I have an almost 4 year old who has been doing this little cough (kind of like a throat clearing) ever since January. He does it constantly. I've taken him to the dr., but haven't gotten any answers. His father has Tourette Syndrome, but shows no outward signs at all. I'm leaning towards the realization that he probably has it, too. Does anyone else have a child with this? At what age did they start showing symptoms? When did they get diagnosed? Who diagnosed them? Is there anything I can do to make this easier to deal with? The noise does irritate me, but luckily it doesn't seem to bother him. Any responses would be appreciated.
Editing to add a previous post by me back in the fall:
My child has a behavior that I don't really understand. Every few months he will start scratching his face and neck very often throughout the day. The behavior is a repeated act. What I mean is that he will scratch the same spots on himself all day long, but only once at a time, (between his eyes, the side of his nose, the back of his neck, or his ear), but doesn't do it when he is sleeping. This will happen for about a month, then will totally stop. 3-4 months later, the behavior will start again.
I took him to an allergist and he said that he doesn't seem to have any allergies, and that what this behavior looks like to him is a tic. Does anyone here have any experience with anything like this? I'm hoping this is something that he will outgrow. Any advice or information that anyone here can give me would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Editing to add: There is no stress that he is going through. I'm a stay at home mom and he and I are together all day long. This behavior comes and goes every few months and has occurred since he has been two years old. He is now three and a half. I have asked him if he is itchy, and he has said yes, but it's not something I want to make a big issue of, so I don't ask him too often. I'm hoping that he will grow out of it one day!
Did The allergist say that the cough is not allergies too? Or did he see the allergist before the cough started. January is the typical time allergies act up is why I was wondering.
A bronchiole cough? Sound Dry, non productice?
I do that when I eat dairy... is why I ask. I found out that I was allergic to dairy.
I couldn't explain it. It felt like I had to clear my throat all the time. (Milk Allergy)
I am not sure if the situation is the same, but I have a 8 year old son who started "tics" when he was 6. Tics seem to be common in young boys and I am no longer as concerned as I used to be. His pediatrician did put him on a medication to control his tics. It has greatly reduced his situation. He has disstributed signs of coughing, rolling his shoulders, pulling on his shirts, picking his skin around his nails etc... in the past. I cannot promise a complete recovery but there is hope... I would seek out another pediatric opinion.
I am saying our kids have the same thing but my 4 year old daughter has had a cough where she says her throat tickles. she coughs until she gets sick. It uaualy happens at night. I've taken her to the doctor about six times and she has had two chest x-rays that were clear. She has had it since two weeks before christmas. How can a kid have a cough so long and nothing be wrong. It gets very frusterating.
Before you jump to the worst, rule out the lesser offenses. Has your son started anything new? New friends, new groups, school, sports, anthing that is new or unfamiliar? A little cough can ofter be a nervous tick that will eventually clear when the child is more at ease. My daughter jiggles her foot with her leg very tense the moment she lays down. She's done this since she was 2 but it's more of a calming thing for her. Also, like another mom said, check out the asthma course. When my asthma flares I can sit for hours with a lil cough. If any other ticks show up, then I would look into the tourettes. good luck.
Just a thought...but maybe he has alergies?? Don't assume because there is a history of something else that it is automatically that...keep your mind open. It could be as simple as food allergies or dust, mold etc.
My son is 12yrs. old now and he began with "tics", as the doctors call them, at about the same age as your child. The pediatrician said not to draw attention to it because they can worsen. He is now on medications for other emotional issues and they seem to worsen a little bit. You will have to learn how to ignore it, so the noises don't drive you crazy. My son also makes alot of facial expressions while relaxing at home. None of his doctors are concerned about it and we just live with it and don't make a big deal about it. Alot of people have nervous tics. On the other hand, have you had him checked for allergies? I know that can cause throat clearing too, because of the scrathchy throat. Good Luck!!!
My son also starting doing a throat clearing type noise for awhile and he didn't seen sick or anything so I wasn't concerned at first but when it continued I went to the pediatrician and turns out the back of his throat was irrated from post nasal drip. She put him on an antibiotic and it cleared soon. But my son has also gotten other "tics" as the pediatrician call them periodically. My pediatrician like another response also said not he call attention to them and they will usually clear up. I notice my son gets them occaisionally when he's excited or a little worked up.Nothing major is happening in his life it's usually when he's just more active. Sometimes I almost feel like his brain is working overtime on things he's doing and things his thinking about and life in general and this manifest itself in an occaisional tic. They have never stayed around for long, a few weeks, and never affected him so I have learned to relax and if I can get him to relax a little they usually fix themselves. Good luck.
My middle son has Touretts Syndrome. It was brought out and made more recognizable when we put him on psych meds. He has vocal tics, facial tics and behavioral tics. A developmental specialist diagnosed him with colaboration from his psychiatrist. You may need to take him to a neurologist to get it confirmed. We put my son on another medication that helps with the tics and makes them manageable. You may not need to do anything unless it starts interferring with his development, ie: if other kids start noticing it and tease him or if it interferes with his breathing. Follow your gut and keep persuing it until you get the answers you're looking for. Good luck - S.
My son and daughter both had this annoying, throat clearing cough. It turned out to be cold-induced asthma. I wouldn't have suspected that because it never seemed to impact their breathing. Once we went on inhalers, it went away.
Something to consider.
C.
I would ask your Dr. for a recommendation. However, my kids have had a cough kind of like that (so have I) for the last 2 mos...maybe its just a lingering cough/cold. This season has been esp bad with all the temperature changes.
