Cold or Allergies?

Question

My son is 5 months old and he has had a "cold" since the day before Thanksgiving. It hasnt gone away! I suction out his nose and put saline drops in as often as I can. His symptoms are that he has a runny nose or sometimes it sounds clogged back in his nasal cavity. Every once in awhile he coughs, its sounds like he does it becuase of his nasal drip. He rubs his eyes and nose all the time. Around his eyes is pink sometimes. I have taken him to the pediatrician like 3 times over this. The first two times they just said to do the saline and suction. The third time they said he had a little congestion in his lungs but to just keep suctioning! Im worried this is either going to turn into something worse or never go away! I feel so bad for him! He has trouble eating, sleeping and holding his pacifier sometimes. What should I do?

Answer 1

Get a second opinion no cold should last that long and if it's allergies he needs to be treated. Find another Pediatrician.

Answer 2

When my girls were babies, I went through something very similar. The only thing I can think of for you to try would be to lay your baby belly down, on top of a pillow, on your knees. Then you take your hands and do a, how do I say this, a chopping motion. Kind of like when you get a massage. That is what their pediatrician had me do. They had different pediatricians in 2 different states. It helps to break up the mucous, to keep the lungs clear. It did work.

Answer 3

The long-term congestion along with rubbing his eyes to me indicates a sinus infection. My son got a sinus infection that caused swelling in his eyes.

Don't forget that there is no sure fire way to diagnose a sinus infection (aside from when it causes severe swelling). It's basically a call by the doctor to prescribe antibiotics. I would suggest another doctor - either an ENT or another pediatrician.

Answer 4

I'm not a doctor but it certainly sounds like allergies to me, especially the itchy, pink eyes. Get it checked out because allergies can develop to asthma.

Answer 5

Can you take him to an allergist? I know some insurances aren't as great at providing specialists. There might be some suggestions that an allergist can provide.The doctor has obviously run out of ideas.

Answer 6

Have him checked for asthma, my daughter was like that for the first 2 years of her life, it took alot to finally get a doctor to listen to me about it, I knew the signs of asthma because I grow up with a sister with it and I have it myself, just keep trying to get a doctor to listen and have him checked for asthma!

Answer 7

Take him to an ear, nose and throat doctor. His atenoids might need taken out.