Need opinion on my DS's coughing

[wiggles02]

We have been dealing with this for about all of his life and he is 5! Every time DS gets a cold, he coughs until he vomits. He is in K and has already missed days of school. He is fine during the day, but at night when he goes to sleep he gets a tickle and can't control the cough and throws up. Same thing first thing in the am when it sort of all settles in his lungs and he needs to cough to loosen it up. Doctor has him on Pulmicort and Albuterol and just put him on Singulair as a preventative. He does not act sick, however. He never runs a fever through all of this and runs around like a crazy man. This will happen periodically from September to late May and he will be fine all summer. It drives me crazy. My husband says that he just has a easy gag reflex and that he will outgrow it, but it still bothers me. Would you seek advice of a specialist? I just feel so bad for him.

 

[dahrjo]

Do you do the albuterol at night while he is sleeping when he is coughing?
My DS used to do this also. He is now 7 and seems to have outgrown it, and we are off the nebulizer. Only taking the Singulair.

I used to sleep with him upright on the living room chair some nights! If he is coughing that bad they could give a steroid for a couple days. That always did the trick, when DS was really bad with the coughing.

 

[wiggles02]

Oh yes, I sleep with him and a bucket! When he is really bad, the Oraped does the trick, but it makes him angry and hungry so I only resort to it if he has been coughing for a week or more. I'm hoping he outgrows it soon!

 

[labdogs42]

Sounds like allergy induced asthma to me. The fact that it is seasonal and mostly at night is what makes me think that. Maybe the addition of an antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec would prevent the symptoms better in the first place. You might want to consult an allergist. The albuterol and pulmicort are good for treating the symptoms, but maybe an antihistamine would prevent the symptoms in the first place. Also, if you have your son tested for allergies, maybe there are some things that can be avoided or reduced in his environment that might help to reduce his coughing episodes. I have horrible allergies and asthma, so I'm no doctor, but I'm familiar with these ailments!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I agree that this sounds like asthma, although probably viral-induced rather than allergy-induced since it accompanies a cold. Singulair and albuterol are a good first step, but since he's continuing to have problems, he should be seen by a specialist.

I was diagnosed with asthma in middle school and mine is similar to your son's. It showed up with a bad cold, and I couldn't stop coughing, especially at night. I didn't vomit with it, but I coughed so hard I pulled a muscle in my rib cage. I still deal with the asthma, although it's better now than it was when I was younger. I'm fine until I get a bad respiratory infection (I seem to get bronchitis every December), then it takes me until May to get my asthma back under control. I've had a lot of luck using Advair, which is an inhaled medication, but it is a maintenance medication meaning I take it every day, unlike my albuterol inhaler which is for acute flair ups.

 

[bzzymom]

I would definatley consult an allergist. It sounds like he is having bronchospams which can cause him to throw up. He is probably allergic to pollens, weeds, and so on. There are some foods that make environmental certain environmental allergies worse.

DS is 11 and he has terrible environmental allergies, numerous pollens, grass, weeds, molds, trees. I noticed that he got "colds" frequently, but it was h im swelling up like a oompa loompa and having severe welts and hives, and then trouble talking and breathing that took us to the ER and then we started seeing an allergist. They don't know which one or combination of caused his big reaction, because anyone of the things he is allergic to can do that. So, we now have to carry an epi-pen.

Our allergist gave us a whole list of things to avoid eating when different allergens are in season, like eating a banana when a certain pollen is heavy can amplify his symptoms. He is getting allergy shots too. The allergist told me that his symptoms should become less in a year or so with the shots. I am so happy that our health insurance pays 100% of the allergy testing, and shots.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Definitely go see an allergist. DD9 used to do this all the time (and so did DH when he was little). She has pretty much outgrown it, but she also takes allergy and asthma medication, so it could be more that she is appropriately medicated than that she has outgrown it. DD5 also used to do this (but not as often as DD9), and Zyrtec alone has stopped her cough induced vomiting completely. I'd go to an allergist rather than trying to figure it out on your own, since the treatment has varied for my two kids.

Good luck!

