Advice on daughter (10) 3 month cough? Asthma or Post Viral Cough? Or both?!

[Kira51]

Hello,

any help appreciated. My daughter is 10 and has terrible cough for 3 months. It was relapsing/remitting in severity, but worse now than before. She was diagnosed with asthma at 5 and has been hospitalised once. Mostly she is controlled on clenol and montelukast.

We have access to Respiratory consultant in Glasgow.

He believes it is Post Viral Cough (albeit 'nasty'). It is not responding to escalation in meds. We upped everything and she is now on 3 course Pred (2 weeks prescribed) though he thinks 'it probably won't help'.

Whooping cough test was negative. He says only thing to help is time. But she is worse after 3 months. I expect he will offer chest X-ray after Pred 'fails' (?).

He is trying to keep her out of Hospital setting due to Covid19 and consulted over the phone. GP found her chest to be clear last Friday (antibiotics have been tried and also didn't help).

Has anyone's child recovered from similar nasty and long-persisting cough? He said some kids have it 'years' (???!!). It stops her doing most things at the moment.

Thanks for any help.

Kira (her mum)

[strongmouse]

Hi that sounds worrying for you.

I am no expert on this, but some coughs can linger for quite a long time after an infection. Good that the doctor has checked that her chest is clear.

You could take a look at the Asthma UK website -

asthma.org.uk/

They also have a helpline 0300 222 5800 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) where you can speak to an asthma nurse.

I have allergies as well as asthma and find that if cough gets worse it can be from an allergy to pollen (tree pollen currently). Aswell as using an antihistamine I use a hepa air filter in the house. Plus if I have had an infection then steam inhalations can help although that is usually more when it is a 'chesty cough'. Some people with asthma find different things can trigger worse reaction e.g. heat, cold, pollen, smoke, perfumes. Asthma UK has a list and it is worth checking if there is anything relevant to you and your child.

Hope you find something that helps ease her coughing.

[jap0127]

hi, i have had a cough too and short of breath since i last went to the hospital about 7 weeks ago its been getting worse and in 30 + years of having asthma i have never been this bad i also have an autoimmune disease and take injections that make my immune system lower its hard to pin point if its because of asthma,my auto immune disease as it causes inflammation round the lungs or if its the covid 19 as according to the 111 helpline form for it there is a chance it could be and i don"t want to go to hospital either because if it isn"t the virus i don"t want to then go and catch it at the hospital but i"ve been put on steroids now i really hope you find out what is going on with your little girl there is nothing worse than struggling to breath , good luck x