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What Causes Child To Cough Up White Foam Like Substance?
Question: 7 year old son has been coughing up a white foam substance. Took him to two different drs and they said his lungs sound fine. Started feeling sick on sat with mild fever. Got flu shot on friday . Sunday took him to dr and said it was allergies. Took him again on wed and he said his lungs sound clear. He keeps having coughing spasams throughout the night and has been coughing up white foamy stuff. His cough sounds kinda wet and mucusy.and thete are no other symptoms. He was born with dextra cardia and had a repair of the aeorta. His last cardiology apt which was last year his dr said he was looking great.
Brief Answer:
He is suffering from a viral infection
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on Healthcaremagic. I have carefully gone through the details provided by you.
To me your son seems to be suffering from a viral infection. Since the doctors have examined his lungs and found it to be clear, I do not think that there is a major lung pathology involved. Viral infections which manifest as common cough and cold, generally have an allergic component associated and that is what your doctor is talking about.
In such cases, our respiratory secretions become gelatinous and thick and hence need to be coughed out. The allergic component is responsible for the irritation in throat which makes him cough further. During the process, the air gets mixed giving rise to a white frothy appearance what you are talking about.
Give him steam inhalation thrice daily. Water in the form of vapour will reach deep into the lungs and help in diluting the cough and give him relief.
Give him some antiallergic medications along.
He is suffering from a viral infection
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on Healthcaremagic. I have carefully gone through the details provided by you.
To me your son seems to be suffering from a viral infection. Since the doctors have examined his lungs and found it to be clear, I do not think that there is a major lung pathology involved. Viral infections which manifest as common cough and cold, generally have an allergic component associated and that is what your doctor is talking about.
In such cases, our respiratory secretions become gelatinous and thick and hence need to be coughed out. The allergic component is responsible for the irritation in throat which makes him cough further. During the process, the air gets mixed giving rise to a white frothy appearance what you are talking about.
Give him steam inhalation thrice daily. Water in the form of vapour will reach deep into the lungs and help in diluting the cough and give him relief.
Give him some antiallergic medications along.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
he was diagnosed with a mild pneumonia and given anti biotic, predisone, and arbuitol breathing treatment. my question is since yesterday night and tonight he has been making a moaning noise while he sleeps. is that something to worry about or is normal. is it a reason to take to er.
Brief Answer:
X ray film required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back and sorry for the delay in responding. The chest is unlikely to be clear in case of pneumonia where consolidation of the lungs or a at least a portion of lung occurs. The moaning that you mention, could either be due to grunting and respiratory distress, or is due to wheezing which could be due to narrowing of the respiratory tracts for which salbutamol is given. It is very hard to comment without examining such a child. I am assuming that an x ray of chest has already been done. In case it has not been done, please get it done. As of now, could you please take a picture of his x ray plate of chest after holding against a bright white background? You can open a blank MS paint file on a computer and hold the x ray against it and after taking a picture, please upload it and let me know and I would be better able to comment. If there is a report for the same, please uplad it along.
X ray film required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back and sorry for the delay in responding. The chest is unlikely to be clear in case of pneumonia where consolidation of the lungs or a at least a portion of lung occurs. The moaning that you mention, could either be due to grunting and respiratory distress, or is due to wheezing which could be due to narrowing of the respiratory tracts for which salbutamol is given. It is very hard to comment without examining such a child. I am assuming that an x ray of chest has already been done. In case it has not been done, please get it done. As of now, could you please take a picture of his x ray plate of chest after holding against a bright white background? You can open a blank MS paint file on a computer and hold the x ray against it and after taking a picture, please upload it and let me know and I would be better able to comment. If there is a report for the same, please uplad it along.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
I Dont have a x ray picture but it was done. part of the right lung had fluid. his mouth also sounds like he has eaten soap, but he hasn't. kinda of a weird noise. he's been drinking fluids. I'm worried about maybe it could be his heart but cardiologist says they are so happy with him and his heart repair and all his levels. he goes back to cardiologist in XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
continue the treatment
Detailed Answer:
I have gone through the x ray report as well as part of the prescription attached. Pneumonia or scarring has been observed and the medicines given should be able to control the infection. Progress can be monitored by reduction in leukocyte count in the blood. I am not worried about the whitish cough that he is throwing out. The air mixed with mucoid respiratory secretions can give rise to such consistency.
I would make a request to you. Next time you post about any problems online, please try to be elaborate with the details of the ailment as well as the investigations and treatment. As such the doctor already has a limitation of not being able to examine the patient. In addition if the details are not adequate, it is very hard for him to help you.
continue the treatment
Detailed Answer:
I have gone through the x ray report as well as part of the prescription attached. Pneumonia or scarring has been observed and the medicines given should be able to control the infection. Progress can be monitored by reduction in leukocyte count in the blood. I am not worried about the whitish cough that he is throwing out. The air mixed with mucoid respiratory secretions can give rise to such consistency.
I would make a request to you. Next time you post about any problems online, please try to be elaborate with the details of the ailment as well as the investigations and treatment. As such the doctor already has a limitation of not being able to examine the patient. In addition if the details are not adequate, it is very hard for him to help you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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