15 month old has a terrible cough | ExpatWoman.com
 

15 month old has a terrible cough

138
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2012 - 20:30

My 15 month old has a terrible cough and I'm wondering if there is anything I can give him? I'm listening to him coughing away in bed and I feel so terrible for him! I try not to give my kids any medication but I feel he is suffering without. What should I try?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 February 2012 - 08:47
Thanks GreenQueen, he seems much better today and no coughing last night. I think I might invest in a humidifier anyway - just in case. Thanks everyone for your responses and I hope everyone's LO's are feeling better!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 February 2012 - 00:44
CABear - the barking cough is generally a symptom of croup. They can be perfectly fine during the day with just a runny nose normally, but then have the barking cough at night. DD had it a couple times and we were told to hold her in front of the open freezer door as the cool air is supposed to help soothe the airways. We also invested in a humidifier after it first happened and it's never happened as bad since. When I read up about croup, I believe it is quite common in young children and GENERALLY nothing to worry about, but it CAN get serious if their airway gets too 'swollen' as then it can be hard for them to breathe. Generally, however, from what I understand, as long as he responded to what you did and went back to sleep, there should be nothing to worry about.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 February 2012 - 10:40
DS seemed to have a miraculous recovery the day after I posted this, even later that night he was sleeping soundly. He's continued to have a runny nose but I haven't been too worried about it. So... last night I woke up to him coughing in the middle of the night with an awful "barking" cough, I gave him some hot water and a little honey and he settled quickly. He seems happy enough today except his runny nose is worse. Should I take him to a doctor? I don't know where to take him - we don't have a regular doctor and our medical is in the process of being switched so I don't have insurance until Sunday. With it being a Friday, is my only option a hospital? My gut feeling is it's not bad enough to worry too much about but after reading some of the posts here, I would hate to leave it and have it turn for the worse. TIA for any advice. I hope everyone's LO's are recovering quickly!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 15:10
my 9 and a half month old (and myself) have had this dreaded cold/flu for the past week and half too - it just won't go away!! Plumie, you mention suctioning the nose - can you recommend a good way of doing this? I've tried the traditional bulb syringes which seems to be the only thing I can find here and they do zip! Hoping all our LO's are better soon. Poor DS woke up this morning with dried snot all over his poor wee face :(
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 14:30
Yes with Dr H @ Meadows clinic. Really trust him, not quick to throw antibiotics at her and hope for the best likesome we have encountered. Fed up with this reoccurring cough though. Said on Sunday should be better within a few days and its not so off we go back again. Hope its not gone further into her chest as she had pnemonia in October. I called in a panic today to try and get an appointment by Dr is over-booked and wants to give it until Saturday to see if the new anti-biotics have kicked in! DD has been waking at 3am for the past few nights - crying, coughing, just totally unsettled and only going back down around 5ish! I just don't know what to do anymore :( I know it seems harsh, but I can't sand the crying and whinging anymore, especially when I have it during the day and then again in the dark hours of the morning!!! I'm worried she is getting worse not better and so afraid it might develop into something more serious?! She had ear infection last week and when Dr saw her on Sunday, he noted that the ears had gotten worse but wants to treat the bronchitis first. She's on Fenistil, Ventolin and Augmentin on top of the squirting and suctioning of the nose! Fed up - I so hear you nutty!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 14:18
Also, do be vigilant with the doctor's visits when your child has a cough - these things can so quickly develop into infections that require antibiotics. Any green mucus, fever and listlessness should always checked out professionally.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 14:15
I had a very similar thing with my second child - he had this awful cough for months on end - we could not shift it. In the end, he had two inhalors (one was ventolin - the other was I think flixinaise) and over time, this did help it get better. We also found that propping up the cot at the head end, and using a humidifier at night, made him much more comfortable. As we are going back into AC season, which dries up the air, thus aggravating bronchial complaints, I would suggest you invest in a good humidifier (they are fantastic for croup too). You can get them from any reputable pharmacy. We got ours from Supercare DFC.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 13:36
Yes with Dr H @ Meadows clinic. Really trust him, not quick to throw antibiotics at her and hope for the best likesome we have encountered. Fed up with this reoccurring cough though. Said on Sunday should be better within a few days and its not so off we go back again. Hope its not gone further into her chest as she had pnemonia in October.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 06:27
nights are the worse as they are lying down - don't let them lie on their backs as coughing is worse - put them to sleep sitting up if possible, stack pillows on their backs - the best thing of all is for you to sleep (sitting up!) with LO face down lying on you so they are at an angle - this keeps their chest warm and you'll find the coughing stops almost immediately. Depending on how heavy your LO is this will mean almost no sleep for you though as you'll feel crushed!!! (just had the same with 5 yo!). Prospan is good as it breaks down the mucus and brings it down through their noses rather than supress the cough, though this means that the actual coughing will continue. Lots of honey. Warm soups/chicken broth etc. Steam is supposed to help though depending from where you are in the world you may think the opposite. Vicks all over chest/back and feet. Good luck, it's horrid. <em>edited by Muesli Bar on 20/02/2012</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 22:07
My DD 18months old started coughing at night, then the runny nose started and now hacking cough during the day. Took her to the DR. and was toldit was brocilitus which is very common in babies. Its a lower respiotory tract infection.Left untreated can lead to complications. DR.prescribed ventolin and fenistil.I dontlike to give DD medicine either but would rather avoid it getting any worse. Sadly my DD has also developed bronchitis :( Have never seen her this sick and just breaks my heart! On the same meds as your DD, including Augmentin! Are you with Dr H @ the Meadows Clinic nutty? Says he is seeing quite a few cases of bronchitis as the moment, so it seems to be doing its nasty rounds :/: Be careful Mums and trust your instincts if the cough does not sounds right or does not clear within 2/3 days!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 21:39
My DD 18months old started coughing at night, then the runny nose started and now hacking cough during the day. Took her to the DR. and was toldit was brocilitus which is very common in babies. Its a lower respiotory tract infection.Left untreated can lead to complications. DR.prescribed ventolin and fenistil.I dontlike to give DD medicine either but would rather avoid it getting any worse.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2012 - 01:11
My 19 month old DS is having similar cough since last 2 days (rather nights).. I have been giving him hot water to drink as soon as he gets up in the morning, rather forcefully, about 100 ml and in between a small spoon of honey. It's more than lukewarm and hot enough that he can drink. Tonight, till now he is sleeping peacefully. It's all because the weather is changing! TC!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 15 February 2012 - 23:09
It's probably cold. DS had blocked nose and as result he was coughing a lot. Doc prescribed him Actifed. If the cough will continue, would suggest to take him to doc as it might lead to ear infection.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2012 - 22:28
Honey works normally for my little ones. I buy the thick sticky ones.
138
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2012 - 20:46
Thanks Plumie, he seems to be coughing mostly at night (a little during the day too) and has a runny nose but just clear runny liquid. He's been coughing for the past 2 nights. Seems happy during the day and has regular amount of energy. I'm guessing it's just a cold. I'll see how he is tomorrow and will try the Prospan tomorrow night if it's still bad. I worry he's not getting enough sleep with all the coughing. Poor little guy!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 February 2012 - 20:38
Is your DS only coughing? My DD was only coughing at night (no coughing during the day) for the past couple of nights on and off! She also had a high temp this morning so took her to the Dr and it so happens she has an ear and throat infection :( However, if it is only a cough, then Prospan is herbal cough syrup for kids which you can get over the counter here. Its made from Ivy Leaf. Have used it on my DD before and within days the cough cleared up! HTH
 
 

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