My 3 year old son has had a bad cought since early Dec - Given antibiotics not helped and is being sick - Help

Question

Had a really chesty cough, told by a triage nurse twice that his chest and ears etc are clear - given ethromycin to shut me up on my second visit - now finished cough still not cleared up and still being sick with coughing - What now???

Answer 1

Hiya

I know exactly what you're talking about... My 3 year old daughter has had the same thing twice, once in December and then again a few weeks after in early Jan.

I took her to the docs too to be told the same thing as you, her chest and ears are clear. I wasnt given any medicine but told she'd get over it in time.

I was really worried though cos both times it lasted for what seemed like weeks. I gave her some Benilyn for kids chesty cough 3 times a day while she had the cough, it didnt seem like it was helping as she still had the cough after a week of medicine but eventually it did go and shes now fine.

I know its really worrying but apparently a cough can last up to 4 weeks... And thinking back to when im sick, i sometimes have a cough for weeks after all my other flu symtoms have disappeared.

Try givin him some Benilyn if he can have it, especially at bed time as thats when my little girl used to find the cough at its worse. There isnt much else i can advise other that try not to worry, i know 100% its hard not to but if its anything like what my little one had, and it does sound the same, then it will go on its own in time...

BEST OF LUCK!!

HOPE YOUR LITTLE BOY GETS BETTER SOON xxx

Answer 2

Could be asthma... Asthma can affect the glands in your stomach and make you vomit. Does it run in your family?
I'd be wary of letting them over prescribe antibiotics, you can develop an allergy to them, which can be a real pain when you do actually need them.
Keep being persistent, the triage nurse sounds like a waste of time, can you insist on a doctor? Having a clear chest is beside the point if you can't stop coughing.

Answer 3

Ok my daughter was 4 and had the same problem but for like 6 months she had a croupy cough and we would not get rid of it to save our lives. So after the 100000th time at the peditricians office we done blood work to see if she had any allergies and her results come back that she was allergic to eggs! When we cut eggs out her diet she has never coughed again except the occassional cold! Its worth a try.

Answer 4

Some kids are allergic to food additives, artificial colors, BHT, MSG, refined sugar, etc. Keep a diary and start eliminating different things, write down what you didn't give him and note how he is 30 minutes after each time. Then note again in 1 hour, then 3 hours. I know that this takes an awful lot of dedication and time on your part - they get cranky when they don't get their fav food. Keep eliminating processed foods, even after he starts feeling better. Also, at the same time, introduce children's vitamins if you haven't already started doing it.
This is a multi-pronged program that will change how you feel about food and will give him a chance to heal on his own.
If you want to prove to yourself that this works, put him back on his old foods. If he gets sick again, you have your answer.
Good Luck!

Answer 5

Take him to the doc and ask them to do a chest x-ray to rule out any real problem. Also consider getting rid of the toxic cleaning products in your home and switching to all natural ones. See your regular doc first and if he can't find anything on a chest x-ray then consider an allergist and/or pulmonary doc. Do get rid of your toxic cleaning and laundry products as this could be part of the problem.

Answer 6

Try rubbing chest with mild Vick,. or place a steam kettle in room to create mist. maybe get him a herbal linctus to take for a while. it could be that his system maybe a little on the slow side to activate with the antibiotics. If all fails take him back and demand to see a Doctor again, and that your not satisfied with the diagnosis, and require further tests. \ I did.

Answer 7

If the child is exposed to passive smoke from smokers, this is the problem. If not, I suggest take the child to an allergist for tests.

Answer 8

Head to a reputable pediatrician or children's hospital... chest x-rays would be very beneficial, in my opinion... if antibiotics aren't working, then it is probably not a bacterical infection.

Answer 9

go to your local GP or back to see triage nurse if he's sick he needs professional help. make sure they give you proper answer for why he's this way

Answer 10

I would suggest seeing a Pediatrician and maybe suggesting some allergy/asthma testing.