Chronic Coughing

Asthma.

I have asthma.
Have had it since childhood.

How to proceed pushing the Doctors?
You just tell them... nothing is helping and to consider Asthma. Or have them send you to a Specialist.

That sounds like it might be asthma. I have the same symptoms when I have attacks. I would push harder with the doctor or get a new one if he's unwilling to go beyond "it's allergies".

Her immune system is compromised from her allergies. Her body needs to balance out. If you want more info I will introduce you to the wellness home.

Have a great day.

N. Marie

Sounds like asthma to me. It can be triggered by allergies. She should see an allergy/asthma specialist who can test her to determine precisely what she is allergic to. It may be anything from tree and weed pollens to dust mites, molds, or pet dander. It could be all of the above. She should be treated for both the allergies (allergy shots work very well, though they take time) and for the asthma symptoms.

Asthma will not respond to home remedies, and it will only get worse the longer it goes untreated. Please have your friend seek medical help from a specialist as soon as possible.

Several others have posted exactly what I was thinking, asthma. And she needs to be seen sooner than later! An Allergist or pediatric pulmonologist would be the best.

Most people (and some doctors) just think of the wheezing when you mention asthma. But there are 'coughers' and 'wheezers'.

We are all mommy experts of some kind and I certainly am NOT an expert or a doctor. But I did spend 6 years as a pulmonary (lung) nurse AND have a daughter that went through the same thing.

Maybe asthma and/or acid reflux. Maybe talking with the doctor and really pushing that the Zyrtec isn't working and asking if it could be something else. My daughter has acid reflux and asthma and we had to twist the doctors arm after trying allergy meds and them not working. The acid reflux can make it feel like there is always something in the back of your throat. It will cause coughing. If the doctor won't do anything it might be time to find another doctor. Maybe take her to a childrens hospital when she is in the middle of a coughing episode will help. Let them know it is constant and all the doctor is doing is prescribing allergy meds. Maybe they will run tests to find out more of what is going on. GL!

Sounds like she may have allergy induced asthma...not a doctor but have had asmatic bronchitis all my life and was later diagnosed w/ allergies and asthma...her symptoms sound like mine. I do have an albuterol inhaler and recently had to start using Singulair (had been coughing for 3 months straight and it was getting worse AGAIN).

Another idea that may help is converting their home to safer, non-toxic household products (cleaning products, laundry detergent, bath soap, shampoo). Alot of store bought products can agrevate these type of conditions.

Asthma.. Our daughter had this exact symptom.. Have her taken to the doctor..

D.,
Have your friend give her daughter water to loosen the mucus. It will get rid of the congestion and coughing. (Not juices, etc. Just water).
Good luck.
Lucy B.

I have asthma and have learned over the years that dairy and soy can be big time aggravators! This sounds like mild asthma to me, as it sounds a lot like my own struggles. Steam showers, tea with honey. They do make homeopathis cough syrups for kids. If it is mild asthma it can take the lungs about 3 weeks to heal from the first irritation, during this time I feel a constant tickle and my coughs are very wet. The trouble for kids is they prescripe a liquid albuturol which can cause a jittery feeling, maybe she's old enough for a rescue inhalor ? I would push it with docotor, but try every natural possible. Something else that just occured to me is a vocal web, does it also happen after she gets loud? Something to look into. Good luck!

This is the time that your friend needs to become an outspoken advocate for her child. She needs to make an appointment with her pediatrician and insist that further steps be taken because what they have been doing is not working. If the pediatrician tries to dismiss her symptoms, then she needs to ask for a referral to a pulmonologist. If her insurance doesn't need a referral, find a pediatric pulmonologist covered by her insurance and make an appointment.

I am curious how long she has had this cough, if it has been happening for years then i would rule out whooping cough, if just for a month then i would check into it. There are sites online to look up and hear the sound of whooping cough, which is very distinct in children, but i assume if you've gone to the pediatrician and they've heard her coughing, they've ruled out pertussis. I am not sure if you're feeding her milk, but that's a HUGE culprit for mucus build up, and allergies. If you're willing to try, i would recommend taking her off milk, and giving her rice milk, or unsweeted soy milk (in small amounds) and see if that takes care of the mucous problem. I've done it with some of my patients, and its AMAZING the changes its made. One even said she wanted to test the theary after not drinking milk for 2 weeks, and instantly mucous started coming out of her nose, gross but true. There's also sugar and "white" wheat (bleached flour) allergies that can manifest in different ways. I would start with the milk and see how it does and move on to the other allergens if milk doesn't work. Good luck!

