Nighttime Cough and Asthma in Children?

Question

My 6 yr old son had walking pnuemonia when he was 4 yrs for 3 1/2 months. After this, he developed asthma. He has allergies and was on clariton before it was OTC. Now he is on xopenex and pulimcort as needed and Singulair 5mg every night before bed. In the last couple of months, i have noticed that he is coughing a considerable amount in his sleep and looks tired in the morning. We are a non smoking family with dogs that are NOT allowed in the bedrooms. All the pillows and mattresses have the allergen covers, and we have hardwood floors that are swept at least once a day. I am concerned about his cough as it is worsening over time and wondered if this was a sign that his asthma is becoming worse. We have a doc appt with his ped next week, but wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts. Only serious answers please. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I have had asthma since I was 5 also was diagnosed after having pneumonia. Coughing at night is not unusual but is concerning. I would diffidently talk to his doctor about this. The questions that come to my mind are, is he wheezing at night also? and when he coughs does he cough stuff up or is it dry. He could have something as simple as a cold. everything drains to the stomach and lungs and at night it just sits there. Try having him sleep propped up , rather than lying flat this sometimes helps. Try using Vicks Vapor rub this is great stuff. If he is coughing stuff up, I would use something with (Guaifenesin) in it during the day, this will loosen stuff up. Talk to your doctor about a cough syrup for night time. My daughter is also 6 and is just getting over the flu, she was coughing constantly at night and was giving a prescription cough syrup at night. She now sleeps all night. I hope this helps, Good luck.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Asthma is an allergy and is triggered by something. The best non medication treatment for asthma is learning your triggers and avoiding them. Common triggers are smoke, dust, mold, mildew, plants, dust mites, pets and grass/weeds.

If you can not figure our your triggers, you may need to see an allergist and have allergy screening done. This may point out your triggers.

The National Asthma Prevention Program and the Expert Panel of Diagnosis and Management of Asthma both agree if you have to use a prescription inhaler such as albuterol more then two time per week, your asthma is NOT in control and you will need a prescription controller medication.

Controller medications are steroids (Asthmacort Asthmanex, Flovent, Pulmocort), Leukotriene modifier (Singulair, Aculade, Zyflo) or mast cell stabilizers (Cromolyn sodium, Intal, Tilade).

You may want to talk to your doctor about several strong controller medications and maybe Xolair shots.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 4

it sounds like his asthma is not under control. Is the Pulmicort used "as needed"/ it works best if used daily -once or twice a day- I would definitely use the Pulmicort and Xopenex together twice aday. That's the best way to stop 'the asthma cycle". (Inhaled steroids like pulmicort work better than Singulair and need to be taken twice a day to control asthma). Singulair is almost like a placebo if your child's asthma is severe. he could also have a sinus infection with post nasal drip - he may need an antibiotic or you can try OTC children's Dimetapp. Maybe you can move up his appt to avoid him missing another night of sleep.

Answer 5

Asthma Treatment Options

Both Types of Asthma Treatments Have Their Place

Asthma medicines fall into two categories: quick-relief (or rescue) medicines and preventive (controller) medicines. Both treatments have their place.

Quick-relief Asthma Medicines

Quick-relief medicines, like albuterol, provide fast relief from the common symptoms that accompany asthma attacks.

Examples of some quick-relief medicines include:

albuterol†
proventil
ventolin
Maxair™ (pirbuterol acetate)†
Xopenex® (levalbuterol HCl)†
Atrovent® (ipratropium bromide)†
Preventive Asthma Medicines

Your child’s doctor may decide to add a preventive (controller) medicine to the treatment as well. When used as prescribed, preventive (controller) medicines can help prevent asthma symptoms and attacks from starting and can help reduce their frequency and severity. They’ve also been proven to help minimize the need for an oral (syrup or pill) steroid.

The National Institutes of Health** even found one type of preventive (controller) medicine—inhaled corticosteroids—to be the most effective means of reducing and preventing airway inflammation.

Examples of some commonly prescribed preventive (controller) medicines include:

Pulmicort Respules® (budesonide inhalation suspension)
Pulmicort Turbuhaler® (budesonide inhalation powder)
AeroBid® (flunisolide)†
Azmacort® (triamcinolone acetonide)†
QVAR† (beclomethasone)†
Flovent® (fluticasone propionate)†
Advair Diskus® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder)†
cromolyn†
nedocromil†
Accolate® (zafirlukast)†
Singulair® (montelukast sodium)†
Zyflo® (zileuton)†
theophylline†
Foradil® (formoterol fumarate inhalation powder)
Serevent® (salmeterol inhalation powder)†
If your child's doctor has decided to prescribe a hand-held device to deliver asthma control medicine, you should know that PULMICORT TURBUHALER® (budesonide inhalation powder) delivers the same proven medicine (budesonide) as PULMICORT RESPULES through a compact, dry powder, hand-held device and may be suitable for children over the age of 8 years. Talk to your child's doctor to see if PULMICORT TURBUHALER might be the appropriate next step for your child.

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Important Safety Information about PULMICORT TURBUHALER

PULMICORT TURBUHALER is used for the maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and children 6 years of age and older.
PULMICORT TURBUHALER is not a bronchodilator and should not be used to treat acute, or sudden, asthma attacks.
If you are switching to PULMICORT TURBUHALER from an oral corticosteroid, follow your health care professional's instructions to avoid health risks associated with stopping the use of oral corticosteroids.
Common side effects reported in clinical trials include respiratory infection, headache, thrush in the mouth, sore throat, hoarseness, and sinusitis.

Answer 6

Most animal allergies are caused by the dried saliva on the fur. Kids touch, play, with animal and it gets on their bodies and the irritations start. It's always worse at night. Doesn't matter if the dog goes in the room.

I hope it's not your dog, but it may be.

Bottom Line get the ped to refer you to an allergist. The allergist can find out what the kid is sensitive to. If he has a sensitivity to dogs, you have to decide who you love more.

Sounds cruel, but it's the truth.

Answer 7

I'm a nurse. Please keep the appointment. It sounds like the medication isn't effective for your son, this is concerning. Also I would write down any other symptoms and/or routines (take it to the doctors office). I think your doctor has to figure out what will work best for you son, these meds aren't it. Take care and all the best.

Answer 8

suppressing effects/symptoms cannot resolve the problem, only correcting the cause can. it is likely the child has a nerve interference problem which requires upper cervical adjustment to correct.

Answer 9

have the house checked for mold ...it can be in the walls, duct work, etc...it can cause many respiratory type illnesses exactly like his