23 Month Old Sick for a Long Time...

Let me give you a number ###-###-####. Please make note of it.. I have used it forever from before I was pregnant to asking questions about what diaper rash looks like. Its called vita-line and they are there 24.7! They can tell you whether you should bring him in! Good luck!!

my son just got over a nasty cold that included a cough that wouldnt go away. they ended up treating him for pneumonia. that didnt do a chest xray hoping the different drugs they gave him would help. he was sick for 2 weeks before he got better. But they didnt treat the pneumonia until the last few days. I have a great pediatrician on the northwest side of town that i have used since my son was born. Her name is Dr. Ann Kelly, she is with st.vincent hospital. She has a partner, Kelly Hughes that i like as well. i highly recommend either one of them.

I had the same problem when my daughter started daycare. The cold that she had was accompanied by an ear infection, which the doctor gave us amoxicilin for & it went almost completely away & then started to get worse. We had to get a stronger antibiotic to make everything go away. The doctor said she probably had 2 different things making her sick & one of them was taken care of by the amoxicillin & the other was not.

I have twenty one month girls who had the EXACT same thing. The nasal stuff was bacteria so we did antibiotics, but then came the cough. I started putting vitamin C in their juice and gave them a drink from Lakewood Organics called Lemon Ginger Echinacia. The cough went away in two days. Your not supposed to use Echinacia for more than a couple weeks at a time, so as soon as this juice is up I am going to buy another to save for the next cold, cause in daycare there will be more. It is cheaper than doc visits and it worked for me! You can find Lakewood Juices at health food stores.

R.,

My little guy went through the same thing. You should avoid cough suppresants because that will not allow the mucus to come up out of the lungs. I went to the Pharmacy and asked them for a toddler version of a nasal decongestant. It worked wonders. My son is now 3 1/2 and we both take Airbourne Jr. every Monday morning. It seems to help boost the immune system.

The thing about antibiotics is that they weaken the immune system and should only be used in extreme situations. If you get a referral to a specialist they can give you something stronger to clear up the infection too.

I have noticed that recently his preschool has asked the parents to help wash the children's hands upon arrival. Seems like a good idea to me. I also have him wash before we leave school and when we get home from an outing or shopping. Perhaps you could suggest this to the daycare.

Good Luck,
J.

R.-
I am the mother a boy who spent the first three years of his life sick-literally 2 sets of tubes in his ears, doctors visits usually at least three times a month, asthma, allergies, he's had the flu, pneumonia, hand foot and mouth, strep throat, EVERYTHING!
Remember that a typical virus takes at least 21 days to run it's course, and depending on the virus, can take a couple months for the body to rid itself. Croup is a virus as well and causes the trachea to become inflamed; any respiratory therapist will tell you the same, but if he had croup it's a very distinct cough, much like a seal barking. Anitbiotics CAN NOT treat a virus, only bacterial infections, and putting them on antibiotics for a virus only decreases the antibodies effectiveness over time. There is no virus on this planet that is has a known cure, so stay away from antibiotics unless there is an actual diagnosable infection. Any doctor will tell you the same. If you are in Indianapolis area, let me know and I know some great pediatricians and ways to get your insurance straightened out.
He just started daycare so expect him to pick stuff like that up. He may get sick a lot, he may not, but when he does it's just helping build his immune system. By the time he gets into grade school he will be able to fight a lot of that stuff off. At 4 years old my son is in very good health now compared to what he was.
Bear in mind also the change in seasons. He could have mild or moderate allergies, and maybe some Claritan is in order. Claritan is good for colds too, the liquid is pretty nasty but they make Reditabs that dissolve in the mouth. My sons cough is often triggered my the excess mucous from his sinuses, which also triggeres his gag reflex and makes him prone to vomiting from coughing. Getting his sinuses cleared up should help the cough dramatically if his chest is indeed clear. Trust me, I have plenty of experience to back me up!
Best of luck, hope he feels better soon. :)

R.,

I know that many children in day care have frequent illnesses. Did your son have any vaccinations just before starting? I have been doing a tremendous amount of research lately. I don't want to open a huge can of worms, but vaccines themselves can cause MANY mild to life-threatening conditions. Also, depending on the shot received T-cell counts actually drop for up to two weeks which can allow other infections to start. Anyone who would like more information may contact me privately.

B.