 

[dis-happy]

I don't know if it's suitable for children or not, but there's a drug that has been a lifesaver for me when I get bronchitis and can't sleep all night long due to coughing. I can't remember the exact name, but it's a gel pill with yellow medicine inside. It doesn't treat the symptons of the cough, instead it relaxes the muscle that causes you to cough, so you no longer have the reflex/urge driving you crazy. I hope that makes sense. It's a great pill.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I had the exact same problem when I was younger. Was treated for asthma and allergies; but what helped at night was a wedge pillow under my bed and a Rx for Phenergan with Codeine (that was a long time ago, so that might not be given to kids now). It always came and went, and definitely seemed seasonal.

 

[MightyMom]

Wow.... I could have written your post.

My DS4 was a preemie and has had lots of respiratory issues since he was born. Frequent bronchitis... and bad allergies.

We've always just treated the symptoms. Pulmacort and Xopenex via nebs.... and Zyrtec and Singulair for the allergies.

This last round of "coughs" was really bad. Really really bad. He got to the point he stopped talking because he was afraid it would trigger a bad coughing spell and vomiting.

It took 5 doses of Orapred before the symptoms improved. The pediatrician sent him to a pulmonologist.

He was diagnosed with reactive airway disease..... which I assume is just another word for asthma. When I asked the doc if he did indeed have asthma... he said "most likely" but he wouldn't give him a diagnosis until DS could do a breathing test.

This all happened 2 days before we left for Disney World. While in Florida DS didn't even have so much as the sniffles!! We've been back for 6 days now and he's already had the sniffles and watery eyes. Looks like we have to move to Disney World.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Sounds like my DD- she has cold/allergy induced asthma. For her, we've finally (I think!) nailed it down- she gets those horrible coughing fits (and we had rescue here the other night, it was so bad...) that it's when she has a cold AND is exposed to an allergen. She can have a cold, be fine. She can be around dogs, cats, dust (her triggers) and be fine. When the 2 align though, look out.

I'd definately get him into someone to check on an asthma DX and a plan to prevent, not just treat when it happens.

Good luck- I feel for you- DD was 6 before we got an accurate diagnosis and plan for her!

 

[Disney Brat]

My DD5 also has asthma, and it is mainly triggered when she get sick. We had no idea for a couple of years what was making her vomit so much when she was sick and coughing. THen one night she was laying in our bed and she was having chest retractions and her head started snapping back when she was breathing. We rushed her the the children's hospital and she was diagnosed with asthma. Whenever she gets even just a simple cold it starts all over again. The drs told us that whenever we notice a cold starting to start her on her orange puffer and start using the blue puffer regularily. That seems to work, but there is still a few times a year that she just needs the extra help and ends up in the hospital. She also uses her blue puffer as a preventative when she is going to exercise, or whenever she needs it. It is mainly triggered by colds and by exercise. She will sometimes have an alleregy related attack, but not very often.

I hope everything sorts itself out for you, it sure can be a frightening thing to deal with!!

 

[disneymarie]

We have been dealing with this for about all of his life and he is 5! Every time DS gets a cold, he coughs until he vomits. He is in K and has already missed days of school. He is fine during the day, but at night when he goes to sleep he gets a tickle and can't control the cough and throws up. Same thing first thing in the am when it sort of all settles in his lungs and he needs to cough to loosen it up. Doctor has him on Pulmicort and Albuterol and just put him on Singulair as a preventative. He does not act sick, however. He never runs a fever through all of this and runs around like a crazy man. This will happen periodically from September to late May and he will be fine all summer. It drives me crazy. My husband says that he just has a easy gag reflex and that he will outgrow it, but it still bothers me. Would you seek advice of a specialist? I just feel so bad for him.

The trick is figuring out the triggers.
Check his bedding for hypoallergenic, cotton clothing, no dryer sheets, no perfume clear softeners when in flare periods. I have asthma and the season changes area difficult for me. I am on advair now with albuteral as a rescue. Last two weeks I had started and then flared to gagging and throwing up. I would cough so hard i wet my pants. I hate the seasonal changes.

My dd also had a lot of difficulty and flared when she went to school. She would miss days of school from the symptoms. Now She is in cyber school I think my theory wass correct I told the pediatrician...the school had concrete floors with rug over...there was enough humidity that it had molds or something in the air flaring her. Now she has not been sick one day this fall to throwing up coughing.....She is fine at home. Her cough syrup had Albuteral in it, she would not use an inhaler and this helped us all get sleep.
Just a thought.
Dianne

 

[nikkers]

I have a little different situation. My dd (2) has a chronic cough. Has had it since the day she was born. I can not even explain how bad it sounds. When we are in public, people stop and double take that it came from her. When she is sick she also coughs so hard she vomits. We are very lucky, we have a GREAT pediatrician and really good insurance. When we told our pediatrician about it, she insisted we go to a specialist. My daughter has Tracheo Laryngo Malacia. Her trachea is closed. Something she will hopefully out grow. She also had hemangiomas covering her throat, that had to be removed. We give her Pulmicort 3 times daily. Do I think your ds has this, probably not. But seeing a specialist made me feel so much better and answered a lot of our questions.