C.

Hi there, You have alot of good answers. I have 2 kids with asthma and it could be that but who knows. Until you can see a doctor, take the child in the bathroom, just sitting in there, not in the shower and turn the shower on very hot and let the steam help. Put a towel rolled up under the door so all that good steam can stay in the bathroom. An adult might want to stay in there so the child doesn't touch the hot water. This has always helped my kids until we could get to a doctor. Another thing with diet , if it is asthma stay away from MSG, it is comonly used in Chinese food..or I do believe it is under the name Accent in the store. I would also consider whooping cough, there are some kids getting it again. Insist on more care for this child, someone is paying that doctor! Moms need to speak up for their kids. Good Luck, hope this helps until the child can be seen.

HELLO. I FEEL FOR THE LITTLE GIRL. WHAT SHE MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING IS "BRONCHIAL ASTHMA". THE NORMAL ASTHMA PATIENT YOU HEAR WHEEZING. NOT SO WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. YOU JUST CONTINUE TO COUGH ALOT & BRING UP ALOT OF MUCUS. TELL YOUR FRIEND TO CHECK FOR MOLD AROUND WINDOWS. I JUST WENT THROUGH A BOUT OF BAD ASTHMA WHICH THE ER NURSE SAID SHE HAD BEEN A NURSE FOR 27 YEARS & SAID SINCE I WAS NOT WHEEZING, I DIDN'T HAVE ASTHMA. LOL I TAUGHT HER & THE DOCTOR ABOUT BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. MY ASTHMA WAS BROUGHT ON BY TERMITES IN THE KITCHEN & DINING ROOM. TELL HER TO HAVE THE DOCTOR REFER HER TO AN ALLERGY/ASTHMA DOCTOR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME PERSONALLY. I'LD LOVE TO HELP.
BLESSINGS & PRAYERS,
A. MYERS
____@____.com

I would both (a) see a specialist, and (b) if the specialist doesn't figure it out, I'd request a sweat test to rule out (god forbid) cystic fibrosis.

Hi D. -

First, has she been checked for whooping cough? I know it sounds ridiculous, but sometimes things like that don't get checked.

If that's ok, I would take her off dairy products, then go down the list of other things (gluten, etc.) for allergies.

Being in the wholistic health field, mucus is a 'wet' condition. If she has a fever, it would be hot and wet, if no fever it would be cold and wet. That gives an idea of some things that could be done. Since it's wet, try using 'drying' things with foods and supplements. That means things that can dry the body a bit (still drinking plenty of water). Spicy foods or hot spices added to foods (even cinnamon or clove, oregano, etc).

I would insist on testing for whooping cough, if they haven't.

Blessings,
B. C.
www.mynsp.com/morethanherbs
http://aromascents.younglivingworld.com

I've had good results using a cool most humidifier. Also, if it gets really bad, a small sucker or hard candy seem to soothe the throat. Not that I'm a big fan of candy at night...

If they think it is allergies and if it is affecting her at school because she is kept up at night, they might want to take her to an allergist. I don't know if asthma is a consideration, but both of my nephews and my husband have or have had asthma, and it would get worse when they were active. My daughter (who turned 7 at the end of June) has allergies, but Zyrtec did nothing for her. Whenever she is sneezing, has a runny nose and is coughing, we give her Benadryl. It works great. I don't like giving her something everyday for symptoms that happen intermittently. If it is really bad, they could take her to see a Pediatric Pulmonologist. One to two hour coughing fits at night is sounds pretty bad, especially if it is every night.

She needs to go back to the doctor and let him/her know this isn't working.

She sounds a lot like my son. He has allergy induced asthma. He starts coughing, sometimes uncontrollably. He uses an inhaler along with Singulair during the spring.

Good luck.

It could be allergies to common household cleaners and detergents. She should switch to 'green' products if possible. Check out www.switchingstores.com/julieewing to request more information.

I woudl tell your friend to get a second opinion - try a new pediatrician or urgent care. That is ridiculous. It sounds like Pneumonia which is often bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics. Might also be bronchitis. There si no reason this should be going on a long time.

If she is struggling to get air a nebulizer might be called for. And a humidifer might belp. Also try an extra pillow to elevater her head.

You have had a lot of moms that have suggested asthma. As someone that has asthma and the mom of 2 kids with asthma I can tell you from experience how serious asthma can be and how her symptoms sound like my families. I wouldn't wait, asthma can get worse quickly. It is a very serious condition that should been looked at by your doctor. Please have your doctor look at asthma and get her some help.