I am a single mother of a six year old son, who had the same problem when my child was around that age. The issue seems to be that your child is getting "use" to being exposed to various germs. This can be great; since the saying is "You might as well get your child sick now, oppose to him being sick later and missing school". However, at the same time you feel as if you are rushing your child to the doctor's office every week and there might not be a need.
I was and still consider myself to be the over protecting mother. My advise is: if your son is coughing out phlegm, sneezing out/blowing out colored mucus, or (that is coming from his) eyes, that warrants a doctor's visit becasue it is usually an infection. Infections tend to have drainage/excretion from the ear, eyes, nose or mouth with color. I would like to say, it was suggested by my child's peditrician: for me to remove him from daycare because at one point of time he was constantly becoming sick (ear infections, sinus infections,& strep throat back to back) and she said that if he has another infection she could not give him another antibiotic (you know infections can become bacteria resistant). Therefore, I closely monitored to see if a fever would produce and gave him plenty of fluids. By the grace of God, he no longer became sick. I was kind of worried, since it seem like every other week he was ill with something. I hope this helps you out some. May God watch over and protect your child from any serious illness.

Hello R., do you and/or your hubby have allergies? The reason I ask this is you said he coughs worse at night. Well, I am a respiratory therapist and night time coughing could be a sign of Asthma, that is what stood out to me in your message. Have you talked to your doc about this possibility?

Also, If you son is not used to being around such different germs it may take his little system a little while to get used to these new germs he is encountering.

If is could be allergies, maybe he is allergic to something at the day care. Flowers planted outside, cleaning products used, etc. just as a few examples. I would check further into it.

It could just be a bad virus too, keep up with pleanty of water that will help that. I hope you figure it out soon.
I hope this helps.

My daughter was sick for MONTHS when she first started school -- MONTHS, I tell ya! She started school at 18 months. We kept asking for help from her pediatrician thinking that perhaps she had allergies b/c even if she'd have an active ear infection that would clear up w/amox., she'd constantly have this cough (that sounds just like what you described). We ended up just making an appointment ourselves at an ENT thinking we were going to get allergy testing done (she's 2 at this point). A couple of days before going to the ENT, she gets this nasty green snotty cold. Great, I think! Now she's got some bug and the doc's going to think that's all it is, when we were mainly wanting something to make her stop coughing! He did diagnose her w/some sort of an infection (can't recall) and put her on an antibiotic. It was the first time she'd ever been on this antibiotic and sure enough it cleared right up - INCLUDING THE HORRIBLE COUGH THAT SHE'D HAD FOR MONTHS! At her f/u appointment, I asked him if he thought that it was possible that she'd just had some lingering bug that this particular antibiotic finally kicked out of her system. He thought that very well could have been the case. She's not coughed since. ((Of course, winter's coming, so who knows?)) :)

That is my very long-winded way of saying that I've been where you are -- keep looking and pushing for a solution! It could be allergies -- a change in climate from your move here -- crud from school... You need to get your insurance situation straightened out if you can so you can get him checked out w/o that worry (about $$) being in the back of your head.

Best of luck!!

R.,
I went through the same thing a few years back. I am from NJ and moved down here and put the kids in daycare. They were sick off and on for the first two months. I think honestly it is just daycare. All the kids passing their germs back and fourth over and over and it takes time for the kids to adjust to each other so that they are not getting sick. I know it is horrible but it seems to happen anytime a child starts a new daycare.
As long as he is not coughing up anything, or he does not sound croopy I would just try a strong cough medicine for a few days if it does not work then I would consider taking him to the ER. Or another thing you may want to call is CARE-A-VAN. It is a mobile home that goes to different areas to help people that dont have insurance. It is all doctors and nurses that will look at your children and give you whatever med you need right there. I had to do this for a bit instead of taking the kids to the ER all the time.
Good luck and if you need to know anything about the area or would like to get to know some fellow northerners let me know.

Hi R.,

Triaminic vapor patches work to clear stuffy nose and minimize coughing so he can rest at night.

If the symptoms continue, you may want to have him checked for Cystic Fibrosis. My daughter was 7 before I found a doctor that checked her for it; she always had runny nose and persistent cough and was treated for allergies. You can find out info about the genetic disease at cff.org.

Best of Luck.

When my daughter stated daycare at 18 months she was sick all the time, if it wasn't a cold it was an ear infection, or an upper respitory infection, and she was on round after round of antibiotics. this lasted for about a year, and then my mom suggested Collidal Silver she had read some research that it can clean up viral and baterial infections and strengthen the immune system to prevent more illness. I was at my wits end, so I went to the health food store and purchased this product, it is safe to put in the ears, and swab the nose and ingest so I did all three. I gave her 1tsp 3 times a day and used a cotton swab to clean her ears and nose with it. Within a week she was back to normal health. I kept her on this routine for another week, and then backed off with no silver for 2 weeks, then I put her on 1 time per month of just 1 tsp a day. She is now 5 1/2, that was her last ear infection, and the last time she has taken antibiotics. Now when she starts to sound like she might be getting a cold, I start with 1 tsp two times a day for no more than a week, and it never progresses to anything more than a cough and maybe a little runny nose, but nothing like most colds and very mild if anything. It has truly been a miracle for us. Collidal Silver is used in the medical field for burn victims, it does not hurt like peroxide/alcohol but it kills bacteria and infections. Some good brands are Silverbiotics, and I think Advanced Silver, the best you can buy is Mesosilver and this is the one I use, I purchased it online and it is about 50 dollars for the large bottle, but it works so I was willing to pay that. Silverbiotics is a really good one too and not quite that expensive around 30 dollars. It really doesn't have a taste, looks like water, so it won't be hard to give to your little one. I wish you teh best.

