Hi there! (and a question)

daintydoxie

So I've been "lurking" on this board a bit (this is actually where I found out about the tylenol/motrin recall! so thanks!) but I have a question maybe someone can help me with.

DS is about 14 months and has had soooo many colds this past fall/winter/spring.  Every time he gets a cold he gets a cough with it - EVERY TIME!  It keeps him up at night, he can't nap well, not to mention I just feel horrible bringing a coughing kid on errands to the grocery store!  I've talked to the pediatrician about the coughs and they've listened to his chest and just said use the humidifier.  

So we've used the humidifier and when the cold is over the cough usually subsides, although we've also had lingering coughs. Is there really nothing else I can do?? Someone today I talked to said I should maybe ask about asthma.  Figured I'd get some questions ready for the 15 month check up so if you have any insight I'd love to hear it!

And as you may have guessed DS has a cough/cold again today  

azaretsky

Hi
DS always gets a cough with his colds as well, and the last one lasted about a month after the cold was gone. We went to the pedi, and he kept saying that his chest sounds good. The pedi did suggest that it might be asthma-related or allergy-related and gave me Zycam and another drug to try. I'm anti-giving drugs to DS just for the heck of it, so I just waited, got some cough syrup from Whole Foods (holistic stuff) and the cough went away.

Since it's so tied to colds, I think that's what they are.

But, if you're concerned, or if you or DH have some asthma family history, definitely ask your doctor.

preg_amy

DS might have asthma.  He was hospitalized for 5 days recently because he had trouble breathing, was dependent on oxygen and was monitored, and all of that...  He's now on a steroid nebulizer treatment every day (Pulmicort) for his breathing. 

AND they still haven't diagnosed him with asthma.  With little ones, they don't like to give that diagnosis because it's life long and can have some negative effects (insurance, etc.).  

Anyway, his pulmonologist said that the number one sign of asthma is coughing.  All other symptoms can come and go, but coughing is the one thing that has to be there every time.  I think it would be worth a look.  If it's something that concerns you, I think you should mention it.  It would be much better than finding out the first time you have an issue and having to take a trip to the hospital.  Your pedi might refer you to a specialist or might have to give you a nebulizer or an inhaler.  It all depends, but you'll never know unless you ask.  GL!  Hopefully you'll be able to figure out something that works!

daintydoxie

thanks for the advice!  i'm thinking of calling the pedi tomorrow just to get it checked out and ask if it could be asthma related (although neither DH or I have any family history).  of course i tell my  mom about the cough and she wants me to demand drugs  we haven't used anything but tylenol or motrin and mostly for teething purposes so I hate to use drugs if I don't have too but I am also curious if he took them if it would help clear everything up.

we've got the humidifier running tonight so I'm hoping he sleeps OK

pre_amy - that is interesting about the asthma diagnosis, hadn't thought about insurance crap.  also, i'm from MN too  

 

preg_amy

Well, hello there!  Hopefully you won't need one, but I can recommend an awesome pulmonologist if you need one!! 

And actually, it's pretty common for asthma to show up with colds.  Mine does.  I have really nasty asthma and I take a steroid inhaler.  But I only need to take it when I feel a cold coming on or during certain times of year (due to the air quality or allergies).  DS's "asthma" issue was brought on by a virus.  So yeah... it's pretty common for colds to bring on asthma symptoms.  It's not always something that is just there all the time.

The family history was one thing that made them come to a "pending asthma diagnosis" with DS.  And the fact that he had croup and pneumonia within a short span.  The pumonologist said that those illnesses can be more common in kids with asthma and he got both of those and then whatever he had that put him in the hospital.  Right in a row...  People with asthma are more vulnerable to things like croup, pneumonia, or bronchitis (that's what I get all the time).  And then, like I said, the dry, unproductive cough is a major sign.

If there are no obvious breathing issues, they probably won't be able to give anything.  You won't want oral steroids (like prednisolone) unless you REALLY need it.  That can have some nasty side effects.  But like I said... you certainly should ask.  The main thing they would do is something like albuterol through a nebulizer or an inhaler.

daintydoxie

I took DS to the pedi today and they think it is just a virus - she said everything sounded fine.  Now if he would just get better, and stay better!  We were up all night with the coughing so I have a pretty tired kiddo today.  The pedi also told me what to look for if something like this would turn into pneumonia.

The only other concern now is that he actually weighs less at 14 months then he did at 12 months (and he was a lightweight to begin with)!  I know he hasn't been eating very well the last 5 days or so but it is still a concern.  I went out and bought pediasure and that instant breakfast stuff to add to his milk - per doctors orders. Hopefully we get back on track in the next week.