Whooping cough is going around. I'd double check it isnt that.

I had the same problem. I'd wake up coughing for hours. I'd cough so bad that I would throw up. I also pulled muscles in my ribs from all the coughing. I was put on allergy medication too, but it really didn't help. I ended up having some kind nasal surgery. It's so long ago, I really can't remember the details. Basically, it turned out that my nose was draining incorrectly or something like that. Well, after the surgery, my life drastically and permanantly changed. No coughing at all and no more medicine. Even now, 30 years later, I still have the knowledge that this surgery changed my life. I don't know if this pertains to your child, but try an ear, nose, and throat specialist, or someone who specializes in reconstructive surgery for that part of the body. I saw a surgeon who is known for fixing these types of problems. He was a recontructive surgeon. Good luck and keep searching until you find an answer.

Hi D.,

Here is a homeopathic remedy that my son's nutritionist recommended to me for coughing.

http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/lobelia-essence...

Also, if your friend wants to use a homeopathic remedy for allergies instead of zyrtec, try this.

http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/histablock-90-c...

I've given both of these remedies to my five year old son, and both seemed to work for him.

Good luck!

I don't know about home remedies, but maybe you should check out Pertussis (whooping cough)...

Looks like you got your answer, but yes, I'd say he has asthma. Traditional medications flovent/abluterol will help you get it under control but I have also taken my kids to a natural medicine place and that has helped too. Let me know if you want more details on that.

Have her try honey with warm tea. There are many different flavors, but I would suggest non decaf..

This sounds more like asthma has she been checked for that?

I sprayed the walls of the house, especially the boys room, with lysol. I did this because I thought I smelled mildew or some such thing. My 6 year olds chronic caugh went away completely. I had just aquired asthma meds for him after taking him to the doc for the umpteenth time. The lysol worked. He went to the dentist one time, and during his cleaning I heard him cough. the dental hygeniest asked him how long he had had that cough and replied "about two years now". Just an added anecdote.

I would agree with the moms that have said asthma and with Phoebe. My son had the same exact situation and the Dr. had prescribed different variations of allergy meds. After a few years I took him back in and forced them to run an allergy skin test, blood test and well he was not allergic to a single thing. In the end it was Asthma. I have since had many friends in the same situation advised their moms to take them to the Dr. and look into asthma and it was. Please have your friend get her daughter to the doctor as soon as she possibly can.
Tell her good luck.

Vicks vapor rub at night. Rub on her chest and neck.

Has she been assessed for Asthma? That's how my Asthma started. She would need an inhaler and possibly another med. It's very important because Asthma (bronchial closing) can be serious. She should get to the doctor and have her daughter assessed for asthma. HTH.

she can try using vick's vaporub on the bottom of her feet and wear socks to bed. i have used this and it works fairly effectively to quell the cough (i also put it on my chest, neck, and under my nose.)

sleeping in an upright position is also a possibility. but it's frightening to feel like you are going to choke on your own mucus, so i keep a napkin by my bed so i can spit into it.

you also might want to have her suck on a cough drop while she's going to sleep or try some hot water, lemon and honey -- that will coat the throat.

more importantly, maybe switch doctors if this one isn't willing to look at whopping cough or asthma related issues.

It may just be allergies-my kids get that way and we need to use the nebulizer with albuterol or xopenex and pulmicort every six hours through the day-we are doing it now-it comes up 2-3 times a year. It may be asthma as the others mentioned also-ours is not asthma, but have similar symptoms. Maybe a second opinion or ask the Dr about doing breathing txs-we only do them when it is severe and ped recommends them and they clear in 5-7 days the worst case we may need to do 10 days, but the cough goes away. Hope this helps! L.:)

My daughter was like this from about 2-4 and they all kept saying allergies too. I wasn't buying it and found a Naturopath who eliminated dairy from her diet, and what do you know, it's gone! She hasn't so much as sneezed in 7 months! For all the importance they are always stressing about kids needing milk and yogurt and cheese, for my kids, it's awful and makes them sick with ear infections, coughing and bad poop :(
Don't medicate and hope that it works! Get to the root of the problem!

My daughter had that for awhile, her ped had no clue what it was though he labeled it allergies, nothing helped . She was 5, it lasted months. She would wake up during the night cough so much that shed gag, cry, then go back to sleep it was AWFUL. One day the problem vanished.