 

[5 for WDW]

Two of my kids and I all have asthma. We see an allergist and an asthma specialist. They are the only ones that can keep our asthma under control.
Best of luck to you. I know how trying it can be when you don't have answers!

 

[princessmom29]

Sounds like allergy induced asthma to me. The fact that it is seasonal and mostly at night is what makes me think that. Maybe the addition of an antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec would prevent the symptoms better in the first place. You might want to consult an allergist. The albuterol and pulmicort are good for treating the symptoms, but maybe an antihistamine would prevent the symptoms in the first place. Also, if you have your son tested for allergies, maybe there are some things that can be avoided or reduced in his environment that might help to reduce his coughing episodes. I have horrible allergies and asthma, so I'm no doctor, but I'm familiar with these ailments!!

I am going to second the allergy triggered idea, but add that singular is in the same family of drugs as antihistamine and I was told by DD's doctor that you cannot take them together. Singular is a lukotriene blocker. They are in the same family of body chemicals as histimines and can be the cause of stubborn allergies like this rather than histimines. Histimines tend to be more transitory. If allergy symptoms hang around and keep coming back odds are they are leukotriene related, at least in part.

 

[pooh101]

Similar thing happens with my daughter, but it stems from her allergies. BE VERY CAREFUL using Singulair. My daughter is a typical 6 yr. old girl. Loves to dance, sing, etc. A day or two after she started taking Singulair, she became extremely irritable,cranky, complained of headaches and legs aching. She's not usually a complainer.She was absolutely not herself, and I could tell this was much worse than just feeling bad cause you're sick. The dr. gave her a different Rx and the awful side effects stopped. Sorry, it's late. I hope this makes sense. I saw your post and felt I should warn you in case anything similar happens with your son. I can't find the website now, but there's more info about this on the web.

 

[labdogs42]

I am going to second the allergy triggered idea, but add that singular is in the same family of drugs as antihistamine and I was told by DD's doctor that you cannot take them together.

Really? I have been taking them together for years. They did recently approve Singulair for treatment of allergies (before it was only approved for asthma), but I have never been told by any doctor or pharmacist not to take an antihistamine with my Singulair. In fact, I regularly fill prescriptions for both at the same time. When DS gets into his allergy seasons, he takes both as well. If you daughter doesn't get the full relief she needs from Singulair, you might want to try another doctor or ask yours for more information on why he/she says they can't be taken together. I know many people who take them both.

 

[princessmom29]

Similar thing happens with my daughter, but it stems from her allergies. BE VERY CAREFUL using Singulair. My daughter is a typical 6 yr. old girl. Loves to dance, sing, etc. A day or two after she started taking Singulair, she became extremely irritable,cranky, complained of headaches and legs aching. She's not usually a complainer.She was absolutely not herself, and I could tell this was much worse than just feeling bad cause you're sick. The dr. gave her a different Rx and the awful side effects stopped. Sorry, it's late. I hope this makes sense. I saw your post and felt I should warn you in case anything similar happens with your son. I can't find the website now, but there's more info about this on the web.

My little one did something similar with Zyrtec. She was an absoulte cranky bear. The cingular fixed the problem for us so I guess it just depends on the child.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

To me, it sounds like your son has a reactive airway, which isn't the same as asthma (though it's usually treated like acute asthma). My DS2 has a reactive airway, and we do the same song and dance all winter - he gets a runny nose, then a cough, then the breathing issues. We treat with Albuterol and Pulmicort (which is a steroid, by the way) via nebulizer until his cough is gone and his lungs sound clear.

He always vomits with a coughing fit on the first night of symptoms, but I think it's because he's swallowed so much mucus (the first day, his nose is like a faucet), and his tummy just wants it out. If your son's nose is running heavily, and his vomit is primarily mucus, that's probably the problem. I would talk to his doc about getting something to dry him up at night - or just try Benadryl, if it doesn't make him hyper.

Good luck!