I'm not sure what could be wrong with him, but when I have a persistent cough, I usually try sleeping almost sitting up. It always helps. Even if he is just elevated enogh it might help. I wouldn't take him to the ER unless he was running a fever or coughing things up like blood or something. He could just have a severe allergy to something down here. If you are fromNY, there are alot of allergens down here that could affect him. I am from New York, and I have had horrible allergies since I moved down here. Maybe once you get different insurance you should take him for an allergy test.

My son had the same problems and it turned out to be Allergies. He had to get two shots a week and now he is getting them every other week. Ever since we got him tested for allergies and put him on Allergy medicine he has been fine. He may also have an immune disorder which means his poor little body is unable to fight things and that makes him a target for everything and anything out there. My son has this immune disorder and through his doctor we are treating this and watching this. You might want to go and see an Allergist and have your son tested.

My daughter has the same problem she sounds really congested but her lungs are always clear. She coughs alot and has a runny nose. When we see it coming on stronger we give her nebulizer treatments and it helps a ton. But each doctor is different because one told us to keep doing these and one told us it was a waste. The treatments really help so we keep doing them.

Hello I have a 4yr old son and a 2yr old daughter with one on the way. As far as your son my children use to attend a daycare but they were constantly sick all the time too. I think the problem is that the daycare teachers do not wash their hands when they change diapers, go to the bathroom, or try to disinfect the rooms. People say that they do but they don't also another problem is that parents take thier sick children to daycare if your child is sick stay at home to me thats more important because colds can get worse and they spread to other children or adults. What I ended up doing is taking my children out of daycare and their at home with me, but my son will be attending school very soon. I just give my kids purell and they take it everywhere they go and use it. Thats just a habit I have. I also wouldn't recommend give your son a lot of medicine because he can get immune to it and it will no longer work. Teas help or keep him warm so he can somewhat sweat it out with some vicks vapo steam it works. But good luck and he'll get better but just be prepared for him to catch another cold again once it gets colder the longer hes in daycare.

Yes R. you should take your son to the ER. I work in a nursing home and all of my patients are experiencing the same type of symptoms. Your son probably has an upper respiratory infection. The antibiotic that you gave him is most likely not the right antiobiotic for his illness. Ammocillin is usely used for bacteria such as strep. You should never give an antibiotic unless it is prescribed for the present illness because bacteria in the body will become resitant to antibiotics there fore making it harder to treat the illness. I strongly urge you to take your son to the ER just in case he has this bug that is going around but if he doesn't and it turns out to just be a cold at least you will have your answer to what is going on with him. It's better to be safe than sorry Especially when it comes to a child. Hope your child gets well soon. God Bless

Does your son have a fever? Could it be allergies? My son sleeps better with his head elevated and for the winter months we have a humidifier for his room.

Don't take him to the ER just yet. Kids who start day care usually do get sick. Their immune system needs to build up. Since you have NY insurance, go to a clinic. I used to take mine to a clinic in Fairdale, KY before I had insurance and they base your visit on your income. They will be able to give him the medicine he needs or send you somewhere else if needed. I don't know what area you live in, but around here, there are a lot of clinics. I probably didn't help much but hopefully I helped a little.

I have two children, a 3 yr old and a 4 yr old. We began to notice similar symptoms after colds, ear infections, and such. Turned out that the persistant cough was asthma. Everyone thinks asthma always causes wheezing. Eventhough his lungs were clear in the ER that does not dismiss this possiblity. Often in young children your son's age a persistant cough, particularly at night, is indicative of asthma. We began breathing treatments at the onset of illnesses and that cuts the cough out. My children are both on Singular and my oldest is on Advair as a preventative. Knowing and treating this sometimes elusive illness has saved us a many miserable night. There is always the possiblity of croup if it is a barking type cough-kinda like a seal. I've been through this a couple if times. Unfortunately antibiotics are not affective on croup,as it is a virus. Oral predisone works in a liquid form for a child that young. Only about 2-3 days of that and he should be more comfortable. This will also work on asthma. Nurses and doctors in the ER are often too busy to understand your concerns and possibly can miss a less acute illness. I'm sorry that your insurance only covers ER visits, but a good pediatrician would be ultimately your best bet.

