My 3 yr. old baby girl coughs just at night?

[Daddy21]

Hello everyone, im brand new here. My concern is my 3 yr.old daughter started coughing just at night about a week ago. I just thought it was a just a cold but today i took her to her doctor and he put her on Singulair, he said her lungs are clear,and nothing to worry about. Did he just say that cause he cant tell if she has asthma yet, or should i not really worry about it and let the meds do there thing. Thank you, (WORRIED FATHER).

[strongmouse]

Hi sorry to hear about your daughter struugling with night time coughing. I suggest that you go back to the doctor for a follow up appointment so that he can assess how she is doing. Depending on what he says you can then ask if this is a long term issue or just a one off. I find it helpful when going to see the doctor to have a list of questions I would like answered and to check it before leaving to ensure that I am clear about what he / she has said. I hope your daughter is better soon.

[Wheezycat]

Our daughter started like that when she was 2-3. It was a long time ago and recommendations were different then. They handed out antibiotics (bottled with sickly colours and flavours) like confetti and as I didn’t want her to star so early in life with these antibiotics I never took her. I reasoned (wrongly) that it was better for her to develop her own immunity against whatever caused the coughing. By five it was crystal clear it was asthma, even to me. I have since wished I had been more aware, like you. Though we had some tricky years, it was OK in the end - and most of the time.

I have a feeling that GPs are discouraged from making definite diagnosis too fast as there have possibly been more children diagnosed than should have been. Obviously it is difficult to know what the doctor thought, but I would have thought it unlikely he would have said her lungs were clear if they weren’t. More likely that he could not hear signs of an infection.

Asthma U.K. have a good website with section(s) devoted especially to children. They also have an immensely helpful helpline, with a team of specialist nurses who are brilliant at answering questions, and help understand. They have been closed for the festive season, but reopen again tomorrow, I think, 9-5, 5 days per week normally. The number is on the website. Why not give them a ring? It is good to have somewhere to go with all these questions asthma inevitably throws up. And ask away here! There will be others who are in a similar situation to you and your daughter, and generally people here are really helpful and supportive.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Not in any way an expert but I was diagnosed at 7 with similar - coughing at night, and the GP told my mum this is very typical in children with asthma. In my case there is also a strong family history of asthma which lends support - do you or others in the family have it? It's good that the GP didn't seem to think she had to have a wheeze, as plenty of asthmatics don't wheeze and even if they do when bad, might not if they are ok when seeing the dr- pretty sure I didn't have one at diagnosis. Not all doctors appreciate this however, based on personal experience, so this one seems reasonably clued up on asthma!

I think with children under about 5 or 6 they like to be cautious as they are generally not able to do the tests to confirm a diagnosis eg spirometry. With Singulair though the GP is probably thinking asthma is fairly likely as it doesn't have many uses outside asthma and allergy - I was started on it when rediagnosed as an adult (it didn't exist when I was first diagnosed) and the GP said if it worked that would be a big clue that asthma was there! However, it doesn't work.for everyone so definitely take her back if she's no better, and as others have said the Asthma UK helpline is very good meanwhile for advice and support.

[peege]

youre a good daddy/mummy to suspect something wrong. I suggest you keep your own diary of her symptoms along with taking her to the GP regularly - you need regular written medical records for them to track as this will probably go on before they will do more. Learn as much as possible IE she's coughing because her airways are inflamed. More coughing inflames them even more.

There is a typical 'asthma cough' which a decent GP or respiratory nurse will recognise.

It could be an allergy triggering the cough, mould is my trigger, many are allergic to dust mite, pet dander, aspergilus. Is her room damp, musty or dusty. Do you live near a main road with diesel fumes?

Singulair/Montelukast should help, read the leaflet to learn what it does etc. Changes in temperature can bring on the coughing so buy her a very small Buff to cover her nose & mouth when going out in the cold. Running/exercise can bring on the coughing so distract her from it whilst she's in a vulnerable phase.

Always call 999 if she has an ashma attack, they'll always put little children, particularly with breathing problems, to top of list.

It's maddening that gps won't diagnose asthma early, it saves much heartache. I went through it with my son, knowing very little as my childhood asthma had disappeared. And I went through it with my young granddaughter. I absolutely knew she had it but the b***** gps refused to diagnose for years so she had many lung infections which could have been prevented. She's coming up to 8 now, is usually fine in summer so goes without inhalers but come October/November they're in full use again.

By the way, extra pillows at night can help. (I recall holding my son in a sitting position all night whilst he coughed). Good luck. P