regular at anytime of year and sounds chesty as well as dry mosttimes. most times causes him to be sick and occurs at night mainly or when he wakes up.
2007-03-21 02:40:22 · 18 answers · asked by jaz s 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
You have given a most excellent text book description of cough variant asthma!
I will ask you the questions I would ask.
Is there any family history of asthma, hay fever or eczema (all conditions that occur in the same individuals) or has your son ever had eczema?
Is the following true of your son, every time he gets a cold he gets a cough? Is it worse between 7pm and 7 am? does it peak at 3-4 am causing him to wake?
Does it occur every 6-7 weeks on average and does it last about the same number of days each time.
Have you received many courses of amoxicillin which neither affect the cough or shorten its duration.
Has he ever got wheeze or breathlessness with an episode. (Not essential to validate the diagnosis.)
Are there times when your son does not seem to have a cold, but he still gets chesty?
These might include occasional overnight or early morning cough, cough when he laughs or cries,cough when he runs or cough when it is very cold or he changes from one environment to another? (indoors to outdoors or visa versa).
Just as there is no definitive test for asthma there is no test to exclude asthma!
If when you think about it and there are a lot of yes answers,chat to you GP again about the diagnosis. He should perhaps have also had ONE chest x-ray to exclude rarities.
Answer to your question (sorry about the preamble) MILD cough variant asthma is unaffected by cough mixtures,antibiotics and inhaled salbutamol. It only responds to either Singulair, which has low side effects but a moderate total fail rate, or inhaled steroids which are not justified in mild patients anyway.
There is a very good adage which doctors often forget.' If nothing works,give nothing'.
2007-03-21 13:11:57 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How do you know it's not asthma? My 4yr old son does suffer from asthma but it took from the age of 5 weeks to 3 years for doctors to finally agree that's what it was, the reason being there are so many other things it COULD be at that age that could be misdiagnosed as asthma. But then again, it COULD actually be asthma especially if anyone with the same genes (ie parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/siblings suffer from either asthma, hayfever or eczema). Night coughing is one of the first signs, although my son doesn't cough at night but it's still asthma!!
I'm assuming you've had him thoroughly checked out medically and aren't just dismissing asthma because you don't want it to be? If so, you're doctor should also have discussed with you what it could be and what to do about it to ease the symptoms for your son.
Also, coughs often make kids sick purely because of the catarrh or mucus build up so you need to avoid things that contribute towards that build up such as a lot of milk.
My best advice would be take him to the doctor again and ask if you can be referred to a paediatrician for blood testing for allergies and see what this reveals.
Good luck
2007-03-21 02:54:13 · answer #2 · answered by nephtine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I feel your pain. I've had asthma for 14 years now and have seen several doctors. The truth is, there is no known cure for asthma at the moment. But the symptoms can be prevented. It really depends on what causes your brother's asthma. Mine is usually dust and hot weather. But I think the universal method is using the control inhaler.
I cured my Asthma the natural way?
2016-05-15 10:14:36 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cough is the body's response to inflammation or irritation in the throat, larynx, bronchial tubes or lungs.Some coughs are dry, while others are considered productive.Here are a few simple home remedies that will help to overcome cough. Have honey in a hot drink before bed time.To relieve fits of coughing due to dryness in the throat, suck a few pepper corns. More remedies at http://useinfo6.blogspot.com/
2007-03-21 14:12:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most GPs are more than happy to diagnose asthma & there begins a slippery slope of inhaler drugs, eventually steroids etc etc. Please seek treatment from a Homoeopath - I've treated loads of children & adults with troublesome cough without the need for inhalers, cough medicines etc. Homoeopathy is gentle & really works - find a registered practitoner local to you and you won't look back as far as your sons health is concerned - http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/about-homeopathy/find-a-homeopath.aspx
2007-03-21 21:56:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone in the house smoke? Don't! Coughing in the night IS a symptom of Asthma. My 23yr old has had it since 2 months old. You really should take him to the doctor's
2007-03-21 08:24:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like croup (a barking cough that occurs mostly at night). Try a steamy bathroom and then outside in the cold. He should see his doctor also.
2007-03-21 02:48:16 · answer #7 · answered by not too creative 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have the gas central heating on in his room at night?
If you do, it could be this..........make sure you always have a small bowl of water in a room when the heating is on to keep the air moist.
Also make sure the window is slightly open this will ensure circulation of the air in the room.
Good luck - hate it when mine are sick!
2007-03-21 03:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by EMA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cough is caused by a number of ailments.
It can be treated by over the counter medicines
or home remedies. More information available
at http://ailments.in/cough.html
2007-03-21 06:30:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried taking him to a doctor? Do you know how fast a small child can go? Why are you wanting questions from these out here on this web, take that precious child to a doctor what are you waiting on go now
2007-03-21 02:51:22 · answer #10 · answered by jkpoet2@sbcglobal.net 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