Cough Variant Asthma? *update*

[mrsv98]

Anyone have an experience with this? DD has had a cough for months. She had her usual allergy cough in the fall that generally goes away when it gets cold. This year it has lingered and nothing we have done has made a difference. We are going back to the doc again today and I think this may be the dx.

What treatments have you used? Does it come back every year?

Poor Dd looked at me yesterday and asked if she was ever going to stop coughing.

TIA

*update*
Doc gave DD a week's course of prednisone. 2x for 3 days and then 1x for four days. He thinks this is what she needs to knock out the cough. Keep your fingers crossed! Thanks again for the info and good wishes.

 

[EthansMom]

Both of my kids have viral-induced asthma. They get a cold, croup, or allergies (leaf molds are a bad one for them). Then that kicks up their asthma, which takes the form of coughing. Without proper treatment, my kids can get into coughing spasms, where they just can't get a breath of air in between coughs.

Both DS and DD have nebulizers and do breathing treatments (pulmicort as a preventative & albuterol at the time of asthma problems). During their worst respiratory problems, I have to give DS and DD breathing treatments every four hours.

In my kids, if the asthma is left unchecked, it often constricts their airways enough that they end up with bronchitis and/or pneumonia. Then the have to have an oral steroid (orapred) and/or antibiotic.

It's possible that your daughter doesn't have asthma, but DOES have bronchitis and/or pneumonia, both of which cause a great deal of coughing and lethargy, but not necessarily any other symptoms.

I hope your DD is feeling better soon!

 

[Minniemom97]

My now 10 year old daughter starting have the non-stop coughing spells around kindergarten. Her allergist said she had allergy induced asthma (she never had wheezing or anything). She was put on Singulair from September to the end of spring (basically all school year) and it did the trick.

This is our 2nd season without out and so far so good. Her doctor said it was possible to outgrow it.

Good luck!

 

[ducklite]

I've got this. For as long as I can remember I'd start coughing when I changed from a warmer temperature to a colder one. It got worse and worse as I got older, and eventually there were many other triggers.

It's no less severe as any other form of asthma, and needs to be taken seriously. Your childs doctor might want to do a spirography--it's a painless test that involves breathing into a tube before and after a nebulizer treatment.

I take Advair and Singulair daily year round, and use a rescue inhaler as needed. I also have a nebulizer and two different meds to put into that that I use as needed.

The good thing about asthma is that it is pretty easy to manage once you learn your triggers and get on the right meds.

 

[ocd4disney]

My dd has coughing spells too. It started with a slight cold then developed into a cough that has lingered for weeks and weeks. The dr said it is allergy related and put her on Singulair. It is finally getting better, but it has taken a couple of weeks of taking it to see any improvement. She did this last year and in the spring, but this has been the worst season yet for her.

ETA~~ I used to have coughing spells like that and the doctor diagnosed me with asthma. I had problems for several years, but now it is lots better. I rarely have any episodes now....I'm not sure why. Anyway, my point is that she might not ahve problems like this every year or she could outgrow it.

 

[snicklette]

Cough variant asthma is a type of asthma more common in children.
Instead of hearing a wheeze (classic asthma symptom) you hear a dry non productive cough. There are so many variables but mostly this would be addressed in someone that has a chronic cough. Many times with cough variant asthma you will notice the cough increases with exercise, cold air, allergies and illness.

There are many forms of treatment based upon the findings but a common one today is SINGULAIR, either alone or in combination with other asthma meds. The treatment is the same as other forms of asthma. Getting an evaluation with a ped pulmonologist or allergy/asthma doc is a good start if your pediatrician suspects asthma. Ruling out a sinus infection is a good idea too. Sinus drip that is swallowed often goes undetected in kids and can cause a chronic cough.

I hope your docs get to the bottom of this and she starts feeling better soon! Nothing worse than a child that doesnt feel well.

 

[mrsv98]

Both of my kids have viral-induced asthma. They get a cold, croup, or allergies (leaf molds are a bad one for them). Then that kicks up their asthma, which takes the form of coughing. Without proper treatment, my kids can get into coughing spasms, where they just can't get a breath of air in between coughs.

Both DS and DD have nebulizers and do breathing treatments (pulmicort as a preventative & albuterol at the time of asthma problems). During their worst respiratory problems, I have to give DS and DD breathing treatments every four hours.

In my kids, if the asthma is left unchecked, it often constricts their airways enough that they end up with bronchitis and/or pneumonia. Then the have to have an oral steroid (orapred) and/or antibiotic.

It's possible that your daughter doesn't have asthma, but DOES have bronchitis and/or pneumonia, both of which cause a great deal of coughing and lethargy, but not necessarily any other symptoms.

I hope your DD is feeling better soon!

She has already had a course of amoxy because the doc thought she had a sinus infection. Her headaches and facial pain have abated but nothing has touched the cough.

He mentioned starting her on Singulair un addtition to the flonase and claratin. I am hoping he gives her a nebulizer treatment because I really feel she just needs something to break the cough and then we can work on control.

Thanks for the info and good wishes!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS11 had this when he was younger. Our first pediatrician had him on an inhaler along with Clemistine (a syrup antihistimine). It worked great. Some years his symptoms were worse than others. Our second pediatrician put him on Singulair, which was also very effective. He hasn't needed medication since he was in 2nd grade.

His formal diagnosis was "reactive airway disease" because he doesn't wheeze.

 

[Mkrop]

Cough variant asthma is a type of asthma more common in children.
Instead of hearing a wheeze (classic asthma symptom) you hear a dry non productive cough. There are so many variables but mostly this would be addressed in someone that has a chronic cough. Many times with cough variant asthma you will notice the cough increases with exercise, cold air, allergies and illness.

This is exaclty what D10 has. He is on Zyrtec, Nasonex, and Flovent daily. He is also allergic to everything outdoors.

 

[daisax]

Did she have cough medicine when she first developed the cough? (I know they're now not advising cough medicine for children, but some people might still give it)

I suffered from this as an adult for about 7 years -- post viral asthma, which would result in a cough that lasted several months, progressing to gagging, dry heaves... oh, it was lovely. YEARS and YEARS of this. Basically I was told to live with it.

One year it hit me when I was out of town on vacation. Didn't have cough medicine with me, so I didn't take it. Didn't feel like looking for it the next day, didn't take it. Cough went away, and it was the first time in 7 years that I didn't get the months of coughing jags.

If she has reactive airways there may be something in over the counter medication that sets her off, as must have set me off in that vicious cycle.

 

[mrsv98]

Did she have cough medicine when she first developed the cough? (I know they're now not advising cough medicine for children, but some people might still give it)

I suffered from this as an adult for about 7 years -- post viral asthma, which would result in a cough that lasted several months, progressing to gagging, dry heaves... oh, it was lovely. YEARS and YEARS of this. Basically I was told to live with it.

One year it hit me when I was out of town on vacation. Didn't have cough medicine with me, so I didn't take it. Didn't feel like looking for it the next day, didn't take it. Cough went away, and it was the first time in 7 years that I didn't get the months of coughing jags.

If she has reactive airways there may be something in over the counter medication that sets her off, as must have set me off in that vicious cycle.

We tried a bit of OTC but it didn't really help so she hasn't had it in a couple of weeks. She has an appt at 4.15p so I will know more by dinner time. Thanks!