I do know there has been some awful virus going around that lingers. My sister had it for several weeks and it went into bronchitis. If he's still coughing, maybe it's croup... or bronchitis. Another trip to the ER might be a good idea--maybe they can give you something for the cough. I know chest congestion can linger, and coughing is the body's way of getting out the congestion... but if it's keeping him up, it might be good to see if you can get something to help him expectorate more and suppress it for sleep. My son had something similar last year and they called it bronchiolitis, and put him on a breathing machine (nebulizer) with breathing treatments to help open his airways b/c he was coughing and also weezing... Anyway, Good luck... :)

Hi R., did you end up sending your son to KGKA? Was he in daycare before that? My kids were sick their first few W. in daycare too. I've heard from a few moms that this happens when they start day care. How did you get Amoxicillin in the first place? Did you take him to the ER? Have you tried Dimetap or any cough medicine for infants? That might give him some relief at night. What kind of cough does he have? Is it a "barky" kind of cough? You may want to take him to the ER because kids his age can get croup and they can treat that. Also, do you think your insurance will cover urgent care visits? There is a pediatric urgent care office on Poplar Level Rd. They see a lot of things like that. Good Luck and I hope he feels better soon.

my baby has something like that too. her normal dr just said it was a cold, until we ended up at the er. it was whooping cough and it's awful. have them check that out.

Hi R.,
It sounds viral to me. If it had been a bacterial infection the antibiotics would have worked pretty quickly. As long as the fever doesn't spike and the symptoms are slowly getting better I think you should be ok not going to the Dr. Just watch the cough - if it gets worse or persists a lot longer then go in bec it could develop into a pneumonia.
My son had one thing after another the first year in daycare and I am going through that now with my daughter. On a good note - my son seems to be fairly immune to things now.
Good luck.
J.

R. -

Responding to your "so what happened" question: Yes, don't give him suppressant -- give him cough expectorant to help loosen the junk up and cough it out.

J.
(hope things are better -- I've had a sick baby for awhile now as well).

My daughter did the same thing the whole first month she was in daycare, and it is so so hard...I personally think that the cough expectorant/suppressants make my child over-active, therefore I try not to give it to her...she gets wound up, then runs around, and then her cough gets worse....anyway- have you looked into your insurance covering the UTC's (urgent treatment centers)? They are quick, and more personable than the ER. I had to take my kids there b/c of insurance issues, and the doctors were great!! Also, my daughter had a cough from that particular time for about a month to six weeks; so hopefully your will go away sooner, but just know that it could take that long. Hope this helps!!

Hi!
My son seemed sick constantly when he first started day care and being a new mom at the time, I was always taking him to the doctor for it. The doctor told me as long as the cold/cough wasnt affecting him by not eating amd not going to the bathroom as normal he would be ok and to continue with the humdifier and an antihistamine. Also I was told the consistent colds for toddlers is normal and helps build up their immune systems.
Good luck!

R., get this kid to the doctor immediately!!! That cough is dangerous. It sounds like he has croup. Ammoxicillin is the least potent antibiotic and will not touch croup. You need to get him to the doctor NOW!! I suggest you quickly go find a pediatrician in the area and get this child some help. I am surprised they even let him come to day care. What day care are you attending? Good pediatrician in ht e area I reccomned are Carolina Pediatrics. All female doctors. Dr Green is my favorite.
Let me know how it turns out. It is always best to be safe thna sorry.

P.

Hi R.,

I am not a docotor, but have been through a similiar situation when my son started a preschool. He developed a terrible "cold" that had a cough to it that sounded really tight, and would cough all night. This was while we lived in Florida. Doctors said it was pneumonia, twice he had this and was sent home on a nebulizer machine. I finally insisted they tell me what was going on. I was told that he had allergies and was developing a pneumonia as a secondary infection.

Youe baby sounds like the cough is in his chest! I would definitely have him checked out by a doctor! It could be pneumonia, or it could be that "whooping" cough we hear so much about now days. I would take him in just to get to the bottom of it and insist they give you answers.

Unfortunatley, kids sometimes get more illnesses when in daycare....nature of the beast I guess. Eventually he'll become more immune to the stuff that goes around.

I would say it is better to be safe than sorry. An illness shouldnt be lasting so long especially the coughing part. Sometimes coughing can be a sign of fluid going into the lungs or even pneumonia. It cant hurt to have it checked out.

Hi R.,

I was given some great advice for my son when he would get a cold. Prop up his mattress with a small pillow at one end so when you lay him down his head will be slightly elevated so anything can drain and he won't be up coughing all night. Also you may want to try a cool mist humidifier to see if that helps!! Another rule of thumb my pediatrician's office gave me was anything like that cold and terrible cough lasting more than 10 days bring him to the dr. Daycare is hard on their little systems being around lots of other kids and all of their germs, but it does slow down as they are in the daycare over a period of time.

Good luck getting thru this especially before Winter comes along!! Would definitely recommend the flu shot also!