pharmaca.com) is in Boulder & has homeopaths you can speak with--just give a call. I was very skeptical, but in the past 6 months I've been amazed with what homeopathy can do. I mentioned it to my family and now my sisters use it for their kids (pulsatilla--it's good for colds). Good luck!

Hi. I would recommend having your child checked for asthma (most likely he will have an allergy component). My son started with this same type of persistent cough when he was still one, and after quite a very long time, was finally diagnosed with Reactive Airways Disease (RAD) which sounds quite scary but is basically an episodic form of asthma. He had RSV as a baby & they think that this caused the onset. His only clear allergies are to cats, dust & seasonal allergies but viruses also cause a major flare-up. He has what is called 'cough-variant asthma' which means rather than wheezing like many kids, he just coughs non-stop. I feel your pain re: listening to him cough because we did so for quite a long time before getting him stabilized. It's so hard as nothing really touches it. It can be so bad that they burst the blood vessels on their faces or in their eyes (he's only done this once). We've been with CO Allergy & Asthma Centers for quite awhile and they have really helped. They are at: http://www.coloradoallergy.com/. We've also been on many meds before stabilizing so I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of it. If you'd like more info contact me directly. L.