Chronic Cough in 20 month old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like your daughter has been treated for reactive airway disease which is a term sometimes used before they are ready to diagnose for full on asthma. You said you have used nebulizers and steroids, so is that what the doctor said- that it’s RAD and could be asthma but she’s too young for a diagnosis? I’m interested to hear more about what the doctor said about using these meds that usually point to asthma.

No the doctor did not use the term RAD to me or say she was too young for an asthma dx. Basically she said, treat her with these medicines and kids get coughs and i pushed for more info and clarity which is why she sent me to the ENT.

I’m PP. I don’t know what to tell you. From everything you say, it sounds like she should be evaluated for RAD/asthma. In my experience with my child diagnosed with RAD and my asthma diagnosis- a pulmonologist or allergist would be the next logical step. But perhaps your doc thinks it could be reflux related or something else structural not involving the lungs, hence the ENT. I would just follow up with the ENT and see where that takes you…

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the typical asthma from allergies, OP. You need to get your kid to a specialist.

[Anonymous]

OP update. The ped gave us a temporary inhaler and appts have been made with ENT and pulmonologist.

[Anonymous]

Original OP here replying - at my wits end.

We have seen the ENT 2x, the pulmonologist and she had an Echo done on her heart. No one can find the cause of her coughing. It comes on quickly, she mostly has attacks at night and sometimes the coughing is so bad she vomits (which happened last night). Her cough is dry and hacking.

The pulmonologist says the next step is to put her under and do a bronchial biopsy. Has anyone does this?

Any input appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Have you seen a pediatric allergist?

[Anonymous]

Very similar to how asthma presented in our kid, though we didn’t get a diagnosis until he finally had an “asthma attack.”

He also has enlarged adenoids and there was definitely a lot of trying to figure out what was going on for several months. We went to ENT before pulmonologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very similar to how asthma presented in our kid, though we didn’t get a diagnosis until he finally had an “asthma attack.”

He also has enlarged adenoids and there was definitely a lot of trying to figure out what was going on for several months. We went to ENT before pulmonologist.

Can I ask how you got the dx? What did the doctor have to see? In our case they were hesitant to dx asthma, didn't see any signs of it and she does not have shortness of breath.

Her adenoids are normal, ENT found nothing noteworthy.

We have not seen an allergist - no one has suggested - and I am not sure how it would relate to these nighttime attacks, but at this point we might as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Original OP here replying - at my wits end.

We have seen the ENT 2x, the pulmonologist and she had an Echo done on her heart. No one can find the cause of her coughing. It comes on quickly, she mostly has attacks at night and sometimes the coughing is so bad she vomits (which happened last night). Her cough is dry and hacking.

The pulmonologist says the next step is to put her under and do a bronchial biopsy. Has anyone does this?

Any input appreciated.

Have you tried standard allergy meds?

[Anonymous]

Allergist due to post nasal drip, which is worse when laying down.

Allergy to pillow or bedding?

Also gastro, reflux gets worse when you lay down.

Do the symptoms start in the even or after laying down to sleep? This makes a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Probably asthma. My kid does two puffs of Flovent daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Original OP here replying - at my wits end.

We have seen the ENT 2x, the pulmonologist and she had an Echo done on her heart. No one can find the cause of her coughing. It comes on quickly, she mostly has attacks at night and sometimes the coughing is so bad she vomits (which happened last night). Her cough is dry and hacking.

The pulmonologist says the next step is to put her under and do a bronchial biopsy. Has anyone does this?

Any input appreciated.

Have you tried standard allergy meds?

Yes they don’t make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Go see a pediatric allergist. She may need a nebulizer or inhaler.

If you are in MD, Dr Athena Economides in Friendship Heights is terrific.

[Anonymous]

Like the previous poster said go see pediatric allergist specialized in asthma, or pediatric pulmonologist, if your child has asthma then over counter allergy medicine won’t help. Some doctors don’t see patients under age 17 so find someone in the in pediatric field. Pediatrician won’t know about asthma and they can only prescribe the rescue type of inhaler, it works fast but won’t be able to cure long term condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the previous poster said go see pediatric allergist specialized in asthma, or pediatric pulmonologist, if your child has asthma then over counter allergy medicine won’t help. Some doctors don’t see patients under age 17 so find someone in the in pediatric field. Pediatrician won’t know about asthma and they can only prescribe the rescue type of inhaler, it works fast but won’t be able to cure long term condition.

It took us more than 2 years to finally found out DC has asthma, which can be triggered by his allergy ( pollen and dust mite, cold, sometimes exercise as well) and his symptom was also unstoppable cough through day ( when he had cold), and night he would wake up to cough for more than half to an hour. Neither pediatrician or previous allergist could figure out anything even after allergy test ( only knew it’s not food related, but DC would have on and off nut allergy symptoms so we thought it’s nut allergy, but they didn’t prescribe any epi pen). If you’re in Fairfax you can try dr. Johnson, he’s our current doctor at http://www.wheezefree.com/ . He figured out my DC had asthma.